[Python-Dev] How do we tell if we're helping or hindering the core development process?

[Nikolaus Rath]

On Jul 22 2015, Nick Coghlan <ncoghlan at gmail.com> wrote:
> On 22 July 2015 at 13:23, Nikolaus Rath <Nikolaus at rath.org> wrote:
>> If it were up to me, I'd focus all the resources of the PSF on reducing
>> this backlog - be that by hiring some core developers to work full-time
>> on just the open bugtracker issues, or by financing development of
>> better code review and commit infrastructure.
>
> Ah, but the PSF can't do that without infringing on python-dev's
> autonomy - switching to my PSF Director's hat, while we'd certainly be
> prepared to help with funding a credible grant proposal for something
> like the Twisted technical fellowship, we wouldn't *impose* help that
> the core developers haven't asked for.

I don't understand. If I would hire a core developer myself to work on
this (theoretically, I have no plans to do that), would that also be
infringing python-dev's authority? If so, how is that different from me
doing the work? If not, why is it different if the PSF decides to hire
someone?

>> The current situation looks like a downward spiral to me. New
>> contributors are frustrated and leave because they feel their
>> contribution is not welcome, and core developers get burned out by
>> the gigantic backlog and the interaction with frustrated patch
>> submitters - thus further reducing the available manpower.
>
> We actually still have a lot of paid core developer (and potential
> core developer) time locked up in facilitating the Python 2 -> 3
> migration, as we didn't fully appreciate the extent to which Python
> had been adopted in the Linux ecosystem and elsewhere until folks
> started seeking help upgrading.

Interesting. Is this information available publically somewhere? I'm
curious what exactly is being worked on.


Best,
-Nikolaus

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