openstack team mailing list archive

[Stefano Maffulli <stefano@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 01/05/2012 02:19 PM, Mark McLoughlin wrote:
> In some ways the mission statement is fundamental to the foundation,
> but in other ways it won't nearly have as much impact on the success
> of the foundation as its structure, governance and culture. 

The structure and everything else depends intimately from the mission:
only once you know exactly *where* you're going you can decide on the
equipment, the route and everything else.  I would be very careful to
dismiss this defining phase lightly as 'looks good' because we may end
up with a structure and governance that is misaligned with objectives of
the foundation.

> Having to wait another month before any discussion of the structure is
> very disappointing.

This time will be used to make sure everybody understands and agrees on
the mission of the future OpenStack Foundation, what it will do and what
it will not do. I hope this will be a 'meaty' discussion as this will
set the base for the new organization. The existing OpenStack community
will have to identify itself in it.

> I assume some basic principles for the structure of the foundation have
> been settled on in the months since the announcement. 

If you weren't in Boston when the plan for the foundation was announced,
I suggest you to watch the recording of the open discussion we all had
there: http://vimeo.com/31216912. The only basic principle that was
clear at the time is that, whatever happens, OpenStack must continue to
be a successful project. Everything else is being decided now, with
valuable input from the whole community.

> I think the emphasis should be on encouraging that debate here on the
> mailing list for all to see, archived for posterity.

In my experience there is no way to limit human interactions to one tool
only. I will meet people for drinks and get ideas by talking to them.
You, Jim, Mark... will all talk to people and share ideas regarding the
foundation. This interaction will happen and will shape the foundation,
whether we declare one mailing list the *official* forum.

That said, of course the foundation mailing list is the best place to
send proposals, ideas and comments on the draft published today. I
suggest we stop cross-posting to the (mainly) technical mailing list now.

Cheers,
stef