Re: A Follow Up to My Original Note Re The Future of Boost

From: Robert Ramey (ramey_at_[hidden])
Date: 2024-08-01 22:42:17

On 8/1/24 3:02 PM, Alan de Freitas via Boost wrote:
> The Boost Foundation cannot transfer control of the domain to the C++
> Alliance because they don't own it either > There's no point in voting on whether they can transfer ownership of
> something that is not theirs.

Right.  The domain name "boost.org" is owned by the Beman Dawes estate 
and can only be transferred by the executor of that estate.

The other asset of interest might be the github repositories.  At least 
in the case of safe_numerics, that repository is "owned" by me - Robert 
Ramey.  I don't have any intention of transfering that ownership to 
anyone else.  I can't speak for the other repositories.  Github doesn't 
reveal who owns them to anyone other than the owner.

Finally there is the boost.org "umbrella" repository.  I believe that 
this is "owned" by Glen Fernandez.

I put "owned" in quotes as it's unclear to me what the owners property 
rights in this case.

Seems to me that this is beyond the influence of both the Boost 
Foundation as well as the C++ Alliance.  The only thing that might 
change things is that C++ Alliance and Boost Foundation attempt to 
purchase the ownership of the domain boost.org from the Dawes estate. 
It's not really possible to know what would happen then.  It might spark 
a "bidding" war as both parties have significant assets and apparently 
interest.  The "winner" would be the Dawes estate who would receive a 
payment commensurate with their perceived value of the domain name.

Which would be a fine outcome as far as I'm concerned.  Beman was a 
friend of mine.  He (along with David Abrahams) worked his butt off for 
years making Boost a success.  I see no better result that his family 
receive some recompense for his unselfish efforts and contributions to 
C++.  I do now believe that without these two gentleman, C++ would not 
have survived into the 21st Century.

Boost accomplished it's original goal in 2011 when large parts of Boost 
were incorporated into the C++ standard.  It hasn't been very relevant 
after that.  Basically, Boost was so successful, that it worked itself 
out business - as successful organizations to.  Of course these 
organizations don't die immediately and no one want's to kill them off 
due to sentimental reasons.  Sometimes they can re-purposed and continue 
on as version 2.0.  Jon Kalb took on this task in 2012? and managed to 
get another 12 years out the franchise and build the successful C++Con. 
(For this he was rewarded by getting unceremoniously pushed out of Boost 
by the board of directors of the Boost Foundation due to some code of 
conduct BS.  Shameful and cowardly behavior by members of the board. 
But I digress.  Here we are stuck again.  Something's got to give.  The 
status of the library repositories probably won't change much.  C++ 
Alliance will acquire the domain boost.org and develop the website, (I'm 
not sure why - oh well) or not in which case Boost Foundation will do it 
(?).

Regardless, I see the purpose and goals of Boost significantly changing 
or Boost dying.  Consider this my modest tribute to a life well lived.

Robert Ramey

PS.  The Beman project is living in the past.  I predict that it will be 
nothing but a zombie website within a year.

RR