[debian-mysql] Allow submitting Merge Requests to any Debian package (Re: finally end single-person maintainership)

[Otto Kekäläinen]

Hi all,

On Sat, 6 Apr 2024 at 13:41, Andreas Tille <andreas at an3as.eu> wrote:
..
> I see no chance to force collaboration and I never used the term
> forced collaboration.  My point is *enabling collaboration*.

It is simply not possible to force collaboration. For example I
maintain largely alone the MariaDB package in Debian. I occasionally
publish Merge Requests for review (e.g.
https://salsa.debian.org/mariadb-team/mariadb-server/-/merge_requests/79
today) but there is no way I can force somebody to review it. Even
less can I force anyone to submit Merge Requests or fix bugs.

However, being open and inclusive can be to some degree forced.

Persnally I force myself to follow these principles:
1. Have Debian packaging source code in git, and the git repository on Salsa
2. Have the Merge Request feature enabled so people can submit MRs
3. Be open to responsive in review incoming MRs
4. Avoid pushing directly on git mainline all the time and instead
publish changes as MRs and allow 1-4 weeks of time for potential
contributors to chime in (even despite MRs getting rarely attention,
it will for sure not happen if I don't give it some opportunity)
5. Have Salsa-CI enabled to allow pre-merge and pre-upload testing for
both myself and for contributors

I wish other DDs had similar principles.



I am also occasionally helping other DDs and packages "open up" for
collaboration by submitting requests and improvements like:

* #1070099 [rocksdb] RocksDB: Please consider using VCS and host on
Salsa for easier collaboration
* #1070101 [judy] Judy: Please consider using VCS and host on Salsa
for easier collaboration
* #1070160 [fmtlib] libfmt: Please allow merge requests on Salsa
* #933032 [mariadb-connector-java] Add Salsa-CI integration
* https://salsa.debian.org/debbugs-team/debbugs/-/merge_requests/19
debbugs Salsa-CI
* https://salsa.debian.org/georgesk/screenkey/-/merge_requests/2
screenkey Salsa-CI