[development] adoption for 'abandoned' modules?

[Jill Elaine]

Getting back to this subject, developers here have suggested that 
contributed modules should, ideally, have a co-maintainer. Others have 
suggested max-time-limits for 'ignored' modules before they are allowed 
to be adopted.

Since Drupal is all about flexibility, what about gathering a little 
more info from developers at the time they request a CVS account?

The current CVS app is pretty sparse http://drupal.org/cvs-account Here 
are some suggested additional questions:
	* Alternate email address in case your main email is broken. This email 
address would be visible to only Drupal management.

	* Drupal usernames and email addresses for your module co-maintainers

	* How should we proceed if someone not on the list above applies to be 
a co-maintainer for your module?
		(radio buttons with options)

	* How should we proceed if we are not able to contact you within (some 
time limit) and your module needs attention?
		(radio buttons with options: possible suggestions below)
		1. Put your module up for adoption and remove you as maintainer
		2. Allow another person to be added as co-maintainer but keep you as 
maintainer

	* What should the time limit be? (radio buttons with options)
		
Comments? Suggestions?
Thank you!
Jill Elaine



---- discussion below as reference ----

Robert Douglass wrote:
> Personally, I think that modules should have deputy maintainers or 
> co-maintainers. This should be done by module maintainers just by 
> talking to the other people interested in their work and selecting one 
> to have "emergency" CVS access. Most of my modules have a clear 2nd (and 
> sometimes 3rd) in line. I'll review the rest and find more people for 
> the rest.
> 
> 
> Larry Garfield wrote:
>> On Thu, 11 Jan 2007 06:48:47 -0800, Jill Elaine 
>> <jillsemail at bendbroadband.com> wrote:
>>
>>  
>>> As maintainers of modules, what do you think this procedure should be?
>>>
>>> For instance, with your module, what would you like to see happen if you
>>> were 'run over by a truck' and disappeared from the Drupal world?
>>> ** What would be a reasonable set of steps so that your module continued
>>> to be maintained?
>>>     
>>
>> Try to get a hold of me via my contact tab, this list, and/or 
>> #Drupal.  (Some busy maintainers may mention that they're disappearing 
>> for a while but will be back in IRC, and someone may remember that.)   
>> Some module readme files also contain contact info that can be used.
>>
>>  
>>> ** What is a reasonable length of time to wait for a response from you?
>>>     
>>
>> Most contact attempts can probably be replied to within a week.  I 
>> think a month is a not-unreasonable amount of time before someone can 
>> be considered "potentially dead". 
>>  
>>> ** Who should be contacted if your profile is set to 'no contact'?
>>>     
>>
>> Site admins can contact someone even if they're contact tab is off.  
>> That said, I personally think it's irresponsible to have the contact 
>> tab off if you are actively maintaining a module.
>>
>>  
>>> ** What else needs to be considered here?
>>>     
>>
>> What lack of contact is considered dead?  No contact at all?  Just no 
>> issue queue progress?  What's the difference between vanishing and 
>> just vanishing from the issue queue for that module, but not others?  
>> Or not from working on core?  What about temporary adoption if someone 
>> is going to be away for several months for some reason (long vacation, 
>> military service, etc.)?
>>
>> --Larry Garfield
>>
>>
>>   
> 
>