On 6/27/19 10:26 AM, Kevin A. McGrail wrote:
It is you that are repeating yourself, without answering the question.
What is "the" question? If the question is "why is not paying for code
a core tenet of the asf", I will restate my previous answer more fully
and using Roman's concise definition of code followed by more questions.
So first, the what: The ASF core tenet of "not paying for code" is based
on a concern that doing so threatens another ASF core tenet with vendor
neutrality. These two tenets, "not paying for code" and "being vendor
neutral" are well espoused tenets of the ASF. Code for this purpose is
well defined as anything that would end up in a project repository.
Second, the why: If you asked the question why we have this tenet, I
would say this is the same as asking why do we have a 1st amendment in
the US to which I would tell you to study history and trust the
founders. The answer is the same for the ASF and that history will show
you that the founders thought it was very important to be neutral as a
differentiator from other organizations and that accepting payment for
code would be a slippery slope eroding that neutrality.
You are making assertions about what the founders agreed on.
I'll quote another Apache moto: "If it didn't happen on a mailing list,
it didn't happen."
Prove it. Otherwise, accept that it didn't happen.
Third, the why not?: The question people seem to be struggling to ask
doesn't seem to be A) whether this is a core tenet or B) why. It
appears to be C) why not / how will it erode neutrality? and D) can I
try a small experiment and see if does erode our neutrality?
I like the roadmap we have in place right now with 19.5K coming from a
sponsor to outreachy providing us 3 interns at which point we can report
on the success of that initiative and look to expend if successful or
contract if it isn't.
I'm very concerned about the optics of this. The ASF has a demonstrable
diversity problem. The board is refusing to take an small, obvious, and
careful first step. A sponsor has stepped forward.
Now imagine you are a journalist for a trade rag looking to increase
your click rates. How would you spin this?
My request is that the board consider matching this sponsor's small
donation and monitor the experiment.
Regards,
KAM
- Sam Ruby
