Re: OT: mail-based interfaces and web-based interfaces (Re: Extract

Michael G Schwern [off-list ref] wrote:

On 2012.7.25 4:48 PM, Eric Wong wrote:

quoted

We need to use something.  Right now our choice of mailer is the best
choice for _existing_ contributors.

I believe this entire discussion can be reduced to that right there.

If your process is optimized for existing contributors, it will work well for
existing contributors, who will want to optimize it for themselves.  Repeat.
If the main way you evaluate your process is asking "is this more convenient
for me" then you're probably in that spiral.

This creates a process very well tuned to the existing contributors, and its
very convenient for them.  But the consequence is it becomes more and more
work for a new contributor to join.

The process is _not_ a lot of work.  At least no more than any other
project: observe the regulars -> imitate the regulars

Many/most regular git contributors are not Linux kernel developers, yet
were able to quickly able to get up-to-speed with git.  AFAIK, the Linux
kernel gets plenty of new contributors every year, too.

Before talking about anything else, the existing contributors have to ask
themselves a simple question:  Do we care about getting new contributors?

Yes, if contributors are willing to learn/respect existing conventions.
We do take time to help new contributors out :)

For me, it's certainly "no" if there's any endorsement of
non-Free Software or centralized/commercial services involved.

The answer can be "no" ("yes, but not if I'm inconvenienced" is a no).  Maybe
you're happy with the people you've got.  But there's no point in getting into
detail until that's settled.