- Boost - lists.boost.org

Re: [boost] Replacing the ML with a forum
by Andrzej Krzemienski 09 Sep '24

09 Sep '24

śr., 26 kwi 2023 o 16:08 Vinnie Falco via Boost <boost(a)lists.boost.org> napisał(a): > Before we replace the mailing list with a forum (and implement a mail > gateway) can I get feedback on how you use the mailing list from your > email client? > Every message comes as a separate email to me. > > Are you using a threaded e-mail reader? Gmail groups all the emails from the topic as an email thread. > If so, do you care if > discussions are changed to be flat (like Discourse)? What does "flat" mean here? I am not familiar with Discourse. Could we get a sample or example? Regards, &rzej; What is important > to you (besides that you can continue to use your email client)? > > Thanks > > _______________________________________________ > Unsubscribe & other changes: > http://lists.boost.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/boost >

5 7

Boost Asset Stewardship Review from Jakob
by Jakob Lövhall 09 Sep '24

09 Sep '24

I’m not affiliated with either the C++ Alliance or the Boost Foundation. I’m merely a boost user and sends occasional patches as contribution. The regulatory parts of the proposals are naturally US specific, and I want to make it clear that I do not understand the nuances of those parts. This is my short review. Boost Foundation: The bullet points and values stated in the proposal from the Boost Foundation seems strange to me and does not align with what I have been able to discern from public discourse. I haven't seen the transparency that’s being discussed. Engagement to provide said transparency seems lacking from the Boost Foundation. The emphasis on inclusivity over merit feels like a pathway to decline, as it explicitly excludes other groups beyond the intended inclusivity targets. This seems harmful to Boost and its community and should be avoided. The Boost foundation highlights code of conduct (and policing the discussion) as important going forward. I think it can be damaging, and should thus be avoided. Additionally, the Boost Foundation has not adequately addressed the infrastructure needs of Boost. In contrast, the C++ Alliance has stepped in to handle these concerns. C++ Alliance: Vinnie and others from the C++ Alliance have been actively engaging with the community on Slack and the mailing list—my two main points of contact. This provides transparency, builds relationships, and fosters discussions around technical issues, all of which are beneficial. The C++ Alliance has provided much-needed infrastructure assistance, particularly in cases where the Boost Foundation has failed to address long-standing issues (e.g., wowbagger). They support the maintenance (and at times creation) of libraries which I find useful. They promote on twitter, which I like, I've found good tools and libraries from twitter before and I expect others to also do so. having Boost on twitter therefore helps reaching those who might not have thought about boost when thinking about how to solve their current (C++) problems. The C++ Alliance focuses on merit over identity, which I believe is the right approach. Conclusion: I vote to ACCEPT C++ alliance proposal.

2 1

Regression Test Crashing
by Tom Kent 09 Sep '24

09 Sep '24

All- I've been pretty busy lately so just noticed this, but as of August 18 *all* the regression runs have broken during execution. The tail of the results log shows: - cxx11_char16_t : yes [47] - cxx11_char32_t : yes [47] - windows-sdk-supports-bcrypt : no [14] - windows-sdk-supports-bcrypt : no [51] error: Unable to find file or target named error: '/mnt/fs1/teeks99-06/run/boost_root/libs/charconv/build//stage' error: referred to from project at error: '../tools/check_build/test' Similar on windows: - cxx11_char32_t : yes [62] - windows-sdk-supports-bcrypt : yes [21] error: Unable to find file or target named error: '/C:/teeks99-09/run/boost_root/libs/charconv/build//stage' error: referred to from project at error: '../tools/check_build/test' Tom

