[Incubator] Incubation nightmare - istsos

Cameron Shorter cameron.shorter at gmail.com
Mon Jan 26 03:21:58 PST 2015 

On 26/01/2015 9:11 pm, Massimiliano Cannata wrote:
> Hi Cameron,
> thanks for the answer, but in my opinion it doesn't address the issue.
>
> Of course I could anticipate and do all the work that is needed to 
> graduate, but generally I like to proceed following the workflow: 
> first approve, then provide docs for graduation.
>
> Correct me if I'm wrong, but the incubation procedure il clear and simple:
> 1) open a ticket (or fill a form)
> 2) incubation committee shall vote based on that information
> 3) incubation committee shall make a motion to the board to ratify the 
> vote
> 4) the project is officially in incubation

Yes, this is correct.

>
> So why it get stacked, and even after several remainder from my side 
> it didn't move on?
> What about other projects?
> This is the same for everyone?
> What is the procedure the committee is following?

I don't have a definitive answer, but can offer some observations.

* I've briefly searched for IstSOS incubation documents. From the few 
documents I can see, it appears that IstSOS is still relatively 
immature. The effort required to take a project through incubation is 
high, for both the mentor, the committee, and also the project. As such, 
there may be some un-voiced reluctance to bring IstSOS into incubation.

* In the last 9 years, OSGeo has matured. We have built a comprehensive 
collection of stable projects. There have been many great initiatives 
put in place which is great, but there is ongoing effort required to 
maintain all these initiatives - such as keeping the incubation process 
going.

* You may have noticed that OSGeo committees are largely under-staffed 
with volunteers.

* There is often an expectation that volunteer committees should do xxx 
or yyyy. However, the people doing the expecting, don't go as far as to 
volunteer their time to work on the committee.

* The good news is that it is possible to achieve a lot, with just a bit 
of sustained effort applied to one initiative or another.

* If you are wanting to start incubation just to gain an incubation 
status then you might be doing it for the wrong reasons.  The real 
benefit of completing incubation is that you will be ensuring that you 
have a sustainable project, and people will believe in it.

* So, if you would like to push IstSOS through incubation, I'd suggest 
make it very easy for IstSOS to complete incubation (by starting).

* A starting point would be considering incorporating istSOS on 
OSGeo-Live or in UbuntuGIS. 
http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Live_GIS_Disc#How_to_add_a_project_to_OSGeoLive

* That said, it would be good to have an incubation committee meeting, 
and add discussion of IstSOS to the agenda. Any comment Jody?

>
> I'm asking this because I understand that incubation is important for 
> OSGeo.
Yes.
> Or do projects have to ask Location Tech or Apache Software Foundation 
> for incubation?
> And Incubation then could not be any more an OSGeo mission...
>
> Maxi
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Il giorno Sun Jan 25 2015 at 12:31:03 PM Cameron Shorter 
> <cameron.shorter at gmail.com <mailto:cameron.shorter at gmail.com>> ha scritto:
>
>     Hi Massimiliano,
>     Yes, it is disappointing that istsos hasn't progressed into
>     incubation yet.
>     It seems to have slipped off the radar.
>
>     I have a few suggestions:
>     1. Even if not in incubation, there is nothing stopping a project
>     starting to put OSGeo processes in place, and filling out
>     incubation documentation. Once you are in incubation, this will
>     make incubation much faster. And you will likely find the
>     incubation committee much more likely to help push your project
>     through incubation if your project is already mature. (OSGeo-Live
>     is not officially in incubation, however, we have been filling out
>     our incubation checklist).
>
>     2. If you do want to move into incubation, I suggest getting all
>     your documentation in order, and include references to it, such
>     that it can easily be built into a motion that the incubation
>     committee can vote on. If Arnulf is your mentor, he should be able
>     to help with that.
>
>
>     On 25/01/2015 3:58 am, Massimiliano Cannata wrote:
>>
>>     Dear incubation committee,
>>     I'm embarassed in writing this email...
>>
>>     but after a very very long waiting I have to complain for the
>>     treatment the istsos software is receiving.
>>
>>     Is the same for all the software or just this project is not
>>     considered?
>>
>>     Almost one year ago I apply for entering incubation, the
>>     committee asks me to follow the procedure with form.. Then
>>     ticket.. And I fill everything.
>>
>>     The committee said we need a mentor, Arnulf volunteered,  and the
>>     committee, I think, voted approving istsos to pass in incubation.
>>
>>     Then?.... Nothing... And one year is passed!
>>
>>     I think the committee shall make a motion to the board to approve
>>     the decision, but it never happened.
>>
>>     The result? Istsos is not in incubation: not in the website nor
>>     in any talk I have followed.
>>
>>     Why making a motion is so difficult?
>>
>>     If this is the treatment for new software approaching our
>>     community I believe something does not work at all!
>>
>>     I know people are volunteer and not paid, but the welcome steps
>>     are minimal: reading a page, vote, and make a motion.
>>
>>     If we get stack here, and after several remainders from my side,
>>     this is really discouraging.
>>
>>     Sorry for this email.
>>
>>     Massimiliano
>>
>>
>>
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>>     Incubator at lists.osgeo.org  <mailto:Incubator at lists.osgeo.org>
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>
>     -- 
>     Cameron Shorter,
>     Software and Data Solutions Manager
>     LISAsoft
>     Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
>     26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
>
>     P +61 2 9009 5000,  Wwww.lisasoft.com  <http://www.lisasoft.com>,  F +61 2 9009 5099
>

-- 
Cameron Shorter,
Software and Data Solutions Manager
LISAsoft
Suite 112, Jones Bay Wharf,
26 - 32 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009

P +61 2 9009 5000,  W www.lisasoft.com,  F +61 2 9009 5099

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