Re: [gentoo-project] Re: A plan for Gentoo

[Ulrich Mueller]

>>>>> On Fri, 8 Dec 2017, Daniel Robbins wrote:

> Looking at my past, I think you may find it a familiar trajectory
> that resonates with a lot of senior Gentoo contributors: unbridled
> youthful enthusiasm, which then turns into incredible productivity
> and growth, then additional burdens, responsibilities and demands,
> resulting in eventual burn-out and cynicism. I was the first
> astronaut to be launched into orbit, so to speak, so I got to
> experience this fantastic voyage first -- but I am sure you know
> others who have followed in my foot-steps in this area. So I think
> the point you raise is actually important, but it should not be
> presented as a personal attack on me, but as a general weakness in
> Gentoo related to mentorship, growth and direction for senior-level
> Gentoo contributors and providing them with positive (good for the
> project, good for them) outlets for their immense talent, while
> preventing their incredible influence gained within the project from
> turning into a negative and causing internal strife.

This seems to be a rather crude theory. For example, you say that it
"resonates with a lot of senior Gentoo contributors", so do you have
any hard numbers supporting that claim?

Not sure if I qualify as what you call a "senior contributor", but
I don't feel like being burned out (how would that even be possible,
for something that I do for the fun of it, and from which I can take
a break whenever I want). Also someone please tell me if my
contributions have turned into a negative; if so, I shall retire
tomorrow.

> [...] I think that the solution to this is to have a vision of
> forward evolution and growth of the project --

What does this mean? I can have a vision that we shall have 500 active
developers by next year, but that wouldn't actually solve any problem
of recruitment.

> we need new, bigger challenges and our most senior people need to
> 'graduate' into playing a leading role in shaping the future of
> technology. We all need to support one another instead of fighting
> amongst each other.

Again, I don't understand how you come to that conclusion. Can you
provide us with recent examples of developers fighting against each
other? The majority of developers (both "senior" and "junior", though
I dislike the categorising) quietly do their work, and my impression
is that our technical discussions are factual. Of course this doesn't
preclude that there are different opinions.

For a more concrete question, IIUC you have recently followed Portage
development. Did you perceive any fighting in that project?

Ulrich