Re: Contributor Summit planning

[Jeff King <peff@peff.net>]

On Mon, Aug 27, 2018 at 03:22:39PM +0200, Johannes Schindelin wrote:

> Having said that, I believe that we core contributors can learn to have a
> fruitful online meeting. With 30+ participants, too.
> 
> Learning from my past life in academia (it is hard for me to imagine a
> less disciplined crowd than a bunch of white, male, old scientists), we
> would need a moderator, and some forum that allows to "give somebody the
> mic". That software/platform should exist somewhere.

Yes, I agree that software tools could help a lot with a crowd that
size. I have used various "virtual classroom" tools before, and I think
the core of the idea is there, but I was often unimpressed by the
execution (and expense). So if you know of a good tool, it might be
worth trying.

> I would love to have the best of both worlds. For example, it is an annual
> annoyance that we are discussion all kinds of things regarding Git, trying
> to steer the direction, to form collaborations on certain features, and
> the person at the helm is not even there.
> 
> Maybe *two* meetings per year, one attached to GitMerge, and one purely
> online, would help.

I'm somewhat skeptical of the utility of an online meeting. That said,
I'm willing give it a try (or any other scheme people want to come up
with, for that matter).

> Point in favor of the pure-online meeting: the informal standup on IRC
> every second Friday. I really try to attend it (it is a bit awkward
> because it is on a Friday evening in my timezone, right at the time when I
> want to unwind from the work week), as it does have a similar effect to
> in-person standups: surprising collaborations spring up, unexpected help,
> and a general sense of belonging.

Yes, I've been meaning to make it to another one (I popped in for one a
month or two ago, and it didn't seem like much of anything was
happening).

What time is it, again?

> Such an online summit as I suggested above would really only work if
> enough frequent contributors would attend. If enough people like you,
> Junio, and the standup regulars would say: yep, we're willing to plan and
> attend an online summit, where we try to have a timezone-friendly
> "unconference"-style meeting on one day (on which we would of course try
> to free ourselves from our regular work obligations).
> 
> I guess I am asking for a "raise your hands", with mine high up in the
> air.

I'll come if you want to organize it.

-Peff