[python-committers] An alternative governance model

[Antoine Pitrou]

Le 18/07/2018 à 19:51, Barry Warsaw a écrit :
> On Jul 18, 2018, at 01:43, Antoine Pitrou <antoine at python.org> wrote:
>>
>> Why do you think non-BDFL projects have a problem with """ambiguity as
>> to the authority of said decision"""?  What is your basis for that
>> assertion?
> 
> With more people empowered to make a binding decision as part of a Supreme Council, there will be more uncertainty in the authority of the person pronouncing. 

I don't really follow you.  If you have a collegial body (a Council),
it's the Council as a whole that has the authority to pronounce.  Not
any singular member of the Council (unless the Council functions as a
miniature monarchy, that is).  So the "person pronouncing" is the Council.

(Imagine a parliamentary regime: when a parliament decides on a law,
it's the parliament's authority that makes the law valid in the eyes of
every citizen.  It does not matter which representatives exactly voted
on a given piece of law.)

> Of one thing I have absolutely no doubt: no decision in Python will ever be unanimous!  That kind of proves my point as to why a singular leader is necessary. :)

That doesn't prove anything. A dictator is not needed to make up for
the lack of unanimity (fortunately! otherwise we would all live under
dictatorships...).

>> You're creating a huge problem here.  Whatever dictator you come up
>> with, not everyone will be ok with that choice.  What are they supposed
>> to do?  If one doesn't think X is legitimate as a dictator, how does one
>> keep contributing to the project?  In other words, you are threatening
>> to exclude people, perhaps seasoned contributors.
> 
> How is that any different with a Supreme Council rather than a singular leader?  Whatever makeup of the Council we come up with, not everyone will be okay with those choices.  What are they supposed to do?

Well, there is a large difference between a dictator-for-life and, for
example, a collegial body that gets renewed from time to time.  The
latter is probably easier to compromise with, even for those who
don't like its makeup.

Regards

Antoine.