I'll read those links, thank you for providing them. Do you think this is a move in the wrong direction or just an unnecessary move to begin with?
Alexander Hitchins ------------------------ E: a...@alexhitchins.com W: alexhitchins.com M: 07788 423 969 T: 01892 523 587 -----Original Message----- From: Ron Wheeler [mailto:rwhee...@artifact-software.com] Sent: 30 June 2017 14:06 To: dev@cloudstack.apache.org Subject: Re: [DISCUSS] - Releases, Project Management & Funding Thereof https://www.apache.org/foundation/contributing.html says: "If you have a specific target or project that you wish to directly support, pleasecontact us <https://www.apache.org/foundation/contributing.html#Fundraising>and we will do our best to satisfy your wishes." 1) Is Apache willing to allow projects to set up their own foundations? I doubt but someone would need to check this out. Does the PMC have the project charter or the agreement that was signed when Cloudstack moved. 2) Has anyone tried to contact Apache about directing support to Cloudstack. I am not convinced that lack of paid staff is the issue. This discussion reminded me of this. Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb ? A: Only one, but the lightbulb must want to change http://www.lightbulbjokes.com/directory/p.html Ron On 30/06/2017 6:48 AM, Alex Hitchins wrote: > As per Giles's comment to the previous thread, I thought I would start a > discussion on the subject to canvas peoples thoughts, opinions and fears. > > My question for discussion, is there is any mileage in someone creating a > "CloudStack Foundation" as a non-profit entity, funded largely by key > CloudStack players with the sole function of employing dedicated resource > (part or full time) to handle all releases and other essential 'back office' > functions. The idea being it's in everyone's interest to chip in a little > each to fund core project and release management. > > The idea might be utterly irrelevant, pointless and/or straight up daft. I > urge you all to let me know. > > Something for you all to think over this weekend. > > > Alexander Hitchins > ------------------------ > E: a...@alexhitchins.com > W: alexhitchins.com > M: 07788 423 969 > T: 01892 523 587 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Giles Sirett [mailto:giles.sir...@shapeblue.com] > Sent: 30 June 2017 09:51 > To: dev@cloudstack.apache.org > Subject: RE: JIRA - PLEASE READ > > All > This thread seems to have turned into 2 quite different discussions: > > 1. The use (or not) of Jira - which was the original discussion > > 2. Ways/means of encouraging (and paying for more structured > contributors) > > I know that it could be argued that these are related. Could I suggest > opening up a thread on "release and project management and funding it" > and keeping this thread to the original discussion > > (I will weigh in on both of these at some stage) > > Kind regards > Giles > > giles.sir...@shapeblue.com > www.shapeblue.com > 53 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4HSUK @shapeblue > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alex Hitchins [mailto:a...@alexhitchins.com] > Sent: 29 June 2017 18:49 > To: dev@cloudstack.apache.org > Subject: Re: JIRA - PLEASE READ > > If it isn't being treated as a product it will be very impossible to market > it as enterprise ready. > > I know we all know this. > > Similar sized projects under the Apache banner must have the same issue, what > is the best way to gather experience of these projects? See how they handle > these growing pains. > > A cloudstack foundation entity funded by companies earning from cloudstack > seems a good way forward. > > Another tuppence, this is getting expensive. > > > >> On 29 Jun 2017, at 18:18, Ron Wheeler <rwhee...@artifact-software.com> wrote: >> >> I understand that it is a volunteer organization. >> I do not know how many (if any) of the committers and PMC members are funded >> by their organizations (allowed or ordered to work on Cloudstack during >> company time) which is often the way that Apache projects get staffed. >> >> Clearly it is hard to tell someone who is being funded by a company to fix a >> problem or who is working on their own time, to do or not do something. >> >> On the other hand, the PMC has to build a community culture that is good >> for the project. >> That means describing a vision, planning and enforcing a roadmap, and >> maintaining a focused project "marketing" effort. >> >> There is a lot of extremely talented individuals