Open Stack

On 03/07/2013 05:04 AM, Mark McLoughlin wrote:
> On Thu, 2013-03-07 at 10:45 +0100, Thierry Carrez wrote:
>> Vishvananda Ishaya wrote:
>>> I'd like to announce formally that I won't be running for nova PTL this cycle. PTL duties for a large project like Nova take an inordinate amount of time and I think it is good to spread the load around.
>>>
>>> Over the last release cycle Russell Bryant has been extremely helpful, taking on a lot of the blueprint and meeting work. Other members have also contributed in important ways, by doing massive amounts of reviews (Sean Dague, Michael Still, Kevin Mitchell) or taking on specific areas of functionality (Devananda Van Der Veen, Daniel Berrange, Chris Behrens).
>>>
>>> I don't think it is possible for one person to fly solo; it really requires a team of people working together. I will therefore continue to help the new PTL by taking on whatever duties I can. I plan on continuing to contribute code, bug fixes, and reviews.
>>
>> Yes, I think Nova needs to be run by a small group (1-4) of very active
>> lieutenants (nova-drivers group ?), potentially split along functional
>> lines, with the PTL having the duties to keep a global view, updated
>> roadmaps and do release meeting reports. To compensate for that, the PTL
>> gets the right to make final calls when one needs to be taken (+ a free
>> TC seat).
>
> A model that could work is that drivers become a very small group of
> leaders (e.g. 4 members) that make final calls based on rough consensus
> amongst them.
>
> OpenStack basically requires that all projects have a PTL (and not just
> for the TC seat) but maybe an individual project could prove the concept
> of "joint, consensus based leadersip" can work and rotate the figurehead
> PTL title amongst the drivers every 6 months.

Honestly, it feels like Nova culture is headed in that direction now 
anyway, which is kinda awesome. There is a lot of technical depth in the 
team, a lot of respect between the core team.

> With these PTL elections, you can say it's better when each PTL position
> is contested because it shows that the project has multiple viable
> leaders. However, I hate the idea that folks who are effectively jointly
> leading a project are forced to compete for the PTL title and that this
> competition would in any way damage their relationship and ability to
> jointly lead. I also hate the idea that the loser of that competition
> then steps back and takes less of a leadership role.

I do understand the sentiment, but I only think it's a problem if we as 
a project let it be one.

	-Sean

-- 
Sean Dague
IBM Linux Technology Center
email: sdague at linux.vnet.ibm.com
alt-email: sldague at us.ibm.com