From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (qmail 24376 invoked by uid 1002); 15 Jul 2003 03:02:38 -0000 Mailing-List: contact gentoo-dev-help@gentoo.org; run by ezmlm Precedence: bulk List-Post: List-Help: List-Unsubscribe: List-Subscribe: List-Id: Gentoo Linux mail X-BeenThere: gentoo-dev@gentoo.org Received: (qmail 24707 invoked from network); 15 Jul 2003 03:02:38 -0000 Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2003 22:02:38 -0500 From: splite To: John Davis Cc: gentoo-core@gentoo.org, gentoo-dev@gentoo.org Message-ID: <20030714220238.B12388@sigint.cs.purdue.edu> References: <20030714214621.33b75fbd.zhen@gentoo.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: <20030714214621.33b75fbd.zhen@gentoo.org>; from zhen@gentoo.org on Mon, Jul 14, 2003 at 09:46:21PM -0400 X-Disclaimer: Any similarity to an opinion of Purdue is purely coincidental Subject: Re: [gentoo-dev] Gentoo part II. X-Archives-Salt: e86dc17a-488f-4429-b6f2-3cf516061659 X-Archives-Hash: 4efd7f1fd50b6514105138260ee804bb On Mon, Jul 14, 2003 at 09:46:21PM -0400, John Davis wrote: > [...] > > Gentoo is at a crossroads: We can either continue to change and > improve our management structure, or simply die like many other Linux > distributions. Or we can slowly smother ourselves with bureaucracy like Debian is doing. > In light of this issue, I propose the following changes to the Gentoo > management structure: > > 1. Constitution > All great organizations realize the need to protect their most > important asset, their volunteers and employees. Gentoo does not have such > a document, therefore there is no 'legal' protection for the developers > and volunteers. Although we all know that Gentoo is commited to this, > it is nowhere in writing. "Protection" from what? Mongol hordes? Nobody is forcing anyone to use or develop for Gentoo. If someone feels their "rights" are being violated, they can fork away. > References: The Debian Constitution > http://www.debian.org/devel/constitution > > 2. Open voting > At this point in time, there is no published ruleset for voting, > and there is no public record of voting results. There is also no > offical published method of calculating a voting quorum. Additionally, > with regard to the election of new managers, the vote is kept secret. Since when is Gentoo a democratic institution? I thought it was a useful collection of bits. > In order for any democratic system that uses voting to be successful, > there *must* be accountability, concrete rules, and open results. How > can there possibly be accountability if the results of the vote are kept > completely secret? The find line between an oligarchy and a representative > democracy is voting accountability. The developers, managers, and uses > *must* know that the Gentoo voting process is secure in its philosophy > and practice. Or what? Violent overthrow? Fascist Gentoo oligarchs beware! > References: > http://www.debian.org/vote/ (Voting policy) > http://www.debian.org/vote/2002/vote_0001 (Sample voting results) > http://www.debian.org/vote/howto_vote (Sample voting ballot) Anything to avoid finishing sarge, apparently. > 3. Defined terms for managers > In order to preserve the balance of power, while at the same > time protecting the rights and interests of the users and developers, > it is necessary that all manager positions have a clear term length > along with a clear and defined manager voting process (see above). Dammit, I paid $0 for this product and I demand my rights! > The developers and users need to make sure that their interests > are being maintained, and that the managers are true delegates for the > Gentoo community. The developers, as well as managers, need to ensure > that this stays true through normal managerial election. Where do I send my campaign contribution? Should that be in hard or soft money? > 4. Clear meeting procedure > I encourage all developers and managers to review Robert's Book > of Rules, as it provides invaluable information on proactive meeting > procedure. Motion to adjourn to the nearest pub for a swift half and some perspective. > By creating this document, I hope to help fix the problems that I see > with Gentoo Linux. I believe that positive, intellectual conversation > can lead us to the light at the end of the tunnel. I encourage you > all to participate in this discussion, but please restrain from anger, > lashing out, etc. If you think the problem with Gentoo is that it's not ossifying as quickly as Debian is, then by all means, fix away. > Kind regards, > //zhen Right back atcha. -- gentoo-dev@gentoo.org mailing list