working on Cloudstack and >> it appears to have a very strong and valuable code-base. >> >> To me the key question is about the PMC and the core committers' ability to >> make Cloudstack a "product" that can compete for market share and acceptance. >> >> Is Cloudstack at a point in its development where it should be treated like >> a product? >> - sufficient functionality to compete >> - sufficient user base to be a competitor in the market >> - production reliability and stability >> - business model for supporting companies to justify their continued >> support >> >> This may not require more effort but requires different policies and >> different activities. >> >> There has to be someone or a PMC that can say "No". >> - This change can not be included in this release because it will delay the >> release. >> - This change adds an unacceptable level of complexity >> - This bug fix will have to wait for the next release because it is too late >> to test it and fix the docs. >> - This fix breaks the docs >> - The release can not be made until this doc is updated. >> >> Does the core group want to make it a competitive product or is it >> sufficient for the interested players to continue in its current form? >> >> Ron >> >> >> >>> On 29/06/2017 9:42 AM, Will Stevens wrote: >>> I personally don't know how Jira solves any of this, but assuming it >>> does, fine... >>> >>> The bigger problem which you have raised is that CloudStack has zero >>> funding. So we can't hire a project manager, or a release manager or >>> someone whose job it is to maintain documentation. I have been >>> trying to find a way to, at the very least, fund a full time release >>> manager who can focus 100% on the project. As the release manager >>> for 4.9, I know it is a full time job. I did my best, but it is a >>> ton of work and is hard to stay on top of. >>> >>> Everyone contributing to CloudStack is donating their time. They >>> can't make a living off supporting ACS, so every one is doing their >>> best with the little time they can take away from their day job or their >>> family life. >>> >>> Yes, having clear guidelines and sticking to them helps, but without >>> a solid CI infrastructure backing the project and improved testing >>> and automation, we will always struggles with release schedules and such. >>> >>> I have been involved in this project long enough to know that all >>> the problems you point out exist, but they are also not easily solved. >>> Obviously we have to work with the initiatives we have and take >>> small steps towards improvement, but we also have to be realistic >>> with our expectations because we are counting on people's generosity to >>> move them forward. >>> >>> Simplifying moving parts and streamlining the process will lead to >>> more contribution because there is less barriers to entry. This one >>> reason why I struggle to see the value in Jira as it is used today. >>> I personally don't understand what value it is giving us that the >>> github PRs and Issues don't solve. >>> >>> I will remain open minded and will follow along with what people >>> think is best, but I think it is worth understanding what we are >>> trying to solve for and simplify our approach in solving it so we >>> can get better systems in place. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Jun 29, 2017 9:17 AM, "Ron Wheeler" >>> <rwhee...@artifact-software.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> As a real outsider, IMHO Paul is right. >>>> >>>> At times it seems that Cloudstack is a coding hobby rather than a >>>> project or a production quality product. >>>> >>>> Who decides what goes into a release? How does this affect the >>>> release schedule? >>>> Who is responsible for meeting the "published" roadmap (of which >>>> there seem to be many) of releases? >>>> >>>> How is a system admin that is not part of the project supposed to >>>> plan for upgrade windows? >>>> How does one know when a feature, bug fix or release will be available? >>>> >>>> How does the PMC manage function creep in a release, maintain >>>> quality and consistency, reject changes that hurt the overall >>>> vision or add too much complexity? >>>> >>>> No one seems to care about documentation but if someone did, how >>>> would they stop undocumented features or features that contradict >>>> the documentation from being incorporated? >>>> Who makes sure that the documentation is correct at the time of the >>>> release? >>>> Release notes are not much help for someone doing