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Message-ID: <20060706193553.83043.qmail@web60723.mail.yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 12:35:53 -0700 (PDT)
From: Ole Ersoy <ole_ersoy@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [discussion] Lowering barrier for perspective committers
To: Apache Directory Developers List <dev@directory.apache.org>
In-Reply-To: <44AD4D8F.7090307@bellsouth.net>
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Hey Guys,

I try to do things in parallel as much as possible, so
whenever I see something on ADS that has synergy with
stuff I'm doing, I go ahead and add to both.  Thus
when I'm learning about ADS, I take the time to post
updates on the documentation as well.  I'm sure a lot
of other people would do the same.  Like Alex said,
this of coarse requires that they are aware of and how
understanding of the various subprojects within ADS.

I'm going to propose some structural things here.

First Overall Project Principals
- Simplicity, Visibility, Repeatability

Second Small project structures (Lego Blocks) made
from maven archetypes.

Clearly stated knowledge requirements for each
archetype.

So let me elaborate a little and make it more
concrete.

I'll use the testing archetype I just started and put
on JIRA as an example.

This is a type, like a java type except it creates a
starting project structure for a specific type of
project, for a project used in performance testing
ADS.  Someone wanting to performance test ADS from
scratch, would create an instance of this maven
archetype, and use it to do the performance test.  

The important thing about it is that it gives
developers a clear unambigous starting point for
testing ADS.

Since it is created for a specific purpose its pretty
easy to document it and explain how it works.

Also because of the way it's defined, it's easy to
extend the work to other areas of testing and even
other servers.

It minimizes any setup work for the developer in doing
the performance test.

Since many instances of the archetype can be created,
testing done with specific goals in mind can be
isolated to an archetype instance, with a standardized
way of documenting and interpreting results.

It makes the people making the archetype really put
some thought into minimizing work for everyone else.

This in turn is easy to build on for everyone in the
community, because everyone would start getting used
to archetypes.

So for any project there would be a clearly defined
starting point communicated through the structure of
the archetype.

So by combining these structures and the general maven
capabilities, most of the documentation for the
project can be generated.  Then some high level
directional stuff added on top for over the trees
visibility.

I would also add use cases for each archetype, and the
instances of the archetype, as well as how these fit
in with the overall direction of the server.  Make
this standardized in templates so that its generally
understood that all the projects should follow this
template standard.

Whenever I update the performance testing archetype,
I'll add these ideas to the documentation so that what
I'm saying becomes more concrete, and it will be a
little easier to see the value in it.  If you check
out the documentation for the project, you'll see that
it's written in a breadcrumb like fashion, making it
easy for anyone to see where I started and how I got
the where it is now.  I always add to this before I do
coding or anything.  This lets me see my thoughts in
words, thus I'm doing a self check, before actually
doing any implementation.  It facilitates my thought
process and makes it

simple 

for others to follow in a 

repeatable

way.

Cheers,
- Ole


--- Alex Karasulu <aok123@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> John E. Conlon wrote:
> > On Thu, 2006-07-06 at 09:43 -0400, Alex Karasulu
> wrote:
> > 
> >> The number of active committers on Apache
> Directory Server is dwindling 
> >> and we have many areas where a single developer
> has been working alone.
> >> Some email threads have tried to address the
> issue of the lack of enough
> >> committers in specific areas: see threads [0] &
> [1].  
> > I seem to have had a ringside seat on these. 
> Apologies if I contributed
> > adversely to causing a break.
> 
> This whole OSGi effort was an undercurrent due to
> the inexperience of 
> some to engage the rest of the community.  Nothing
> we cannot fix by just 
> talking to each other though.  The key is not to
> have isolated groups 
> within a community that is already small.
> 
> >> So we are
> >> suffering mostly in the following areas:
> >>
> >> o OSGi effort,
> > Would help out all I can to move this forward.
> Unfortunately the OSGi
> > effort is an effort that requires a big picture
> view of ADS internals
> > and project direction. My ignorance of both has
> impeded my efforts to
> > help with much with the OSGi effort to date. 
> 
> No problem! No one person has the whole picture
> crystal clear.  We can 
> do this together.  It will take everyone to form
> this picture.  This is 
> why collaboration and communication are so important
> especially with the 
> OSGi initiative.
> 
> ...
> 
> >> As for new committers, I think we need to lower
> the barrier for
> >> committership while safely integrating these
> committers into our
> >> committer base.  One key need is to provide the
> proper guidance while
> >> reviewing their activity.  Up to now we've been
> getting several
> >> contributions and many are just collecting up in
> JIRA.  
> > Yes, although most of the OSGi related issues I
> added were not commented
> > on by active comitters, 
> 
> Without an introduction to what is going on, it is
> very difficult for us 
> to piece together the meaning of specific JIRA
> issues.
> 
> I felt it best to just get them in to JIRA to
> > notify anyone else attempting to work with ADS and
> OSGi about what
> > problems and issues they may encounter.
> 
> This was good to do however the email from Emmanuel
> shows how people 
> want to know what is happening rather than seeing a
> JIRA issue fly by. 
> You're response to Emmanuel's email was exactly what
> we needed.
> 
> >> o Will probies feel like second class committers?
> Are there social 
> >> ramifications?
> > Of course by definition they are just that. But
> that is okay! IMO
> > 'second class committer' or 'mentored committer'
> sounds better than
> > 'probie';-) 
> 
> Noted. "mentored committer" sounds fine.
> 
> >> Thoughts? Comments?
> > Would be happy to help out the ADS effort anyway I
> can.
> 
> Great! I am looking forward to you getting more
> involved.  And keep on 
> approaching the community about the OSGi goals you
> have.  Keep us 
> updated and try to get people to bite on the OSGi
> bug.  It is critical 
> for the success of this OSGi effort to get the rest
> of the committership 
> educated about your, and Enrique's goals.
> 
> Alex
> 
> 


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