[FFmpeg-devel] [PATCH 3/3] doc/developer: Duties of a maintainer

[Vittorio Giovara]

On Wed, Nov 20, 2024 at 7:16 PM Michael Niedermayer <michael at niedermayer.cc>
wrote:

> Hi
>
> On Tue, Nov 19, 2024 at 11:30:03AM -0500, Vittorio Giovara wrote:
> > On Sat, Nov 16, 2024 at 7:42 PM Michael Niedermayer <
> michael at niedermayer.cc>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Not sure we have such a list elsewhere, i failed to find it
> > >
> > > Signed-off-by: Michael Niedermayer <michael at niedermayer.cc>
> > > ---
> > >  doc/developer.texi | 17 +++++++++++++++++
> > >  1 file changed, 17 insertions(+)
> > >
> > > diff --git a/doc/developer.texi b/doc/developer.texi
> > > index 2af71ed749a..3a942b19627 100644
> > > --- a/doc/developer.texi
> > > +++ b/doc/developer.texi
> > > @@ -948,6 +948,23 @@ change. These get reviewed by the community like
> any
> > > other patch. It is expected
> > >  that, if someone has an objection to a new maintainer, she is willing
> to
> > > object
> > >  in public with her full name and is willing to take over
> maintainership
> > > for the area.
> > >
> > > + at anchor{Duties of a maintainer}
> > > + at section Duties of a maintainer
> > > +
> > > +A maintainer should review and apply/reject patches submited to
> her/his
> > > code.
> > >
> >
> > their code
> >
> >
> > > +A maintainer should fix regressions.
> > > +A maintainer should fix security issues.
> > > +A maintainer should awnser questions which hold up other developers
> in the
> > > +maintained area as far as awnsers are known.
> > > +A maintainer should make sure his details in the MAINTAINERS file are
> > > accurate
> > > +that includes a way to contact as well as updating his/her entry if he
> > > stops
> > > +maintaining the area
> > >
> >
> > why?
> >
> > +"should" above is meant in a way that a maintainer may occasionally be
> > > unable to do
> > > +some item and thats ok. Its also ok if a maintainer leaves these
> tasks to
> > > others.
> > > +Or to require to be reminded. But its expected that a maintainer does
> > > whatever is
> > > +needed to get most of these things done eventually.
> > >
> >
> > this feels like a lot of work for a volunteer position
>
> What list of "duties"/"rights" would you suggest for maintainers ?
>

I think the TC should have the final say on any conflicting technical
topic, in my opinion.

I am not really sure why a MAINTAINERS file is needed at this point. Any
relevant information on specific parts of the code can be found with a git
blame or just by asking on IRC or sending an email here.
That's why I proposed the removal of the file, it adds a maintenance
burden, it's often incorrect, it's incomplete, and feels like it's being
done just because we've always done this, without putting any thought on
why it was done.
-- 
Vittorio