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1~~NOTOC~~ 1~~NOTOC~~
2<markdown> 2<markdown>
3 3
4This page contains all of the feedback received regarding the GNU 4# Feedback on DRAFT GNU Social Contract 1.0
5Social contract. Each piece of feedback will be reviewed and
6evaluated for inclusion. The feedback is included here anonymized
7without any personally identifying information.
8 5
9# (a) Name of the document 6This page contains all of the feedback received regarding the GNU Social
7Contract (GSC) following its announcement on 28 January 2020. On 10
8February 2020, the GSC drafting working group met to collect the
9feedback and address concrete points. The group was composed of:
10
11 * Andreas Enge
12 * Andy Wingo
13 * Carlos O'Donell
14 * Ludovic Courtès
15 * Mark Weilaard
16
17The feedback is included here, stripped of personally identifying
18information, as well as the corresponding resolutions and GSC text
19changes. Note that some of the feedback is verbatim.
20
21## (a) Name of the document
10 22
11> Please don't call the document a Social Contract. The first sentence says: 23> Please don't call the document a Social Contract. The first sentence says:
12> "These are the core commitments of the GNU Project...". In other words: 24> "These are the core commitments of the GNU Project...". In other words:
@@ -14,7 +26,7 @@ without any personally identifying information.
14> 26>
15> The GNU Promises 27> The GNU Promises
16 28
17## Resolution 29### Resolution
18 30
19We sympathise and this was a point of discussion among the GSC drafting 31We sympathise and this was a point of discussion among the GSC drafting
20working group, but it is the option that got the most support. We hope 32working group, but it is the option that got the most support. We hope
@@ -22,39 +34,41 @@ that those GNU participants that prefer another name can look beyond the
22title to the content. The term Social Contract is also commonly used by 34title to the content. The term Social Contract is also commonly used by
23other Free Software projects to describe their core values and mission. 35other Free Software projects to describe their core values and mission.
24 36
25# (b) Pledge to whom? 37## (b) Pledge to whom?
26 38
27Original: "These are the core commitments of the GNU Project to the 39The original text included the sentence, "These are the core commitments
28broader free software community. " 40of the GNU Project to the broader free software community," to which
41there was the following feedback:
29 42
30> The first sentence continues with: "to the broader free software community". 43> The first sentence continues with: "to the broader free software community".
31> Well, why only to the free-software people? I would say: "to the world". 44> Well, why only to the free-software people? I would say: "to the world".
32 45
33## Resolution 46### Resolution
34 47
35Good point. We have updated the wording to 'These are the core 48Good point. We have updated the wording to 'These are the core
36commitments of the GNU Project, which creates and distributes a software 49commitments of the GNU Project, which creates and distributes a software
37system that respects users' freedoms.' 50system that respects users' freedoms.'
38 51
39# (c) GNU software 52## (c) GNU software
40 53
41> The second sentence says: "The GNU Project provides a software system..." 54> The second sentence says: "The GNU Project provides a software system..."
42> The word "system" is both too vague and too all-encompassing; it sounds as 55> The word "system" is both too vague and too all-encompassing; it sounds as
43> if it wants to be a single, massive block of software. I would say that 56> if it wants to be a single, massive block of software. I would say that
44> the GNU project "provides software packages...". 57> the GNU project "provides software packages...".
45 58
46## Resolution 59### Resolution
47 60
48Thank you for the feedback. The new wording is "The GNU Project creates 61Thank you for the feedback. The new wording is "The GNU Project creates
49and distributes a software system that respect users' freedoms", which 62and distributes a software system that respect users' freedoms". Note
50keeps "system" in place as an aspirational statement 63that we have decided to keep "system" in place as an aspirational
64statement.
51 65
52# (d) GNU and the broader free software community 66## (d) GNU and the broader free software community
53 67
54Original text: "Free software extends beyond the GNU Project, which 68With rgards to the original text: "Free software extends beyond the GNU
55works with companion free software projects that develop key components 69Project, which works with companion free software projects that develop
56of the GNU System. The GNU Project aims to extend the reach of free 70key components of the GNU System. The GNU Project aims to extend the
57software to new fields." 71reach of free software to new fields."
58 72
59> The third section begins: "Free software extends beyond the GNU Project..." 73> The third section begins: "Free software extends beyond the GNU Project..."
