Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#1

Post by fogus » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 1:35 PM UTC

Responsible Open Source Code Parenting
codinghorror.com

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#2

Post by ElliotH » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:01 PM UTC

Not to be too harsh on Jeff Atwood - as he has decades more experience than myself. But does anyone else feel that this blog post is a bit out of line?

In short when John Gruber gives the code out under a BSD thatis a gift to whoever wants to use it - and it gives them near-complete freedom to use Markdown however they like. I don't see why on top of this gift he is in any way obliged to provide 'leadership' or 'direction'. I don't really see why its even required. Anybody can feel free to come in, fork the project with their own modifications - and if its popular then they can be the leader or their fork.

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#3

Post by billpg » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:06 PM UTC

"Item #3, the conversion of returns to linebreaks, is somewhat more debatable. I'm on the fence on that one, but I do believe it's significant enough to warrant an explicit choice either way."

Really?

Has anyone ever typed stuff, hit enter once, then typed more stuff, ever not intended a line break?

"Oh no, I kept hitting Enter between words instead of using the space-bar! If only pressing Enter was interpreted as a space character unless it was prefixed by four spaces. What a world! What a world!"

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#4

Post by rubyrescue » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:10 PM UTC

ElliotH wrote: post #2

Not to be too harsh on Jeff Atwood - as he has decades more experience than myself. But does anyone else feel that this blog post is a bit out of line? In short when John Gruber gives the code out under a BSD thatis a gift to whoever wants to use it - and it gives them near-complete freedom to use Markdown however they like. I don't see why on top of this gift he is in any way obliged to provide 'leadership' or 'dire…

You're not being too harsh. Atwood's decades of experience is no excuse for what is essentially a personal attack, nor should it be a defense when you call him on it.

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#5

Post by sfk » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:12 PM UTC

Markdown is not John Gruber's baby, it is an open source project. Stop anthropomorphizing everything in order to make a cheap point.

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#6

Post by michael_dorfman » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:15 PM UTC

I don't understand why the term "fork" didn't appear in Atwood's article.

It's the simplest solution to his problem.

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#7

Post by andrewcooke » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:17 PM UTC

billpg wrote: post #3

"Item #3, the conversion of returns to linebreaks, is somewhat more debatable. I'm on the fence on that one, but I do believe it's significant enough to warrant an explicit choice either way." Really? Has anyone ever typed stuff, hit enter once, then typed more stuff, ever not intended a line break? "Oh no, I kept hitting Enter between words instead of using the space-bar! If only pressing Enter was interpreted as a…

some people hit return when the text is nearing the end of the input box. as in this text, which has "return" after "end of".

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#8

Post by telemachos » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:18 PM UTC

This isn't directly relevant, but if you use Markdown a lot, I highly recommend David Parson's Discount (a Markdown implementation in C). (Parsons is also active on the Markdown mail list, which is helpful.)

http://www.pell.portland.or.us/~orc/Code/discount/

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#9

Post by gfunk911 » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:19 PM UTC

1. This article is a bit too personal, 100% agree on that.

2. The best thing Gruber could do is pass on "ownership" of the project to someone else. He is under no obligation to do so, but it seems like that would essentially solve the problem, while requiring almost no effort from him.

Re: Responsible Open Source Code Parenting

#10

Post by daleharvey » Tue, Dec 29, 2009, 2:22 PM UTC

sfk wrote: post #5

Markdown is not John Gruber's baby, it is an open source project. Stop anthropomorphizing everything in order to make a cheap point.

Open source projects are usually someones 'baby', democracy is nice and all but experience suggests that open source does best with an 'owner / leader', if the owner/leader isnt committed, then the project flounders until someone else takes their place.

a highly visible blog post criticising gruber isnt the way to move forward though, email your issues offline, maybe offer to take 'leadership' of it if gruber is too busy, and if it seems gruber wont relinquish control, but wont help the project either, then fork.

the cathedral and the bazaar is a pretty interesting read on the politics of open source