Re: [gentoo-dev] devs on IRC (was :Regen2 ( was QA Overlay Layout support ))

[Markos Chandras]

On Wednesday 11 March 2009 20:06:33 Thilo Bangert wrote:
> Markos Chandras <hwoarang@g.o> said:
> > On Tuesday 10 March 2009 14:15:36 Thilo Bangert wrote:
> > > > Bugs aren't a good way to keep in touch with developers, that's
> > > > what irc is for.
> > >
> > > while i dont necessarily think, that bugzi is the best way to stay in
> > > contact with me, it surely is a better way than IRC - on which i am
> > > close to never.
> > >
> > > the presumption seems to be, that as a dev one has to be available
> > > via IRC. it has long been my feeling that Gentoo as a project could
> > > realize more of its potential by better integrating people who dont
> > > do IRC.
> > >
> > > kind regards
> > > Thilo
> >
> > 	To be honest , I don't agree with that. Being around on irc is quite
> > helpful to get direct feedback from users and fix bugs before they hit
> > more users. This is a good way to reduce the amount of bugs that hit
> > bugzilla.
>
> my complaint isn't about people using IRC. i object to the way that much
> of our knowledge, discussion and decision making process appear to have
> been moved into the temporal black hole that is IRC.
>
> realtime communication is an valuable tool, but IRC has drawbacks as well.
> this is alienating a lot of people who dont happen to be on IRC at the
> right moment/timezone or who dont have the time to be always on.
>
> it looks like many projects within Gentoo have resorted to a communication
> process which uses IRC exclusivly. this is unfortunate...
>
> kind regards
> Thilo
	I would prefer it if devs were using team emails ( sound@g.o, 
kde@g.o etc ) more often than IRC communication. At least, important 
discussions, or decisions etc should at least announced on such mailing lists. 
If this is not possible, an e-mail with the irc logs about an important 
discussion would be a good idea. Of course this is not necessary in occasions 
were teams are composed by 1-2 members or when all developers of the team are 
available on irc. 
-- 
Markos Chandras (hwoarang)
Gentoo Linux Developer
Qt/KDE/Sound/Sunrise