[Python-ideas] Iterative development

[Chris Angelico]

On Thu, Jan 30, 2014 at 2:52 AM, Haoyi Li <haoyi.sg at gmail.com> wrote:
>> You want to know what's going on? Get involved. Then you'll know
>
> +1. It's odd to complain about the project's organization and processes when
> you haven't actually had any real experience with either. Getting involved
> in some project run by other people isn't easy, but it's not really that
> hard either in the world of open source.

I first met that concept with community groups, rather than open
source projects, but the result is similar. There were people who
desperately wanted to be in that "inner circle" of people who knew, a
year in advance, which Gilbert & Sullivan operas were going to be
performed, and who'd be directing them, and who would be playing which
roles, and so on. It's all announced sooner or later, but for some
people, they'd really rather it be "sooner" than "later". Well, that's
easily solved. Serve on the society's committee - then you know what's
happening, because you're helping to make it happen. And if you're
happy with a lesser advantage from lesser work, just swing by and help
us with our mail-out. You get to read the info we're sending before we
send it out... because you're helping us to send it out.

In one stroke, you call the bluff of anyone who just wanted handouts
of information, satisfy the desires of those who really care, and
maybe even get some extra help running the (all-volunteer)
organization. I call that a win! :)

ChrisA