Re: the latter half of october, the maintainer goes offline

[Taylor Blau <me@ttaylorr.com>]

On Fri, Oct 04, 2024 at 09:58:52AM -0700, Junio C Hamano wrote:
> shejialuo <shejialuo@gmail.com> writes:
>
> > On Fri, Oct 04, 2024 at 05:22:27PM +0200, Patrick Steinhardt wrote:
> >
> > [snip]
> >
> >> There are two maintainership models I can think of: either a single
> >> individual or a group of people would take over.
> >>
> >>   - A single individual needs funding. The ideal situation would be if
> >>     that funding came independent of any of the large forges. Or
> >>     alternatively, the big players in this context come together to all
> >>     pay into the same pot to fund that person. In theory, the role could
> >>     be elected and serve for a limited amount of time so that overall,
> >>     the community is in control.
> >
> > Well, I think we cannot easily fund a single individual. It it is a
> > full-time job, we have to also pay for the insurances. I don't know
> > how to hire an individual in an open source project. But intuitively I
> > think there would be a lot of trouble here due to the laws.

It is definitely true that the Git project alone could not fund a full
year of the maintainer's salary [1].

> I think the model Patrick has in mind for the above is like how
> Linux Foundation hires Linus Torvalds to work full time on Linux,
> while the Foundation is funded by large industry players.
>
> Git has become important enough that such a model may be workable,
> and that may make it easier to maintain appearance of impartiality
> by whoever is being funded.

Sure, though I would add that my personal feeling is that it is a
possibility, not a requirement, that the maintainer's funding come from
either an independent entity (like the Linux Foundation) or from a pool
funded by industry leaders.

I say that only to point out that while Junio is employed by Google, I
don't think any of us would doubt his impartiality with regard to the
project.

I think as long as the maintainer's employer does not unfairly influence
the maintainer's decisions on their behalf, then it is OK.

Thanks,
Taylor

[1]: https://lore.kernel.org/git/Zusxcweod1O88h7j@nand.local/