Re: Potential Launch of Boost Website: Request for Final Feedback

From: Ion Gaztañaga (igaztanaga_at_[hidden])
Date: 2024-02-17 16:17:51

On 15/02/2024 17:36, Vinnie Falco via Boost wrote:
> On Thu, Feb 15, 2024 at 8:13 AM Andrey Semashev via Boost <
> boost_at_[hidden]> wrote:
> 
>> ...what happens if The C++ Alliance ceases to exist?
>>
> 
> That is a great question! We have thought about this, and note that the
> problem exists for whoever controls the boost.org domain. While I do not
> see the C++ Alliance going anywhere, we value and cherish the Boost C++
> Library collection and want to make sure to mitigate as much risk as
> possible. To this end we have created a low-cost mirror of the current
> static website which can be pointed to in a DNS record if for some reason
> something happens to the new website. We also keep a copy of the website on
> hand in case there is some old information that we missed, so that we can
> refer back to it. And we also keep a copy for the case where the new
> website has an accessibility bug, so that affected users have continuity of
> access.
> 
> ...what happens if The C++ Alliance...loses its interest in Boost?
>>
> 
> The C++ Alliance is not one person who can "lose interest"; it is the sum
> of its non-profit charter (to contribute to C++) and the Staff Engineers
> who share the mission. These engineers are maintainers or authors of Boost
> libraries so what you are asking is what happens if all of the authors and
> maintainers of these Boost libraries suddenly decide they no longer wish to
> contribute to Boost? This seems unlikely...in fact we are suffering from
> the opposite problem. There are too many outstanding engineers who want to
> work with us and I feel terrible for turning them down due to budgets.

I think putting code into github and the BSL license are good guarantees 
in case website is no longer updated or the C++ Alliance is gone, the 
community can pick up the effort and continue the website, or invent a 
new one. I see no difference with the situation of a Boost library that 
is abandonware because the maintainer lost interest or sadly passes 
away, the community can continue the maintenance or invent a new library 
that replaces it.

Best,

Ion