(i have a few little comments that i've been meaning to write up for a
while now. probably better this way since it doesn't break up cliff's
flow. )

On Thu, 2006-06-15 at 12:23 -0700, Scott Boyd wrote:

<snip>

> [2:29] <sboyd> Cliff: Decision making: for something like a release,
> you will have a vote.  Votes usually have a +1, +0, 0, -0, -1 ranging
> from enthusiastic yes to a veto.
> [2:30] <sboyd> Coach: What is the process for exercising veto right?
> Are there any guidelines around vetos?  I could see the possibility
> that a veto may hold progress in some cases.

that is entirely the purpose of a veto :-)

social conventions often prove surprisingly strong at binding a group.
there are very few rules or process exercised around the issue of a vote
- but that's the point. there can be no hiding - a veto is a strong
public action with consequences. 

collaborative development requires cooperation. occasionally, developers
fall out for various reasons. reputation has proved to be a stronger
tool in keeping exchanges civil than rules and process. as much as
possible at apache is a matter for public record. the public can judge
every exchange.

> [2:32] <sboyd> Cliff: vetos are very rare.  Sometimes people will give
> a -1 with a disclaimer on something that should be fixed.  An example
> may be on a vote to release, one person votes -1 because some set of
> files don't have the correct license disclaimers, but they'll change
> their vote once the issue is addressed

+1 

(i had to do this earlier this year)

> [2:33] <sboyd> Coach: to summarize, a veto should always have a
> helpful suggestion to resolve the percieved problem

i think i disagree a little. i would say that if you have a resolution
then commit it :-)

veto's are a bit like SHOUTING STOP VERY LOUDLY! it's rare that
circumstances demand this. shouting isn't very civilised so most of the
time a quiet word achieves more with less effort. 

so, if i see an issue with a particular commit, most of the time i'll
just commit a correction. if i don't feel confident (maybe i don't know
the committer very well or i'm just on unfamiliar territory), i'll reply
to the commit and raise my concerns. only when there is a pressing
necessity would i consider a veto. i don't think that i've every needed
to veto and personally rollback the commit (which is the ultimate
sanction).

and not all -1's are veto's. 

+1, +0. -0, -1 are also sometimes used in discursive mode (see above).
quicker to type and easier to read than yeh and so on. 

when a VOTE is by simple majority, -1 is just a negative vote to be
tallied against the +1's.

i'll probably post something about consensus (lazy and otherwise) sooner
or later. only when an action requires consensus (either socially or
processwise) is a -1 a veto. 

- robert

Attachment: signature.asc
Description: This is a digitally signed message part

Reply via email to