Bern, all,
===
I followed discussions about the labs revival, and there is IMO 3 majors
points that have been discuss :
A) Labs VS Incubator VS Apache Extra VS External tool (gcode, github, ...) :
Positioning of Labs versus "Others" is not so much clear for many of us
and may have been cleared : "When choose lab ? What advantages ? when
not choose labs and for why ?"
B) Doing releases :
Some express the need of doing release. Con expressed are related to
"legal engagement" of Apache in such release and the necessary oversee
of already really busy mentors.
A clear indication of "unofficial release" inside the name of artifacts,
in documentation, notice seems not sufficient.
(But this point seems not really clear for me, as :
- "Apache Extra" can do releases with apache name somewhere {1} with
totally no control from apache guys ;
- and on the other hand the apache labs {2}, under all apache
researchers eyes on commits - can't do LABS-* release)
{1} well at list "apache-extra"'s website
{2} with a LAB and or unofficial in name - a fairly clear "at your own
risk" notion
C) Include non Apache's commiter (let's call them Externals) :
Ant propose this but the answer was "it's not possible" [1] because :
- Externals have to sign a CLA
- Will accept Externals as commiter
Well, this is what is done is no problems during a new incubator
project... Where is the problem here ?
A particular lab have to be "managed" by a least one apache commiter,
but why not allow inclusion of new passionate smart guys in it ? Labs
will gain of it imo.
====
Here comes two more personal POV, idea, whatever :
- labs like an idea box :
From my point of view - may be false - actual labs is more a "write
code place" than an express, discussion, grow and develop ideas place.
May a way to write some (visible from labs site) webpages, have a wiki
for idea expression could be good... Some others tools can be imagined.
- "Sponsorship" : I don't know how well express the idea, but will try.
So well, we all know that opensource coding cost time, and - mostly - if
apache project go forward it's because some devs are paid to work on.
Labs, is something more "personal", done on spare time, and so...
motivation is harder to find after a 8+ hour behind a pc doing "for the
boss stuff".
But ideas, piece of code in it could be really interesting for some
company, other projects,...
Saying that, I have no solution, may we could imagine a way of
"Sponsoring" innovative work on labs ?
Firstly want to do something short... hope not too annoying.
++
[1] related part of the discussion :
> - provide access to non-existing ASF people. Perhaps something like
> > as long as there is an ASF committer initially creating the lab then
> > they can get non-asf people access to participate.
Difficult. Violates a standard ASF policy. My guess is that the'd
need at least to sign the standard CLA, which is basically the same
hurdle than accepting them as committers.
On 06/10/2011 09:41 AM, Bernd Fondermann wrote:
Fellow researchers,
see below the drafted board report.
Any feedback welcome.
Bernd
= Apache Labs Board Report, June 2011 =
Apache Labs hosts small and emerging projects from ASF committers.
[STATUS]
Labs is in a kind of identity crisis, it seems. Activity around current
and new labs is low.
However, there might be hope. We recently had a very active public
discussion on labs@labs.apache.org about the project's future, where a
few constitutional cornerstones of Labs where put into question. That
said, not all is lost. My personal feeling is that we just need to
spread the word a little more to attract new lablings.
It's the PMC's task for the next quarter to work out what could be
changed and improved. There is also the perspective to go to the Attic
if no improvements can been achieved in the middle- to long-term
perspective.
Additionally, we are in the process of voting in a new PMC member.
[DETAILS]
== Labs Statistics ==
- new: 0
- status changes (last 3 months): 0
- total number: 35
- active: 13
- idle: 15
- promoted: 3
- completed: 4
- labs with commits: magma, noggit
=end of report=
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