[Python-Dev] Windows

[Tim Golden]

On 04/08/2010 02:08, Steve Holden wrote:
> It's a little disappointing to discover that despite the relatively
> large number of developers who have received MSDN licenses from
> Microsoft, none if us have the time to make sure that the buildbots are
> green for the 2.6.6 release.
>
> I wonder if anyone can think of a way we can get some Windows skillz
> into the group that could assist at ties like this. Some brainstorming
> might find a way through.

My own problem is just the amount of ramp-up time (as a proportion of
my own available time) to get hold of a problem even when I see it.
(Speaking here in the more general sense of fixing Windows-related
Python bugs).

As one who has benefitted from the MSDN largesse I am certainly conscious of
the responsibility to contribute benefits back to the Python community.
On the basis that I'm far more likely to watch a buildbot which I actually
administer, I have recently nudged my sysadmins here to see if they can
make good on their promise to find me a spare server to use as a buildbot.

I have watched the buildbot pages occasionally, especially when I see
Windows-related commits going in, but several times "red" buildbots
have turned out to be -- apparently -- environmental / local issues
unrelated to commits. Obviously I could/should have contacted the
buildbot owner to at least inform him or her that something was amiss.
But somehow at that point one's technical enthusiasm for fixing a
problem diminishes when it's not clear that there *is* a problem.
(Grumble, grumble, mutter, mutter... :) )

While we'd certainly benefit from more Windows skills, we'd probably
benefit more from people who have more *time* to look at Windows
issues. OK; to propose something concrete: I'll write a blog post
and advertise on python-win32 to ask for Windows people who perhaps
might at least be interested in contributing time. I will also
advertise (and maybe enhance) Brian Curtin's how-to doc on Windows
Python core development... which I can't quite lay my hands on at
the moment. Hopefully we can lower the perceived entry-bar for
contribution at different levels.

TJG