4 8

Boost Asset Stewardship Review from Frank Wiles
by Glen Fernandes 08 Sep '24

08 Sep '24

Frank contributed the following review below, sent to me directly. > Vote: Transfer Boost Assets to the C++ Alliance > > Association with library: Occasional user. Long time OSS contributor > in other areas. Was paid to help C++ Alliance build the new boost.io > > Rationale: > > While my association with Boost is not large, I have seen first hand > the care the C++ Alliance has taken to both "do the right thing" and > drive for consensus with the Boost community. > > As someone who has been deeply involved in other software nonprofits > (Django Software Foundation directly, Python Software Foundation > tangentially) this proposal is certainly well thought out and > detailed. Most importantly it covers "end state" cases in the event > the Steering Council or C++ Alliance want to change or end the > relationship in the coming years. > > It seems clear to me that the C++ Alliance is driving the majority of > air in terms of breathing new life into Boost and the assets can > safely be within their control, if for no other reason than to reduce > friction in continuing to push things forward. > > -- > Frank Wiles > President/Founder of REVSYS > www.revsys.com > @fwiles Frank, thank you again for the review. Glen

1 0

Boost Asset Stewardship Review from Ali Asadpoor
by Glen Fernandes 07 Sep '24

07 Sep '24

Ali, thank you for the review. Everyone, Ali contributed the following review to glenfe -at- boost.org reposted verbatim here: On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 8:49 PM Ali Asadpoor wrote: > > Dear Glen, > > Hear is my review of the proposal doc: > > *** > Currently I don't see a bright future for boost library. Soon STL > will offer networking and later it might offer alternatives to other > awesome libraries in the boost. Seems STL is slowly catching up with > boost and it's killing it. > I was happy to read that The C++ Alliance might provide boost with > a second chance to glow again. Boost needs more human power to > process input from community faster and I think The C++ Alliance can > improve this aspect. > *** > > Best regards > Ali

2 1

Re: [boost] Boost Asset Stewardship Review begins 09/03 (Updated)
by Glen Fernandes 07 Sep '24

07 Sep '24

On Fri, Sep 6, 2024 at 7:44 PM Ion Gaztañaga wrote: > A: Yes, I think C++ Alliance’s proposal should be accepted, with a few > suggestions: Ion, a great many thanks for your review and the sentiments expressed within. Everyone, Ion's review didn't make it to the developer list because of an error in the address. I will ask him to repost it when he can tomorrow morning. Glen

1 0

Asset Stewardship Review
by M P 07 Sep '24

07 Sep '24

Here is my review of the proposed Boost.AssetStewardsipReview ## What is your evaluation of the design? The C++ Alliance has laid out a solid plan for boosting Boost, covering everything from revamping the website to improving integration, documentation, and library support. They’ve clearly identified the main issues and have offered practical, detailed solutions. They’re big on involving the Boost community and stakeholders, encouraging feedback and participation, and valuing everyone’s input. The Alliance is upfront about potential challenges like delays and costs, but they address these issues realistically. They’re not just offering quick fixes but are investing in new tools and dedicated staff for long-term support. On the flip side, the Boost Foundation’s concerns about the Alliance’s transparency and use of paid contributions might come across as overly critical. Sticking to slow decision-making and rigid governance could be seen as a barrier to innovation. Their focus on a purely volunteer-based setup might limit growth, and their critique of gender representation doesn't offer clear solutions. Some of their proposals, like improving mailing list behavior and adopting new tools, are a bit vague and might not be enough to attract fresh contributors or more dynamic approaches. ## What is your evaluation of the implementation? The implementation outlined in the text is well-organized and covers all the essential bases for Boost's long-term success. The C++ Alliance has already proven its value by setting up crucial infrastructure, like continuous integration and IT support, and by contributing to various libraries. The new Boost website is fantastic! Its modern design and user-friendly layout make it easy to navigate and find what you're looking for. With its fresh look and improved functionality, it's sure to catch the eye of new users and make their first experience with Boost a great one. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just getting started, the site’s clean interface and accessible resources are a huge plus. Their plan to revamp Boost’s brand and enhance its visibility is forward-thinking and aligns with what the community needs. The proposal to have the Alliance take on fiscal sponsorship aims to streamline operations and ensure financial stability. One thing to keep in mind is that the Alliance proposal comes with a legal agreement where a Steering Committee, made up entirely of Boost authors, gets to make decisions about the shared resources. If they're not happy with how things are going, they have the power to move those resources elsewhere. This kind of setup isn't mentioned in the Foundation proposal. So, while the idea of the Alliance handling fiscal sponsorship could definitely streamline operations and boost financial stability, how it plays out will depend on how well the Alliance and Boost community work together. ## What is your evaluation of the documentation? The C++ Alliance proposal is easy to follow and straightforward, clearly showcasing its contributions to Boost and laying out plans for future growth. It does a great job of explaining the benefits of the proposed governance changes and shows a real commitment to being open, sustainable, and collaborative. ## How much effort did you put into your evaluation? A glance? A quick reading? In-depth study? I have dedicated considerable time to studying the proposals and related documents, and I have been aware of the ongoing conflict for some time. ## Are you knowledgeable about the problem domain? To some extent. With Boost's popularity declining in recent years, it's at a critical crossroads, and its future success may very well hinge on this decision. ## Do you think the C++ Alliance proposal should be accepted? Yes Miguel Portilla

