Frustration

[Michael Bienia]

On 2007-11-02 14:00:53 -0400, Stephen Sinclair wrote:
> I listen in on this list just to occasionally get these kinds of
> insights.  I find it odd, though, that MOTU is more interested in
> reviewing and accepting bug fixes than in new packages.  It seems to
> me that there are two kinds of packagers: 1) people wanting to
> generally improve the Ubuntu experience by fixing bugs and helping out
> any way they can, and 2) people who just want to get their software or
> software they enjoy using into the packaging system so that it's
> easier to manage and easier for other people to use.
> 
> The whole MOTU mentoring system seems to me to be far more oriented
> towards case 1) than case 2), but please correct me if I'm wrong.

When doing a review, it's often easier to review case 1) as one "just"
needs to check if the patch is correct and correctly included into the
package. Case 2) needs more time and more knowledge from the reviewer
and may need some special knowledge about packaging that specific
application type (e.g. for python or java programs, libraries, etc.).

Maintaining universe is already more work than can be handled by MOTU.
You will find easy bugs open for months unfixed because no one has
stumpled upon them. Adding more packages will spread the available
manpower on even more packages. Therefore fixing the bugs in the
existing packages make more sense to me.
New packages should IMHO only be added by contributors/MOTUs who are
really interested in that app and also willing to maintain it (fixing
bugs, updating to new versions). And not only doing it because it's a
step towards MOTU.

[That's only my opinion, other MOTUs may see it different.]

Michael