You are certainly right that fixing a bug is a better way to spend time
than arguing pointlessly. However, sometimes there is hope that a
clarification of team members different points of view will help make
the team work better.
In this case, it is clear that people have different point of views.
Some think that the quality of LyX is increased best by any combination
of code reviews, the fact that more than one person understand the code,
that changes are only done in small, incremental steps that are
well-documented and discussed before hand, and that everyone does works
in the same, disciplined way, slowly, but surely moving forward.
Others think that is it better to be more pragmatic and get the job
done. To spend more time coding and testing and bug-fixing, rather than
discussing and reviewing.
So what do you think is right?
What is best for LyX? Why?
When you have thought about this a bit, then ask yourself some more
questions:
- Is it OK if someone disagrees with the rules you would like to have?
- Does everybody have to agree on how to work together?
- Can there be different set of rules for different people?
- Could code reviews be voluntary?
- Should the rules be flexible or strict?
- Should LyX - and thus the rules - try to accommodate as many talented
developers as possible?
People get upset if they think that someone intentionally breaks the
rules. When you get this feeling, ask yourself: Could it be that the
other person does not believe in and share the rule you have? In that
case, is that person intentionally hurting you by breaking the rule? Or
is that person just following his own set of rules. Maybe, maybe not.
But before you judge the other person, judge the rule: Maybe the rule is
not flexible enough.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion about rules. The more tolerant
each person is, the better everybody will get along. The more flexible
the rules are, the easier it is to work together.
I believe José has very clearly demonstrated this with the very flexible
handling of development in the 1.5 cycle.
Regards,
Asger
