Hi, I feel bad for your frustration and I think it makes sense for you to feel so after so long trying to get a package into the archive. That said, a few comments follow.
On Wed, Jan 08, 2025 at 02:38:48PM GMT, Sébastien Noel wrote: > Hi Phil, > > Le 2025-01-07 17:13, Phil Wyett a écrit : > > Hi, > > > > While waiting for a sponsor, it would be nice to clean up the patches. > > > > I: serious-engine source: invalid-dep3-format-patch-no-origin > > [...] > > [Done] > > But let's be honest, I have zero hope that these packages will ever reach > the Debian archive. > > In 584 days, this bug (and its twin #1072226) has been automatically closed > 2 times (and packages deleted from mentors.debian.net). > These automatic closures cannot mean anything else than "please go away". This implies some intention, and I don't think it's correct to assume that here. I'm speaking for myself, but it might reflect a bit what happens with other DDs as well: I have little time for Debian, and I try to keep my tasks (as maintainer and being part of other teams) fairly in order, as much as possible. Then, with the little time left I keep an eye in -mentors, and whenever I see a package that I have some interest in, or if it's something urgent, I try to help. The only way to sponsor packages of no interest to me is when I know the person seeking for help. For instance, someone who attended a local Debian community event. Then a human connection is created and whatever the person wants to do as contribution becomes secondary to me -- I'll just help them. I'm not saying that this is right or wrong, or even thought out, but that's how it is. My point is that I believe a mentor/sponsor role for 'random' packages are indeed left behind, because (I guess) very few people in Debian are willing to sponsor 'unknown software from unknown people'. That makes me agree with you about the system being (at least partially) broken. > Only one DD started a serious review, asking questions and never come back > once the answer was received. > > I predict the same outcome to my others RFS (also free game-engines using > non-free data provided by game-data-packager). > > But I will keep to reopen this one, just for fun and to have a living proof > that the RFS process is completely broken. This is yet another exemple that > the Debian project is not really interested in "newcomers" (old farts club > only) and that this has not really changed in the last 20 years, despite > promesses and some illusion of "documented/fair process". I want to believe this is more of a provocation than a firm belief from you. I see that other DD is trying to help out already, so it seems that sharing your frustration so sharply kind of worked here. Anyway, Debian is huge and there are many outreach fronts out there, so assuming the project as a whole is not interested in newcomers is a bit of an exaggeration. But again, I agree with you that something in the RFS procedure is broken (but not *completely* broken!). I find that https://mentors.debian.net/sponsors/ is quite well written and makes the point about joining a team and provides good advice on finding a sponsor. We could definitely improve it, for instance adding some information about contacting local communities and other hints. Other ideas? I don't have any now but I'll keep looking for them. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and for contributing to Debian. Bests, -- Tiago Vaz
