Re: [Gnu-arch-users] planning 2.0?

[James Blackwell]

> (b) Will you consider specifying a more specific target market?

Yeah, I'll be happy to do so at the right point. Further reflection left
me with the realization that you are right that the outstanding issues
should be triaged according to their importance.  The most important thing
at this point is for the project to figure out who should lead the group. 

The person or people leading a project is the single most important
question that impacts a group -- particularly one on life support. Plenty
of examples abound thoughout the world in general and the free software
world in particular. That person responsible should be the one to lead
this discussion.


Here are some important skills for a solid project leader:

 * Strong technical skills - These sorts of skills are important
   when a group of experts divide evenly on two decisions that are
   mutually incompatible. The skill isn't strictly necessarily -- a set of
   experts that evenly divide means that both decisions are good.

 * Strong communication skills - A group leader that lacks strong
   communication skills isn't going to be able to guide the development of
   key documents like roadmaps, advocation with third parties, position
   statements, final decisions from above, etc. At one extreme is nothing
   at all. On the other extreme is overly complicated goble-de-gook.

 * Strong social skills - A project lead without strong social skills
   isn't going to be able to coordinate attracking new groups and
   interests to participate. Lack of this skill ranges from apathy to
   downright anti-social behaviour (ranging from intra-group fighting all
   the way to fighting with third parties).

 * Financially Stable - Also important for a project lead. The project can 
   stall for weeks or months if the lead looses his network connection, 
   can't afford to fix his computer or becomes desperate enough to do
   nasty things in attempts to leverage the project into money.

 * Reliability - Can you imagine how bad it would be if a lead were
   unreliable?


Andy has done a very good job running GnuArch. He communicates well, is
skilled at avoiding minefields on this list, is open to ideas from
everyone on the group and seeks consensus. I nominate Andy Tai to stay in
charge of GnuArch. 


On Sat, Apr 22, 2006 at 08:56:19AM -0700, Thomas Lord wrote:
> James Blakwell wrote:
> > [....]
> 
> Let me slightly break my own rule about early replies to say:
> 
> (a) This is good. Thanks.
> 
> (b) Will you consider specifying a more specific target market?
>      That question on the form was inspired by *your* reports
>      of negative experience getting projects to switch.  Certainly
>      speed is one issue, but isn't the fact that many projects are
>      already heavily "invested" in CVS also an issue making SVN
>      (if anything) a more natural choice?   Of course we might want
>      *everyone* to eventually use Arch but do you think there are
>      some specific types of projects that make more sense than others
>      to target initially?   The more specific the target market, the
>      better a job we can do focusing efforts (e.g., deciding what kind
>      of documentation is a higher priority).
>     
> As for "isn't Andy in charge?" ...   Of some things, yes.   I don't see how
> that is relevant to this thread, though.
> 
> -t
> 
> James Blackwell wrote:
> >> 1. Target Market?
> >>    
> >
> >Software developers   - Primary
> >Sysadmins             - Secondary
> >
> >  
> >> 2. Target Market Needs?
> >>    
> >
> >Speed.          - Too slow, no adoption
> >Simplicity      - Complex UI, slow adoption
> >Portability.    - No Windows   - wait ten years to start.
> >                  No Mac OS X  - wait twenty years to start.    
> >
> >  
> >> 3. "Business" Model?
> >>    
> >
> > - Scratch your own itch 
> > - Can't scratch your own? Pay someone else
> > 
> >
> >I'm a little confused. Isn't Andy in charge?
> >  
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Gnu-arch-users mailing list
> address@hidden
> http://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/gnu-arch-users
> 
> GNU arch home page:
> http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/gnu-arch/

-- 
My home page:   <a href="http://jblack.linuxguru.net";>James Blackwell</a>
Gnupg 06357400  F-print AAE4 8C76 58DA 5902 761D  247A 8A55 DA73 0635 7400

signature.asc
Description: Digital signature