Changes http://wiki.axiom-developer.org/AxiomDevelopmentModel/diff -- Despite nearly 5 years into the open source version, the Axiom open source project is still fairly young. There are many problems to be ironed out or methods to be brought up-to-date. We are still far from even the NAG 2001 version pre-open source days, although in many respects, the open source versions have made tremendous progress recently. Given such a setting, the Development Model will continue to change as people with different priorities continue to participate. I do not have anything against the proposed model, but I don't think any technical issue should be "put to a vote", especially when the statements include specific methodologies. If anything, the development model should only include basic principles (like a mission statement), and how we should cooperate (that is, a membership agreement that is as encompassing and tolerant as possible without sacrificing high standards). The community does not consist of people who knows every aspect of Axiom, but rather man! y individuals with specific expertise in small areas. Thus the "vote" model will not work because it would be biased by a few, when the generally ignorant masses either cannot decide or decides arbitrarily (think about voting as a (retail) shareholder in a public company to elect members of the board of directors). We should avoid politics.
How and what branches should be maintained has occupied a subtantial amount of discussions and we have experimented to almost a chaotic state. We have not learnt to be any wiser. I think it is far more important to stipulate that every member works towards an amiable environment for creative cooperations and mutual trust. If it is indeed desirable to open up the decision process for what should go into the next release and what not, then we should establish not a model, but a panel, a steering committee, or an editorial board with people who can review or request external reviews and verify the changes. Unfortunately, we do not have a large enough base to even contemplate such a structure. In the interim, the best practice is to have trust in the people who contribute and help one another. William -- forwarded from http://wiki.axiom-developer.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]
