Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2017 17:45:33 +1100 From: Dewayne Geraghty <dewaynegeraghty@gmail.com> To: ports-list freebsd <freebsd-ports@freebsd.org> Cc: Justin Gibbs <gibbs@freebsd.org>, phillip@freebsd.org, Hiroki Sato <hrs@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Expulsion of John Marino - reasons and impact? Message-ID: <CAGnMC6p5x=BbufeufjVOztkRt74jFngZOYmhj=%2BWE3Mf5rjaAQ@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <CAGnMC6pK_6Mpr=5VUuGX7zCFzqse%2BJsguZK%2BGmDrkyX5cgXkkA@mail.gmail.com> References: <CAGnMC6pK_6Mpr=5VUuGX7zCFzqse%2BJsguZK%2BGmDrkyX5cgXkkA@mail.gmail.com>
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Some people collect brown pebbles, you know, those little maintainership pebbles where people generously volunteer to keep ports up-to-date and remain functioning on the various platforms. Collecting these and demonstrating an ongoing professional and technically competent contribution, sometimes leads to the much coveted white pebbles, the ones that denote recognition of technical abilities and ultimate providers of source to the FreeBSD consumers =E2=80=93 the larger family. They, the trus= ted elite with their commit-bit. Sometimes a commit bit is relinguished due to exhaustion or simply lack of time for volunteer activities. But even these are held onto until the owner feels like its time to hand-it-back. Rarely, very rarely is a commit bit withdrawn and in such a public way as <https://svnweb.freebsd.org/ports?view=3Drevision&revision=3D433827>; https://svnweb.freebsd.org/ports?view=3Drevision&revision=3D433827 Bryan quite rightly advised that negative discussion of an individual shouldn=E2=80=99t be public. Perhaps strange that it was the FreeBSD portm= gr that alluded to unacceptable and intractable behaviour which resulted in the removal of the commit bit. It=E2=80=99s appreciated that the maintainershi= p of the 60+ ports, some quite complex (gcc6-aux and other compilers), <http://www.freshports.org/search.php?stype=3Dmaintainer&method=3Dmatch&que= ry=3Dmarino&num=3D30&orderby=3Dcategory&orderbyupdown=3Dasc&search=3DSearch= &format=3Dhtml&branch=3Dhead> http://www.freshports.org/search.php?stype=3Dmaintainer&method=3Dmatch&quer= y=3Dmarino&num=3D30&orderby=3Dcategory&orderbyupdown=3Dasc&search=3DSearch&= format=3Dhtml&branch=3Dhead that John maintained was reinstated. Mistakes happen but it is a concern that the impression of automatic removal of maintainership rights had taken hold - and without any discussion with the maintainer. Unfortunately when you=E2=80=99ve held the white stone, once taken, diminis= hes the motivation to retain the brown ones. https://forums.freebsd.org/threads/59705/page-2#post-343136 So perhaps these ports, now semi-abandoned =E2=80=93 difficult to acquire, = easily removed; are now likely to follow the familiar path of dormant PR=E2=80=99s= and eventually made available for others to adopt. An unintended consequence... So that we can better understand the person, this is an interview with John (jump to 21 minutes): http://www.jupiterbroadcasting.com/93926/synthesize-all-the-things-bsd- now-129/ Clearly a person proud of the recognition afforded by having a commit-bit and as demonstrated by his ports contribution, deservedly so. Sadly the lack of involvement by the Foundation is somewhat surprising, even for a group that advocates a hands off approach; and for the FreeBSD base, its probably warranted. Unfortunate for that paradigm to apply in the ports arena, a shame really. Not retaining people of John Marino=E2=80=99s calibre is a loss, to push hi= m out of the Project is a travesty. Such a strong word, but appropriate when the REASON for his departure has not been revealed - to John! Discussions that affect someone=E2=80=99s professional reputation are held, decisions made a= nd without recourse, review or an opportunity for defence. The victim remains uninformed as to the cause. I thank those of you that have mailed me privately. We can only hope that those that have the authority to look at the impact and the consequences of this decision, properly review the efficacy of such, the consequences and take the right action. Which for those not privy to the impugned horrendous and ongoing misconduct, are better served by having John inside the FreeBSD family foistering the relationship between Dragonfly and FreeBSD and others; continuing to provide packaging choice, a voice (one of the few) that challenges the status quo; but mostly for his passion in contributing to the project as a top contributor for 3 years! To be clear, the only person that is ENTITLED to know the reason is John Marino; it is then up to him to assess and whether it should be made public. That is the very least that should happen. Regards, Dewayne
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