[Numpy-discussion] Governance model request

[Sebastian Berg]

On Mo, 2015-09-21 at 11:32 +0200, Sebastian Berg wrote:
> On So, 2015-09-20 at 11:20 -0700, Travis Oliphant wrote:
> > After long conversations at BIDS this weekend and after reading the
> > entire governance document,  I realized that the steering council is
> > very large and I don't agree with the mechanism by which it is
> > chosen. 
> > 
> 
> Hmmm, well I never had the impression that the steering council would be
> huge. But maybe you are right, and if it is, I could imagine something
> like option 2, but vote based (could possibly dual use those in charge
> of NumFOCUS relations, we had even discussed this possibility) which
> would have final say if necessary (could mean that the contributers
> definition could be broadened a bit).
> However, I am not sure this is what you suggested, because for me it
> should be a regular vote (if just because I am scared of having to make
> the right pick). And while I will not block this if others agree, I am
> currently not comfortable with either picking a BDFL (sorry guys :P) or
> very fond of an oligarchy for live.
> 
> Anyway, I still don't claim to have a good grasp on these things, but
> without a vote, it seems a bit what Matthew warned about.
> 
> One thing I could imagine is something like an "Advisory Board", without
> (much) formal power. If we had a voted Steering Council, it could be the
> former members + old time contributers which we would choose now. These
> could be invited to meetings at the very least.
> 
> Just my current, probably not well thought out thoughts on the matter.
> But neither of your three options feel very obvious to me unfortunately.
> 
> - Sebastian
> 
> 
> > A one year time frame is pretty short on the context of a two decades
> > old project and I believe the current council has too few people who
> > have been around the community long enough to help unstuck difficult
> > situations if that were necessary. 
> > 
> > I would recommend three possible adjustments to the steering council
> > concept.  
> > 
> > 1 - define a BDFL for the council.  I would nominate chuck Harris
> > 
> > 2 - limit the council to 3 people.  I would nominate chuck, nathaniel,
> > and pauli.
> > 
> > 3 - add me as a permanent member of the steering council. 
> > 

Though, maybe you should be in the steering council in any case even by
the current rules. Maybe you were not too active for a while, but I
doubt you will quite stop doing stuff on numpy soon....


> > Writing NumPy was a significant amount of work.  I have been working
> > indirectly or directly in support of NumPy continously since I wrote
> > it.  While I don't actively participate all the time, I still have a
> > lot of knowledge, context, and experience in how NumPy is used, why it
> > is the way it is, and how things could be better.  I also work with
> > people directly who have and will contribute regularly.
> > 
> > I am formally requesting that the steering council concept be adjusted
> > in one of these three ways.
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > 
> > Travis
> > 
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> 
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