From owner-freebsd-ports@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Apr 28 10:30:54 2011 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DAB751065707 for ; Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:30:54 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from perryh@pluto.rain.com) Received: from agora.rdrop.com (agora.rdrop.com [IPv6:2607:f678:1010::34]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9BE458FC1C for ; Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:30:54 +0000 (UTC) Received: from agora.rdrop.com (66@localhost [127.0.0.1]) by agora.rdrop.com (8.13.1/8.12.7) with ESMTP id p3SAUm4B092219 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA bits=256 verify=NOT); Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:30:50 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from perryh@pluto.rain.com) Received: (from uucp@localhost) by agora.rdrop.com (8.13.1/8.12.9/Submit) with UUCP id p3SAUm15092218; Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:30:48 -0700 (PDT) Received: from fbsd61 by pluto.rain.com (4.1/SMI-4.1-pluto-M2060407) id AA01996; Thu, 28 Apr 11 02:51:33 PDT Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 02:50:19 -0700 From: perryh@pluto.rain.com To: lists@eitanadler.com Message-Id: <4db9385b.BbyRUhsUk+xTfsCB%perryh@pluto.rain.com> References: <20110427014343.GJ38579@comcast.net> <20110427060917.GB73524@comcast.net> In-Reply-To: User-Agent: nail 11.25 7/29/05 Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: lists@opsec.eu, corky1951@comcast.net, freebsd-ports@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Dropping maintainership of my ports X-BeenThere: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Porting software to FreeBSD List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 10:30:54 -0000 Eitan Adler wrote: > > I've been told that we shouldn't be looking for reasons > > to save any unmaintained port, > > What you have been told is "no-one steps up to (a) fix the > problem, (b) take maintainership and (c) _continue_ with > maintainership ... > > If you are stepping up to do the work that is great and we thank > you for that! We we don't want is people who only volunteer for > part (a) and don't continue with (b) and (c). > > > and I was specifically told this in response to my > > efforts to identify ports that have a lot of users. > > Merely finding "popular" ports does not help. We need people > who have the time and energy to maintain the ports. My reading was that Charlie _was_ "stepping up to do the work" -- all 3 parts of it. Since there weren't any unmaintained ports that he personally uses, he was volunteering to take on some that he does _not_ personally use, as a service to the community. In order to achieve The Greatest Good For The Greatest Number (TM), he wanted a way to identify "popular" unmaintained ports. His proposed method of finding out _where his efforts would do the most good for the community_ was met not with constructive suggestions, nor even mere indifference, but with outright hostility. Can you blame him for getting fed up, especially since this is apparently not the first time he has encountered that sort of attitude from those who should know better? > I do not want to say that "we are a volunteer project" and as such > are forgiven however such a model does change how we must do > things ... FreeBSD is indeed a volunteer project. Driving away would-be volunteers like Charlie -- and others who will now hesitate to take on port maintainership after reading how he has been treated -- is not in the Project's best interest. I think several contributors to this thread owe both Charlie and the community an apology.