Re: [boost] Informal CMake meeting at CPPCon

Subject: Re: [boost] Informal CMake meeting at CPPCon
From: Stefan Seefeld (stefan_at_[hidden])
Date: 2017-10-02 18:35:10

On 02.10.2017 14:20, Niall Douglas via Boost wrote:
>> c) And that any such proposals should go through the Boost formal review
>> process.  Traditionally, the boost formal review process has never
>> applied to boost tools so this would be a departure from traditional
>> practice.
> There is good reason why tooling doesn't go through a formal review
> process, it could never pass a formal review.

I think that depends on the goal (and metric) of such a review.
> I think requiring a cmake conversion to pass a formal review is an
> impossible ask. The cmake conversion will never reach the quality of the
> Boost.Build one in any reasonable time period, and moreover, everything
> keeps shifting with time.

True enough.

> I'd support a simple majority, yay or nay vote for the proposed cmake
> design. Without commentary or review. Makes things feasible. And a
> second simple majority yay or nay for when Boost.Build is to be turned
> off (if ever).

I believe you are reaching the wrong conclusions from the above: It's
not because a community as big and heterogeneous as Boost can not agree
on whether to switch to CMake or to stay with Boost.Build that anyone
has the right (or simply the power !) to coerce everyone into accepting
a decision made by a few nonetheless.
It's simply that the goal is ill-conceived. This is Open Source; it is
powered by the people who contribute to and maintain all the projects.
You can cheer-lead infrastructure efforts all you want, you do have to
accept the decision of those who do the work. (And to be very clear, let
me repeat: by "work" I'm not merely referring to the work of migrating,
but that of maintaining and simply using the infrastructure day-to-day.)
Any effort to help improve our (developers' and maintainers') workflow
is *highly* appreciated. But as soon as it's a hindrance rather than
help, I have to say: please get out of the way.

So, to end on a positive note: I appreciate Robert's mail as it conveys
a sense of trying to find consensus. I hope we can build on top of that.

Thanks,
        Stefan

-- 
      ...ich hab' noch einen Koffer in Berlin...