<div dir="ltr">When acting in this capacity I speak as a member of OSGeo (and not as a boundless employee).<div><br></div><div>There are several aspects about our foundation that I personally disagree with, never the less I try and respect the view point of each community I work with. Personally I do respect your opinion on the benevolent dictator model, I love the fact that someone is in position to take responsibility and care for the project.</div><div><br></div><div>As indicated in my previous email OSGeo as a foundation really focuses on being inclusive with the (possibly idealistic) notion of being open to a new volunteer (or organization) being able to take an interest in a project and gradually assume responsibility and governance as they become more passionate.</div><div><div><br></div></div></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div>--</div><div>Jody Garnett</div></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On 1 May 2016 at 12:48, Hogan, Patrick (ARC-PX) <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:patrick.hogan@nasa.gov" target="_blank">patrick.hogan@nasa.gov</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="m_8135051744564124005__MailEndCompose"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Jody,<u></u><u></u></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Despite the infinite respect I have for your opinion and the Boundless organization, sincerely, I couldn’t more heartily disagree. At least I think I am disagreeing.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Open source is open source, there are many flavors, each one serving different tastes, and each with different paths if nirvana is to be experienced, or at
least attempted.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">But open source is open source and geospatial is geospatial. Aren’t people free to take ‘benevolent dictator’ code and branch it to their interests? For certain
projects to mature, they need to be spared the collective collaboration that also introduces the chaos of community. One size does not fit all at all stages of development.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Copyleft, at the more ‘pure’ end of open source, seems far more ‘prickly’ in terms of ongoing usability than benevolent dictator. Yet one might consider Copyleft
the ‘true god’ of open source to some. I am more profane on the subject.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">OSGeo might want to rise to the occasion of a ‘big tent’ versus. . .
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">IANAL, I am not a lawyer, nor a doctor for that matter. ;-)<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">This world needs all the open source solutions it can get, from copyleft to benevolent dictator.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">-Patrick<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> Discuss [mailto:<a href="mailto:discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org" target="_blank">discuss-bounces@lists.osgeo.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Jody Garnett<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, May 1, 2016 4:30 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> Cameron Shorter<br>
<b>Cc:</b> OSGeo Discussions; <a href="mailto:incubator@lists.osgeo.org" target="_blank">incubator@lists.osgeo.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [OSGeo-Discuss] [Incubator] Should OSGeo accept "benevolent dictator" projects into OSGeo?<u></u><u></u></span></p><div><div class="h5">
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<p class="MsoNormal">This is kind of a larger topic than just the incubation committee, but no I do not believe we should. It is a defining characteristic of our foundation to not place many restrictions on our projects - but demand that the projects be inclusive
and open to collaboration.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I do not believe that the "benevolent dictator" fits this ideal.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">I also do not think we need to stress the PSC approach as the one true way, smaller projects that only wish to have committers vote on decisions (rather than form a PSC) is perfectly acceptable - provided there is a provision for new committers
to be added into the mix.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">We also have an outstanding request from our president to make the foundation more inclusive. With this in mind we are a lot less demanding on our community projects - which provides a way for projects that do not meet some of our ideal
criteria to be part of the foundation.<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">--<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Jody<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">--<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Jody Garnett<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 1 May 2016 at 00:44, Cameron Shorter <<a href="mailto:cameron.shorter@gmail.com" target="_blank">cameron.shorter@gmail.com</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">OSGeo discuss, OSGeo incubation, OSGeo board,<br>
<br>
I'm hoping the greater OSGeo community will consider and comment on this question:<br>
<br>
Should OSGeo accept a "benevolent dictator" [1] governance model for incubating projects?<br>
<br>
-0 from me, Cameron Shorter.<br>
<br>
Background:<br>
* As part of incubation, Peter Baumann, from Rasdaman has requested a "benevolent dictatorship" governance model [2]. While "benevolent dictatorships" often lead to successful projects, all prior OSGeo incubated projects have selected "equal vote by PSC members".
Someone with better legal training than me might find "benevolent dictatorships" to be unconstitutional according to OSGeo bylaws. [3]<br>
<br>
[1] Eric Raymond's "Homesteading the Noosphere": <a href="http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/homesteading/homesteading/ar01s16.html" target="_blank">
http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/homesteading/homesteading/ar01s16.html</a><br>
[2] <a href="http://www.rasdaman.org/wiki/Governance" target="_blank">http://www.rasdaman.org/wiki/Governance</a><br>
[3] <a href="http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html" target="_blank">
http://www.osgeo.org/content/foundation/incorporation/bylaws.html</a><u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 1/05/2016 3:56 pm, Peter Baumann wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Cameron-<br>
<br>
I understand where you are coming from, and your characterization is definitely correct. While our process is and always has been absolutely open to discussion so as to obtain the scientifically and technically best solution this "benevolent dictatorship" has
brought rasdaman to where it stands now - it is designed by innovation, not by committee. Just to get me right, our model is certainly not the right one for every endeavour. Here it is the most appropriate, and hence we will keep it.<br>
<br>
As you observe, this model is not contradicting OS as such, and many projects run it. So ultimately it lies in the hand of OSGeo to decide whether they accept the existing plurality of approaches (in this case manifest with rasdaman).<br>
<br>
best,<br>
Peter<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 04/30/2016 10:47 PM, Cameron Shorter wrote:<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Bruce, Peter,<br>
I've read through the incubation process documentation, and can only see one thing which I think breaks our OSGeo principles.<br>
<br>
The Governance model includes a statement:<br>
"In all issues, the PSC strives to achieve unanimous consent based on a free, independent exchange of facts and opinions. Should such consent exceptionally not be reached then Peter Baumann has a casting vote."<br>
<a href="http://www.rasdaman.org/wiki/Governance" target="_blank">http://www.rasdaman.org/wiki/Governance</a><br>
<br>
This is describing a "benevolent dictator" model, which has proved to be an effective model for many open source projects. See Eric Raymond's "Homesteading the Noosphere":
<a href="http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/homesteading/homesteading/ar01s16.html" target="_blank">
http://www.catb.org/esr/writings/homesteading/homesteading/ar01s16.html</a><br>
<br>
However, it is not in line with existing OSGeo Incubated projects, which have documented a "vote by PSC" as the defining governance process. In practice, the PSC community debate alternatives, and if needed, respectfully revert to reasoned advice provided by
the "benevolent dictator".<br>
<br>
Peter, are you open to changing the governance model to a "vote by PSC"?<br>
I'd be comfortable with a "vote by PSC, with PSC chair being given 1.5 votes to break any deadlocks. I'd also be ok with PSC chair defaulting to Peter (as founder), until such time as Peter resigns from the role."<br>
<br>
Warm regards, Cameron <u></u><u></u></p>
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<span><u></u><u></u></span></span></p>
<pre><span style="color:#888888">-- </span><u></u><u></u></pre>
<pre><span style="color:#888888">Cameron Shorter,<u></u><u></u></span></pre>
<pre><span style="color:#888888">Software and Data Solutions Manager<u></u><u></u></span></pre>
<pre><span style="color:#888888">LISAsoft<u></u><u></u></span></pre>
<pre><span style="color:#888888">Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,<u></u><u></u></span></pre>
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<pre><span style="color:#888888"><u></u> <u></u></span></pre>
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