Re: [Ksummit-discuss] [CORE TOPIC] Recruitment (Reviewers, Testers, Maintainers, Hobbyists)

["Peter Hüwe" <PeterHuewe@gmx.de>]

Am Mittwoch, 8. Juli 2015, 04:03:04 schrieb Krzysztof Kozłowski:
> 
> Before doing some work there is always a cause, an answer to "why I am
> doing this"? Employer may pay for my commits but would he pay for
> reviewing time? That is his decision and it would be difficult to
> change policies inside companies.
> 
> Other reason for doing open source work may be the fame. Being
> recognizable, getting better job offers, doing tasks which are
> sensible and meaningful for someone. Currently probably most of the
> fame goes to authors and maintainers. For example in the form of `git
> log --author/committer=` or LWN articles about statistics.
> 
> How to get more reviews from such people (when employer does not pay
> for it)? Give them fame! :)

Exactly! 
This is also what Rafael wrote in the other mail:

> Most of the time there's a little to no recognition for doing that work
> and, quite frankly, writing code is more rewarding than that for the
> majority of people anyway.


So changing our fame-statistics from commits to reviews and tested by might 
change the situation a bit.
-> The next LWN stats and coverage should probably focus on the reviewed-by / 
tested-by stats. 
People love to be on some "top 10" lists - and also they can show something 
like that to their bosses.

"I've been a kernel reviewer and tester" -- meh, who cares
"I've been a top 100 kernel reviewer and tester over the last X releases" -- 
give him a raise/the job (esp. if kernel is not the core competency of the 
company :)




Another thing I noticed over the last few years (also in corporate), people 
get really motivated by memorabilia - "tokens of appreciation".
E.g. I constantly wear my Google T-Shirt which I received for a contribution 
with such proud and so often that it is almost faded --- but still everytime I 
look at it I have a good feeling.

--> Maybe LF can organize something?
"Here is a small token of appreciation (t-shirt, cup)  for spending countless 
hours on reviewing and testing stuff in the Linux kernel -- keep up the good 
work"





> The only way to address this problem I can see is to recognize reviewers
> *much* more than we tend to do and not just "encourage" them, because
> that's way insufficient.
Yes again!

What I definitely would also recommend is to organize some 'get togethers',
like a miniconf/minisummit at the next conference near you -- and where you 
grab a beer _together_ with the reviewers / testers afterwards (and maybe the 
maintainer can pay). 
This also helps as forms of appreciation.



Thanks,
Peter