Re: [gentoo-dev] Re: Training points for users interested in helping out with ebuild development

[George Prowse]

Thomas Sachau wrote:
> George Prowse schrieb:
>> Thomas Sachau wrote:
>>> For those, who can work with IRC and are interested in working with
>>> ebuilds, there is already an option:
>>>
>>> Join #gentoo-dev-help or even better #gentoo-sunrise and read the
>>> documentation from the topic. The
>>> Sunrise Overlay (with the #gentoo-sunrise IRC channel) is open for
>>> everyone willing to learn and
>>> contribute to it. Even normal users can get access, learn how to
>>> create ebuilds, how to improve them
>>> and how to maintain them.
>>> As a starting point, this is a central overlay, where ebuilds are
>>> maintained, that dont get a
>>> developer as maintainer because of missing manpower. Additionally, all
>>> contributors learn the ebuild
>>> development work themselves.
>>>
>>> And if you are willing to learn and do continuously good work, there
>>> is a good chance that you may
>>> level up to a developer yourself someday. You want an example? This
>>> was my way to become a full
>>> Gentoo developer. ;-)
>>>
>>> So at least for ebuild maintainence, there are good starting points
>>> (probably other projects also
>>> have training grounds like the java or kde herds), the bigger problem
>>> may be the communication
>>> between potential new developers and the current developer base and
>>> our options to become a new
>>> developer.
>>>
>> I think you are missing the point. If you sit and wait for them to join
>> you will always be understaffed.
>>
>> Go on a big dev drive! Announce it all over all the Gentoo's normal
>> communication channels and other generic linux places! Email some linux
>> magazines, talk to distrowatch, message some large LUGs. Get people
>> talking about it. Whatever happens, dont just sit on your hands. Tell
>> the users that Gentoo needs them and that they can make a difference!
>>
>> If you make it a big and special occasion which is planned correctly
>> with a sufficient number of current developers who are willing to walk
>> people through how and what it means to be a Gentoo Developer then the
>> influx could create a new backbone of new developers who will hopefully
>> be here for years to come.
>>
>>
>
> Such a campaign would need quite some time and i dont have this free time. So if anyone is willing
> to do the needed work, i can try to help a bit, but cannot take the work and time myself.
>
> The only thing i can do and currently do whenever possible is pointing people to the sunrise project
> and helping them there. And thats what i did with my mail.
>
I also fear that any sustained campaign would be bogged down in Gentoo's 
red tape.