r250 - /web/deps/dep2.mdwn

Sat Jan 28 15:27:32 UTC 2012

Author: hertzog
Date: Sat Jan 28 15:27:31 2012
New Revision: 250

URL: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/dep/?sc=1&rev=250
Log:
Integrate comments from several Debian QA members.

Modified:
    web/deps/dep2.mdwn

Modified: web/deps/dep2.mdwn
URL: http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/dep/web/deps/dep2.mdwn?rev=250&op=diff
==============================================================================

--- web/deps/dep2.mdwn (original)
+++ web/deps/dep2.mdwn Sat Jan 28 15:27:31 2012
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 discussions on this topic.
 
 This makes it very painful to change/switch the Maintainer field because
-people have to update their PTS subscriptions accordingly. 
+people have to update their PTS subscriptions accordingly.
 
 #### Duplication of work / inconsistency between the DDPO and the PTS
 
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@
 that cannot be well maintained because the set of maintainers do not cover
 all the tasks that must be assumed to have a properly maintained package.
 
-#### Replacing maintenance mailing lists
+#### Replace maintenance mailing lists
 
 Packaging teams often separate the mailing list that gets the bug traffic and
 other notifications from their main discussion mailing list. This new
@@ -111,6 +111,45 @@
 all of them are MIA or marked as not being available for Debian (busy/in
 vacation).
 
+#### Provide new services to packaging teams
+
+Given that this infrastructure would have native support for packaging
+teams, it would also be a good place to offer some standardized services
+for them.
+
+For example, one of the central tool for teams are their VCS and it can be
+useful for teams to be able to monitor the state of their package in the
+VCS. The [PET](http://pet.alioth.debian.org/) tool could be adapted,
+integrated and made available to all teams by default.
+
+#### Replace WNPP's RFH, RFA, O
+
+Since the infrastructure already stores the information about who is
+maintaining what, it only makes sense to extend it to provide the
+list of orphaned packages (i.e. packages without maintainers).
+
+RFH should be replaced by a system where the help request is better
+formalized so that we can better direct new contributors in places
+where their skills would be well used. Instead of just requesting
+help, you could request:
+- a new maintainer (to replace you, i.e. RFA)
+- a supplementary co-maintainer
+- a bug triager
+- a C/Python/Perl/â€¦ programmer (you should be able to choose the programming
+  language)
+
+Each request also documents whether there's an associated offer of
+"mentorship" associated to the help request. Of course, there would
+also be a free form description to give more details about what's
+expected.
+
+#### Replace the LowThresholdNmu list
+
+The [LowThresholdNmu](http://wiki.debian.org/LowThresholdNmu) wiki page
+is a hack to let people know when NMU are welcome and not frowned
+upon. This information should be properly stored in the database
+and it should be associated to each package.
+
 
 High-level design of the new infrastructure
 -------------------------------------------
@@ -149,9 +188,17 @@
 ### Using a modern framework for web development
 
 DDPO is implemented in PHP. The PTS uses a mix of Perl, Python, XSLT and
-shell scripts. While both works very well and are reliable, we can do much
-better by using a modern framework for web development (starting with
-internationalization of the web interface).
+shell scripts. While both works very well and are reliable, the diversity
+of the tools and the fact that some are not widely known (e.g. XSLT)
+seriously limit the set of contributors who are able to hack on all the
+parts of the infrastructure.
+
+With a modern framework for web development, we enlarge the set of people
+who are able to help us develop and maintain this infrastructure. It also
+offers us a proper separation between presentation and code, so that it's
+easier to let web designers integrate this service with the general
+look&feel of the various Debian websites. On top of this, we get a fully
+internationalized website for free.
 
 ### API for data export
 
@@ -197,9 +244,14 @@
  * BTS: [Bug Tracking System](http://bugs.debian.org)
  * UDD: [Ultimate Debian Database](http://udd.debian.org)
  * DD: Debian Developer
+ * WNPP: [Work Needing and Prospective Packages](http://www.debian.org/devel/wnpp/)
+ * RFH: Request For Help
+ * RFA: Request For Adoption
+ * O: Orphaned
+ * NMU: Non-Maintainer Upload
 
 Changes
 -------
 
 * 2011-01-13: Initial draft by RaphaÃ«l Hertzog.
-
+* 2011-01-28: Integrate feedback from debian-qa at lists.debian.org.


