[forum] Re: A strawman proposal for X.org & XFree86.org

[Gadeyne, Koen]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Dawes [mailto:dawes@XFree86.Org]
> Sent: dinsdag 1 april 2003 20:00
> To: forum@XFree86.Org
> Subject: Re: [forum] Re: A strawman proposal for X.org & XFree86.org
> 
> 
> On Sun, Mar 30, 2003 at 07:23:47PM +0400, Vadim Plessky wrote:
> 
> >This can explain while XFree86 development was so slow 
> (comparing to progress 
> >of other open-source, desktop-oriented projects).
> >It's a well-known situation of "Shoemaker without shoes".
> >If someone wants cooperation among XFree86, GNOME and KDE - 
> XFree86 developers 
> >(especially *core developers*) should use GNOME and KDE, so 
> tha needs of 
> >those environments become visible.
> 
> So you don't think it's reasonable that if GNOME and KDE have
> specific requirements then those who are developers/advocates of
> those desktops make sure that they get implemented?  There seems
> to be a pervading myth that XFree86 developers are here to serve
> your needs, when in reality it works the other way around: those
> with needs to be served become XFree86 developers(*) and serve their
> own needs.  Ask any of those "core developers" why they became
> XFree86 developers?  My answer is that I had a need, so I did what
> was necessary to achieve it.
> 
> (*) "become XFree86 developer" means write XFree86 code, so don't drag
> in any of the usual red herrings like "membership", "commit 
> access", etc.

I can only second that. I once was what David calls an "XFree86 developer":
I had an unsupported Tseng card, and "scratched the itch": I wrote a small
patch to add (very basic) support.

I just submitted the patch, which was accepted (after being rightfully
rejected first because of some "issues"). That made me an "Xfree86
developer" (a very small one). I never needed "commit access" or any other
of those red herrings. In fact, the positive attitude of the other XFree86
members caused me to expand my work on the orphaned Tseng driver. 

That was a long time ago (the XFree86 3.1 days) -- things have gotten much
more open and more easy for people to join the XFree86 developer's community
since then. 

The only reason the XFree86 developer's community seems so closed is because
there are so little of them. That's YOUR fault, people: only CODING will get
you in, not COMPLAINING.

Koen.


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