[ubuntu-mythtv] Mythbuntu developer application

[Mario Limonciello]

Thomas,

I agree, it's easy to get discouraged when trying to get new software into
the Ubuntu repositories because of how much human subjectivity is involved
as it's reviewed before accepting into the archive.  Please keep in mind
becoming a developer with upload rights doesn't suddenly remove that red
tape.  Code review is a healthy procedure that I think should continue to
exists.  I think it would be good for you to help identify where some of
those deficiencies that you encountered with the process for new packages
were and specifically why the automated tools (revu, lintian, etc) weren't
able to triage them ahead of time.  The more that the automated tools grow,
the less human subjectivity can play into review.

PPAs are a useful tool, but not having red tape and peer review is a double
edged sword.  Uploading to a PPA that people use on their stable boxes has a
lot more potential to break dozens of boxes.  We've had these types of
problems with the auto-builds mythtv branches in the past with botched
patches, and need to keep it to a minimum.  This is exactly why the Ubuntu
SRU process exists.  So I would like you to continue with any new software
in the Ubuntu archive even if it ends up being troublesome to initially get
accepted.

I think that overall you've shown a lot of growth from the first Mythbuntu
packages that you worked on to the most recent that i've reviewed
(mythbuntu-bare) and seem to have a good concept of how package maintenance
works with stuff actually in the Ubuntu archive during the development
phases.  You take feature freeze seriously and attempt to get all of your
work done in time for the freeze.

Right now I don't think any of the stuff specific to the Mythbuntu package
set fits with Debian because it's all so tightly wrapped around MythTV which
isn't yet in Debian.  There is however an ongoing effort for MythTV
inclusion in Debian.  When that happens, I would like to see you explore
moving the packages that you've written and maintain in Ubuntu into Debian
as well.

So as long as you can continue to work directly in the archive even for NEW
packages, I think mythbuntu-dev is a good fit for you.

Thanks,

On Wed, Aug 31, 2011 at 13:38, Thomas Mashos <thomas at mashos.com> wrote:

> Name: Thomas Mashos
> Launchpad page: https://launchpad.net/~tgm4883
>
> Who I am: A Mythbuntu developer that apparently doesn't have access to his
> own software.
>
> My Ubuntu Story: I got into Mythbuntu when it was being founded, which was
> April 2007. At that point I didn't know much about creating software, but
> was willing to help document things and triage bugs. Through the support of
> Mario Limonciello and Daviey Walker, I am now able to contribute in more of
> a development role.
>
> Areas of work: I'm the creator or mythbuntu-bare, mythbuntu-repos, and
> mythbuntu-log-grabber. I've written documentation, triaged bugs, submitted
> patches, reproduced issues, and assisted in distributing Mythbuntu.
>
> Things I could do better: I could submit software for inclusion into
> Debian, rather that deal with attempting to get my software that was written
> specifically for Mythbuntu into the Ubuntu archives.
>
> Plans for the future: To continue to patch my software that is already in
> the archive and use PPA's for everything else.
>
> Examples of my work: See Mythbuntu-bare, mythbuntu-repos,
> mythbuntu-log-grabber.
>
> What I like least in Ubuntu: The red tape required to get things into the
> repositories. How there always seems to be one more hoop to jump through. An
> attempt in making it easier for the Mythbuntu team to patch software that we
> are responsible for has left me without the ability to commit anything to my
> Mythbuntu bzr branches.
>
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>


-- 
Mario Limonciello
superm1 at gmail.com
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