Re: [boost] A Remedy for the Review Manager Starvation

Subject: Re: [boost] A Remedy for the Review Manager Starvation
From: Joachim Faulhaber (afojgo_at_[hidden])
Date: 2010-05-16 01:56:37

2010/5/15 Vladimir Prus <vladimir_at_[hidden]>:
> Joachim Faulhaber wrote:
>
>> (ad 2) A Review Manager Assistant (RMA) ...
>> (2.1) does all the work that is necessary to check a library
>> submission, organizes the process, moderates and files a final report,
>> (2.2) unburdens the review manager from all kinds of detail work,
>> except for the final verdict.
>> (2.3) rejects the library submission, if it not yet fulfills all requirements.
>
> Could you clarify how a review manager can make a "accepted/not accepted"
> decision in good faith without personally reading all discussion?

(1) The RM as a responsible human being has complete freedom to read
as much as he wants from the discussion.
(2) In many cases there is a clear majority vote, so the overall
decision is pretty clear anyway.
(3) Being a team the RM learns that the RMA is a very competent person
and he develops confidence in the RMA's judgement. BTW this kind of
delegation in decision making is very common in may areas.
(4) The RM is not intended to be unburdened in all cases. If there is
a controversial discussion and a tight vote, then the RM is requested
to take responsibility and use his experience to find a final
decision. Still the RMA may help as a partner in this decision
process.

> This seems only possible RM considers RMA at least as experienced and himself,

maybe he is and maybe not. Still points (1) and (2) can be applied.

> in which case why not such RMA cannot be a regular release manager.

(1) because he usually is not independent.
There may occur a (secret) culture of contributors to help each other
to make it into boost.
(2) A general mechanics of elites that only those who are already
members control access.

> In other words -- if you force every author of proposed library to be an RMA,
> then, on the average, he might not be the best person to make decision

the design is such that the RM has the responsibility to make the
decision. Only the RMA does all to make his life easier.

> on other libraries, and then you need a real RM to real all discussions and decide,
> which does not seem to improve on anything.

Best regards,
Joachim.