I'll post more on the RFC, but I wonder if an entity within WMF would be more appropriate and realistic. Utilizing the existing operations structure would be far easier. Perhaps setup something like FDC to oversee priorities and funds.
My hunch is WMF would be far more likely to sign off on something they retain a sense of sign-off on for the sake of maintaining the WMF projects than having to deal with an independent entity that would have the legal right to go rogue one day and not do what's in the best interest of the WMF projects. I recognize to some extent that's the point, but looking down a 5 year road of possibilities, is that something we'd ever want to happen? My feeling is no and allowing WMF to maintain some level of authority in the development of MediaWiki is in our collective best interests. From project management, fundraising, usability, system resources and paid developer support perspective. I would instead propose a MediaWiki department or collective (insert your favorite term here). -Greg aka varnent ____________ Sent from my iPhone. Apologies for any typos. A more detailed response may be sent later. On Sep 1, 2012, at 10:42 PM, MZMcBride <z...@mzmcbride.com> wrote: > Daniel Friesen wrote: >> Done in true developer style "[RFC] MediaWiki Foundation": >> https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Requests_for_comment/MediaWiki_Foundation > > Thank you for this! This is exactly what I had in mind. > > It's interesting, with a lot of (proposed) non-profits, the biggest concerns > are engaging volunteers and generating income. With this proposed > foundation, I think most of the typical concerns aren't in play. Instead, as > Nikerabbit so deftly commented on the RFC's talk page, the big question is: > > What projects would a MediaWiki Foundation work on and how would those > projects be chosen? > > This seems to be _the_ crucial issue. Getting grants from the Wikimedia > Foundation or Wikia or others doesn't seem like it'd be very difficult. > Assuming there was broad support for the creation of such a foundation from > active MediaWiki developers (and related stakeholders), getting the > Wikimedia Foundation to release the trademark and domain also doesn't seem > like it would be very difficult. But there's a huge unresolved question > about how, out of the infinite number of project ideas, a MediaWiki > Foundation would choose which ideas to financially support. > >> As you command oh great catalyst[1]. >> [1] Hope you don't mind. I found it amusing. And it kind of fits in a >> positive way. > > Cute. :-) > > MZMcBride > > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikitech-l mailing list > Wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org > https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikitech-l _______________________________________________ Wikitech-l mailing list Wikitech-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikitech-l
