54 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
54 lines
2.2 KiB
Markdown
[[!meta title="Searching for a maintainer for offlineimap and hpodder"]]
|
|
|
|
As [John Goerzen](http://www.complete.org/JohnGoerzen) created at
|
|
least one useful software,
|
|
[offlineimap](http://software.complete.org/software/projects/show/offlineimap),
|
|
which I daily use, I think I owe him at least this article.
|
|
|
|
He
|
|
[describes an interesting problem](http://changelog.complete.org/archives/1463-moral-obligations-of-free-software-authors), we FOSS developers have:
|
|
|
|
He is happy with his software, but others would like to see more features.
|
|
|
|
I know that situation very well, if you think you're done, somebody just
|
|
pops up with a new situation or problem and I think:
|
|
|
|
Yeah, how to solve that?
|
|
|
|
Yes, if I think it's an interesting problem, I take the time
|
|
to discuss it and maybe to develop a solution for it.
|
|
|
|
But sometimes I've other priorities (like family, studies or
|
|
- believe it or not - to enjoy the fine weather outside) and
|
|
then I reply:
|
|
|
|
Dear hacker, cool problem! Here are my quality requirements,
|
|
can you just send me a patch that applies cleanly against
|
|
current development code (prefarable a git source)?
|
|
|
|
I cannot implement every (sensible) feature in software I've written
|
|
and I don't think it's my duty. That's what FOSS is all about:
|
|
|
|
If people care, they fork or create a patch.
|
|
If not, it's probably not worth implementing it anyway.
|
|
|
|
Regarding the ressources you're providing, John, I handle it that
|
|
way: I always provide
|
|
|
|
* the source within version control (so things don't get messed up) and
|
|
* a public contact point with archives (i.e. a mailing list)
|
|
|
|
These two points ensure that everybody who wants to contribute, can so.
|
|
I don't think a bugtracker, wiki, etc is worth it for most projects,
|
|
(you don't have bugs in your software anyway, do you? ;-), but
|
|
|
|
If people care, they can setup a wiki, bugtracker, etc themselves.
|
|
|
|
Coming back to the title, as said John is searching for a maintainer for
|
|
|
|
* [offlineimap](http://software.complete.org/software/projects/show/offlineimap) and
|
|
* [hpodder](http://software.complete.org/software/projects/show/hpodder).
|
|
|
|
If you're reading this article, you may be interested in helping him ;-)
|
|
|
|
[[!tag foss]]
|