From owner-freebsd-chat Thu Jan 30 1:19:45 2003 Delivered-To: freebsd-chat@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 32DFE37B401 for ; Thu, 30 Jan 2003 01:19:44 -0800 (PST) Received: from 12-234-22-23.client.attbi.com (12-234-22-23.client.attbi.com [12.234.22.23]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9BC6643F75 for ; Thu, 30 Jan 2003 01:19:43 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from DougB@FreeBSD.org) Received: from slave.gorean.org (28mcekngvnotqgia@slave.gorean.org [10.0.0.1]) by 12-234-22-23.client.attbi.com (8.12.6/8.12.6) with ESMTP id h0U9JgfS001898; Thu, 30 Jan 2003 01:19:43 -0800 (PST) (envelope-from DougB@FreeBSD.org) Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 01:19:42 -0800 (PST) From: Doug Barton To: La Temperanza Cc: chat@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: About the ports bureaucracy In-Reply-To: <20030129214749.5a71f32b.temperanza@softhome.net> Message-ID: <20030130011315.U341@12-234-22-23.pyvrag.nggov.pbz> References: <20030129214749.5a71f32b.temperanza@softhome.net> Organization: http://www.FreeBSD.org/ X-message-flag: Outlook -- Not just for spreading viruses anymore! MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Sender: owner-freebsd-chat@FreeBSD.ORG Precedence: bulk List-ID: List-Archive: (Web Archive) List-Help: (List Instructions) List-Subscribe: List-Unsubscribe: X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Having been in the position you're in now, I can sympathize with what you're saying, and no, I'm not offended. :) On Wed, 29 Jan 2003, La Temperanza wrote: > I've noticed for a while that many PRs in the ports section, particulary > involving lesser-used applications, seem to sit around for months and > months. These include maintainer updates and unbreakage patches, so I > don't think I'm just looking at the incorrectly done or low-priority > ones in the lot. I figured the most flattering explanation for this > happening is that the ports committers are simply overwhelmed by the > number of PRs and concentrate their efforts on the most important ones. I think you're partially correct. I maintain a small number of ports, basically ports that I use myself, either at home or work. I used to try and close ports PR's when time allowed, but recently time has not allowed. When looking at PR's to close I prioritized those that were easy to install (not too many dependencies that I don't already have, etc.); and easy to test. There are therefore a LOT of ports PR's that I won't touch with a 10' pole. Not because I don't think they are important, but because it's simply not possible for me to devote time to them. > I decided I'd like to help out, and sent an e-mail to the team asking > how I could become a committer. Apparently you submit high-quality PRs > until someone notices you and invites you to join the club. But if there > are more PRs being submitted then they can deal with, isn't that just > sort of silly? I understand that it doesn't _sound_ rational, but the system works. One thing that non-committers can do to help is to test ports PR's thoroughly, then submit a follow-up indicating the results of your tests. This will help committers who do have time to close random ports PR's to prioritize those which have a higher probability of success. Hope this helps, Doug -- If it's moving, encrypt it. If it's not moving, encrypt it till it moves, then encrypt it some more. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-chat" in the body of the message