2 1

Asset Stewardship Review
by Christian Mazakas 06 Sep '24

06 Sep '24

Disclaimer: Alliance employee Hi, I'm a little confused at what the Boost Foundation put forth. The opening review email states: > To be clear, the review is not about deciding governance over Boost > C++ library development. That remains in the hands of the Boost > developer community. But TBF's proposal seems entirely to be governance-related. In terms of asset stewardship, it's kind of a no-brainer to choose the organization that _didn't_ almost lose the boost.org domain name. Plus, the Alliance has Sam Darwin and he's infallible. But to the Boost Foundation's credit, I found myself agreeing with a lot of the points being mentioned. Boost _should_ consider introducing a formal CoC. Boost _should_ officially migrate to CMake and being direct here: this does mean completely abandoning b2. We need to revitalize Boost with the youth culture and to the youth, these things matter quite a bit. - Christian

9 20

Boost Asset Stewardship Review from Nick Thomson
by Glen Fernandes 06 Sep '24

06 Sep '24

Nick sent the following review to me at glenfe -at- boost.org. > From: Nick Thompson > Date: On Wed, Sep 4, 2024 at 18:26 > Subject: Fw: Boost Asset Stewardship Review > To: Glen Fernandes > > Vote: Transfer Boost Assets to the C++ Alliance > > Association with library: Contributor to math, multiprecision, > integer, random, and circular_buffer. Main contributions include > black box optimization, quadrature, and statistics in Boost.Math. > > Rationale: > > My contributions to Boost have mainly been implementation of > numerical algorithms. With each of these additions, years of future > maintenance work is implied. Even with the heroic efforts of John > Maddock, without the financial support of the C++ Alliance, these > libraries would accumulate so many open tickets that our reputation > would be badly damaged. Moreover, the utility of these libraries > would be greatly reduced. For example, there would be no way we could > support scipy's effort to expose Boost.Math to python-probably one of > the most impactful uses of Boost to date. The risk of the project > becoming completely defunk or slowly drifting into irrelevance > without continued financial support is extremely high. So as long as > the C++ Alliance is funding the maintenance, they should have the > most say in the continued operation of the library. > > Nick Thompson Nick, thank you for contributing a review. - Glen

2 1

Boost Asset Stewardship Review begins 09/03
by Glen Fernandes 05 Sep '24

05 Sep '24

Everyone, The formal review for the stewardship of Boost assets begins next week, September 3rd. For reference, the review schedule is: https://www.boost.org/community/review_schedule.html The C++ Alliance submitted the following proposal: https://cppalliance.org/pdf/Fiscal-Sponsorship-Proposal.pdf Also attached to this email as: CplusplusAllianceFiscalSponsorshipProposal.pdf The Boost Foundation has prepared a proposal for the community's consideration that is waiting on review from all board members and will be posted before the end of day tomorrow (08/30, by 5pm EST). A follow up email will be posted when it is available so that it has visibility on the Boost developers list and the Announcement list. The review, like our C++ library formal reviews, is open to everyone to participate. The official review start announcement email next week will detail the process for participation. Thank you, - Glen

5 8