Re: Vertica targeting PostgreSQL users

On 11/20/2017 10:07 AM, Stephen Frost wrote:
> We do have a todo list which is available here:
> https://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/Todo
>
> There is also the GSoC projects list that's a good place for folks to
> look at who wish to contribute as well:
>
> https://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/GSoC_2017
>
> I'll be creating one for 2018 soon (most likely starting with a copy of
> the 2017 effort) as we'll need one in January when we go to apply for
> GSoC again.
>
> There's also the start of a roadmap here:
>
> https://wiki.postgresql.org/wiki/PostgreSQL11_Roadmap
>
> And I certainly encourage people to add to that.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Stephen


Stephen,

Thank you for responding. You are absolutely correct that those sources 
are available and I was aware of them. Let me ask you a few questions 
about them:

  * How am I as a potential enthusiastic new contributor going to find
    those pages? They aren't linked from anywhere that I can easily find.
  * How do I know the priority of the entries?
  * How do I know if the entries are official?
  * How do I know if it is already being worked on?
      o How do I know the progress?
      o How do I contribute to discussion of a particular feature? Is
        that pgsql-hackers or is there a issue tracker?
      o Is pgsql-hackers the only way to contribute to development
        discussion?
  * Who decides the roadmap?
      o Can it be altered?
      o Why is it all but blank?
  * How can I get mentoring for something I am trying to work on?

The list of barriers to providing a welcoming community to new potential 
contributors continues past this very brief list but I think I have 
illustrated my point. I am not in any way trying to be negative but I 
believe there is no question that we as a community could be doing a lot 
more to decrease the barrier of entry as well as increase the positivity 
of the experience of potential new comers.

Thanks,

JD





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