[Python-Dev] release forms? (was: [Patches] New sys method to return total reference count in debug builds.)

Jeremy Hylton jeremy@beopen.com
Thu, 8 Jun 2000 09:58:42 -0400 (EDT)


>>>>> "GS" == Greg Stein <gstein@lyra.org> writes:

  GS> On Wed, Jun 07, 2000 at 05:33:10PM +0300, Moshe Zadka wrote:
  >> On Wed, 7 Jun 2000, Greg Ward wrote:
  >> 
  >> > CNRI has absolutely no moral right to it (although probably
  >> some legal > right), I'd prefer to sign it away to Guido.  Or
  >> optionally, to some > legal fiction that represents the Python
  >> community; preferably *not* the > Python Consortium, as long as
  >> CNRI is in any way connected.
  >> 
  >> Who's in charge of the PSA?

  GS> CNRI

  GS> Effectively, the PSA is a legal fiction for collecting donations
  GS> to further the development of Python. The Consortium is similar,
  GS> but members have the actual/explicit capability to steer
  GS> Python's development. I believe this ability to steer the
  GS> development is (was?) rooted in the fact that CNRI employed
  GS> Guido. I have no idea how that will work now -- the "steering"
  GS> will (essentially) have to rely entirely on Guido's good
  GS> graces. Guido is an excellent listener to people's needs, so
  GS> there is no immediate problem here.

The description of the PSA isn't exactly right.  The PSA FAQ has an
official explanation, which may not be right either, but at least it's
what CNRI wants you to think.  (And it may be right; I don't mean to
suggest a nefarious plot, just that the relationship is convoluted
enough that the explanation could be wrong.)

http://www.python.org/psa/FAQ.html

An abbreviated version follows:

|Where does the money from membership fees go and who pays the rest?
|
|    The money goes towards the salary of those who maintain and
|    coordinate the Python web site, ftp server, mailing lists,
|    conference expenses etc....  The case for these expenditures is
|    that a seed community is being incubated. CNRI officers and
|    directors see proof of the existence of such a community from the
|    fact that some members of that community are willing to pay some
|    of their own money to foster the activity.
|
|Who funds Python's development?
|    PSA fees do not fund the Python development effort....


CNRI is no longer maintaining python.org, although it still owns the
domain and maintains the equipment it runs on.  The existence of a
community should be obvious now, without the need for people to pay
money to prove it.

Jeremy