a new install or >>>> evaluating Cloudstack. >>>> >>>> Without a JIRA entry, how does an end-user who encounters a problem >>>> know that it has been fixed already in the next release? >>>> >>>> Without a JIRA entry, how does the community comment on a proposed >>>> change before it gets coded? >>>> >>>> If changes are going to be accepted without a JIRA, is there a >>>> definition of a minor fix that does not require a JIRA? >>>> - does not change functionality? >>>> - only affects an "edge case" or cleans up an exception that is not >>>> properly handled? >>>> - only improves code readability or future extensibility? >>>> - does not affect documentation? >>>> >>>> Apache projects that are popular and enjoy wide support do have >>>> strong management. >>>> >>>> There are other examples where great Apache software is failing to >>>> get recognized because the PMC is not paying attention to the >>>> product management side of things. >>>> I use Apache Jackrabbit which is a quality product with a strong >>>> technical team supporting it. >>>> It has very little following because the documentation and >>>> marketing collateral is very poor. >>>> It gets by because the audience for it is largely software >>>> developers who can read code and can test features to work out the >>>> functionality. >>>> It would get a lot more attention if they paid attention to the >>>> product management side of the project. >>>> >>>> Cloudstack needs to avoid this situation and unfortunately this >>>> takes effort and some discipline. >>>> >>>> >>>> Ron >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> On 29/06/2017 8:03 AM, Will Stevens wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Why are we still using jira instead of the PRs for that >>>>> communication? Can we not use issues in github now instead of jira >>>>> if someone needs to open an issue but does not yet have code to >>>>> contribute. If not, jira could still be used for that. >>>>> >>>>> I think duplicating data between jira and the PR is kind of >>>>> pointless. I feel like the github PRs and the cide going in should >>>>> be the source of truth, not a random third party tool. >>>>> >>>>> For the 4.9 release notes, i built a tool to generate the release >>>>> notes from the PRs merged in that release. I think that is easier >>>>> and more accurate than depending on jira since it does not track >>>>> the actual code tree. >>>>> >>>>> Thats my 0.02$. >>>>> >>>>> On Jun 29, 2017 5:25 AM, "Paul Angus" <paul.an...@shapeblue.com> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Such a view of CloudStack is what holds CloudStack back. >>>>> It stops users/operators from having any chance of understanding >>>>> what CloudStack does and how it does it. >>>>> Code for code's sake is no use to anyone. >>>>> Jira is about communication between developers and to everyone else. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Kind regards, >>>>> >>>>> Paul Angus >>>>> >>>>> paul.an...@shapeblue.com >>>>> www.shapeblue.com >>>>> 53 Chandos Place, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4HSUK @shapeblue >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>> From: Daan Hoogland [mailto:daan.hoogl...@gmail.com] >>>>> Sent: 29 June 2017 10:14 >>>>> To: dev <dev@cloudstack.apache.org> >>>>> Subject: Re: JIRA - PLEASE READ >>>>> >>>>> On Thu, Jun 29, 2017 at 11:06 AM, Paul Angus >>>>> <paul.an...@shapeblue.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> + Release notes will be impossible to create without a proper >>>>>> + Jira >>>>>> >>>>> history. >>>>> >>>>>> And no one will know what has gone into CloudStack. >>>>>> >>>>> No they are not mr Grumpy. they should be base on the code anyway, >>>>> hence on git, not jira. I do not appose to the use of Jira but it >>>>> is not required for good coding practices and as we are not and >>>>> will not function as a corporation, jira is an extra for those >>>>> that grave for it. not a requirement. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Daan >>>>> >>>>> >>>> -- >>>> Ron Wheeler >>>> President >>>> Artifact Software Inc >>>> email: rwhee...@artifact-software.com >>>> skype: ronaldmwheeler >>>> phone: 866-970-2435, ext 102 >>>> >>>> >> -- >> Ron Wheeler >> President >> Artifact Software Inc >> email: rwhee...@artifact-software.com >> skype: ronaldmwheeler >> phone: 866-970-2435, ext 102 >> > > -- Ron Wheeler President Artifact Software Inc email: rwhee...@artifact-software.com skype: ronaldmwheeler phone: 866-970-2435, ext 102
