My original mailing list post is available here.
As a followup to my email last Thursday, in today’s meeting the Ubuntu Developer Membership Board discussed policy and guidance surrounding asynchronous Ubuntu Contributing Developer applications.
The specific meeting report can be found in a separate email following this one, but the following text received agreement from a quorum of the DMB:
How about this: nominally two weeks, four weeks over the long annual holiday period. Any DMB member can ask for more time.
As a final deadline, if it is discussed at a regularly scheduled meeting, then a conclusion can be drawn then by a (quorate) majority.
This text reflects the agreed-upon time-frame for Contributing Developer applications when done asynchronously. There was general, non-quorate agreement that reviewing Contributing Developer applications asynchronously is preferable, so as to save the backlog for those seeking upload rights. It was also noted and generally agreed-upon that every member of the Developer Membership Board should at least have the opportunity to vote. That is the purpose of the time-frame.
The above commentary is a reflection in my capacity as a current member of the DMB and chair of the most recent meeting. The remainder of this email contains additional commentary, in a more (but not completely) personal capacity.
Applying to be an Ubuntu Contributing Developer is a great form of Ubuntu Membership for those who wish to take the next step, without going for something more like MOTU or PPU.
It allows you to:
- Gain familiarity with the DMB and the process of applying.
- Learn more about Ubuntu Development, and what the DMB expects from applicants.
- Make your name familiar and/or known within the Ubuntu Developer community.
- Help others with their application based on your own experiences.
- Be recognized for your significant and sustained contributions to the Ubuntu Developer community, receiving warm congratulations on acceptance from your new peers.
If there is someone you believe should be an Ubuntu Contributing Developer, please encourage them to apply! We always welcome new (legitimate) applications.
Additionally, if you find your application for upload rights is rejected, there is precedent to instead vote in favor of Ubuntu Contributing Developer. If we forget and you are interested in this, please reference this email and remind us.
This also goes for anyone who has recently not passed a DMB vote for upload rights. You have probably contributed enough for Contributing Developer (although we still review on a case-by-case basis.) Please consider applying.
One more note, if you ever have uncertainty about your application, the best thing to do is get in touch with us. I’m always more than happy to do a preliminary review of an application on request, other members may feel the same.
In a utopian world, we would be able to grant everyone permissions that applied, because everyone would ask the right questions in the right channels beforehand. We do not live in such a world, but I remain optimistic that this story will continue to improve.
The DMB is here to help and serve the Ubuntu community, in addition to what is normally seen. If anyone has questions, please do let us know, or ask the community openly in e.g. Ubuntu Development on Matrix.