Re: Q: DPL helpers

Sruthi Chandran <[email protected]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 20:04:06 +0100
Newsgroups	gmane.linux.debian.devel.vote
Message-ID	<[email protected]>
On 19/03/26 14:50, Lucas Nussbaum wrote:
> Hi Sruthi,
>
> >From your platform:
>
>> 1. Administrative
>>
>> DPL helpers (DPL committee? DPL administrative assistance team?)
>>
>> I have heard from the previous DPLs that the workload is too huge to
>> be completed by a single person. During my last round of contesting,
>> someone suggested the concept of having helpers for DPL. I agree with
>> the thought process and I intend to have 1-2 people to do some work
>> that can be offloaded from the DPL workload. This would help in
>> reducing revert time and increasing efficiency.
> How would this work in practice? Specifically:
>
> In practice, the delegation mechanism makes it hard to delegate DPL
> powers without being quite specific about what is being delegated in
> terms of areas of responsibility and decision-making. Do you plan to use
> delegations for that offloading?
I do not intend to offload decision-making and DPL powers.
>
> I might be wrong, but I think that the only way offloading has worked in
> the past is by offloading specific tasks that don't involve the transfer
> of DPL powers, such as:
> - producing drafts, proof-reading documents
Producing drafts and proofreading is definitely one thing I have in mind.
> - summarizing a specific issue and making recommandations to the DPL /
>    advising the DPL on a specific area
I am not sure I would be considering this aspect. I might consider this 
where sharing of confidential information is not required.
> Do you plan to go further than that?

A couple of other things I can think of are

- Following up on To Dos with both DPL and other parties involved

- As I mentioned in one of the previous replies on -vote, I intend to 
revisit all the existing delegated teams. DPL helpers could be help with 
the initial conversation with the teams

>
> If you plan to go further, don't you think that the needed
> coordination/alignment inside the "DPL team" will cost more than the
> gains?
We wouldn't know until we try.
>
> Also, if you plan to delegate DPL powers, do you already know who will
> be the 1-2 trusted persons that will work with you? (this is a problem
> in our election mechanism -- we elect one DPL, and it's a bit strange if
> there's a group of people hidden behind the curtains who we only learn
> about after the election) If you don't, how do you plan to recruit them?
I do not have anyone in my mind right now. As I do not intend to share 
any of the DPL powers, I do not think who becomes the DPL helpers team 
to help DPL with the basic administrative work should be a problem. This 
is still an idea and I am still not sure I will get anyone to volunteer 
for this. I just hope that there would be a couple of people to 
volunteer for this too as we get volunteers for all other teams in Debian.
>
> Lucas
>
OpenPGP_signature.asc (application/pgp-signature, 665 B)