I'd like to start a discussion on moving src/contrib out of hbase. Keep reading if you have an opinion.
I'd like to suggest that we undo the notion of hbase contribs for the following reasons: + In my experience, they present a friction on changes to core as any significant core change tends to ripple down into the contribs whether its code or infrastructure/build changes. Usually what happens then is a non-expert in the contrib code is making edits -- often radical -- to code they are not completely up on and are a little frustrated that they have to do it. Bad. + A few of our contribs are maintained by non-committers. This means it takes a committers time getting in updates. The owner is at mercy of the committer making wanted changes. The committer is consumed reviewing and making update. This indirection hurts at both ends (We could discuss making contrib owners committers on their contrib only but that'd be a bit of bureaucratic nightmare and a burden on the hadoop pmc to vote on granting access to a subprojects, contrib. Its tough enough getting hadoop pmc to vote on hbase committers. There is no precedent in other project, to my knowledge). + Contribs and core evolve at different rates. They should not be constrained by core release schedule (or the opposite, core should not be held up because fixes in contrib are wanting). I suggest that current contribs be moved out of hbase up to standalone github or google code projects (witness how hbql does it). Previous to our move to Ivy (and possibly soon, Maven), asking contribs be standalone was a pain as they'd have to check in hbase jars and all of dependencies and then move these forward over time. Now that we are Ivy-ized, contribs just need write a bit of ivy.xml and it'll take care of pulling dependencies. I'd imagine support for contribs would go on as it does now with queries up on hbase mailing list and help out on IRC. We'd give contribs first-class billing up on home page. Popular contribs might run their own mailing lists, etc... We should chat but some contribs should be pulled up into core. Thrift was core. Talk was to move current thrift update out to contrib. I think now it should just stay in core. Stargate perhaps should come up into core? What do folks think? St.Ack P.S. I've fostered the contrib notion in the past. I've since had a change of heart. Please pardon my flip.