60> Huh? Vague. Does this want to say that there is also free software that 74> Huh? Vague. Does this want to say that there is also free software that
@@ -71,15 +85,15 @@ software to new fields."
71> new fields." Huh? What new "fields"? Again: what is the promise here? 85> new fields." Huh? What new "fields"? Again: what is the promise here?
72> Is it that we intend to assimilate everything? 86> Is it that we intend to assimilate everything?
73 87
74## Resolution 88### Resolution
75 89
76These are good points. After much discussion, the revised text is 90These are good points. After much discussion, the revised text is now:
77now:"The GNU Project works together with other free software projects to 91"The GNU Project works together with other free software projects to
78advance its goals, and aims to extend the reach of the project beyond 92advance its goals, and aims to extend the reach of the project beyond
79the GNU System." Again, as this document states goals, we keep an 93the GNU System." Again, as this document states goals, we keep an
80aspirational component. 94aspirational component.
81 95
82# (e) On GNU welcoming contributions from everyone 96## (e) On GNU welcoming contributions from everyone
83 97
84> The fourth section says: "The GNU Project wants to give everyone the 98> The fourth section says: "The GNU Project wants to give everyone the
85> opportunity of contributing to its efforts..." To me this sounds as if 99> opportunity of contributing to its efforts..." To me this sounds as if
@@ -90,8 +104,9 @@ aspirational component.
90> make the GNU project quite unwelcoming to possible contributors. So, 104> make the GNU project quite unwelcoming to possible contributors. So,
91> in my opinion, that sentence is rather untruthful. 105> in my opinion, that sentence is rather untruthful.
92 106
93Some concerns about the “level of experience”; proposed rewording 107The feedback also included some concerns about the “level of experience”
94(replacing “It welcomes […]” by “It [gives] everyone the opportunity”): 108and proposed rewording (replacing “It welcomes […]” by “It [gives]
109everyone the opportunity”):
95 110
96> The GNU Project commits to providing a harassment-free experience for 111> The GNU Project commits to providing a harassment-free experience for
97> all contributors. It wants to give everyone the opportunity of 112> all contributors. It wants to give everyone the opportunity of
@@ -108,20 +123,24 @@ Related comment:
108> harassment-free experience for all contributors. It wants to 123> harassment-free experience for all contributors. It wants to
109> give..." 124> give..."
110 125
111## Resolution 126### Resolution
112 127
113We agree that the "welcoming" point should lead with the main message. 128We agree that this point should lead with the main message. The
114The intention is certainly not that all contributions must be accepted, 129intention is certainly not that all contributions must be accepted, but
115but rather that GNU should take steps to make sure that no one should 130rather that GNU should take steps to make sure that no one should feel
116feel unwelcome in GNU based on personal characteristics such as gender. 131unwelcome in GNU based on personal characteristics such as gender. The
117The new text is: 'The GNU Project commits to providing a harassment-free 132new text is: 'The GNU Project commits to providing a harassment-free
118experience for all contributors. It wants to give everyone the 133experience for all contributors. It wants to give everyone the
119opportunity of contributing to its efforts on any of the many tasks that 134opportunity of contributing to its efforts on any of the many tasks that
120require work. It welcomes all contributors, regardless of their gender, 135require work. It welcomes all contributors, regardless of their gender,
121ethnicity, sexual orientation, level of experience, or any other 136ethnicity, sexual orientation, level of experience, or any other
122personal characteristics.' 137personal characteristics.'
123 138
124# (f) External threats 139## (f) External threats
140
141With regards to the original text, "Besides upholding the Four Essential
142Freedoms, the GNU Project pays attention and responds to new threats to
143users' freedom as they arise," there is the following feedback:
125 144
126> > > the GNU Project pays attention and responds to 145> > > the GNU Project pays attention and responds to
127> > 146> >
@@ -133,17 +152,13 @@ personal characteristics.'
133> > 152> >
134> > or "monitors and responds to" 153> > or "monitors and responds to"
135 154
136Original text: "Besides upholding the Four Essential Freedoms, the GNU 155### Resolution
137Project pays attention and responds to new threats to users' freedom as
138they arise."
139
140## Resolution
141 156
142The new text is "Besides upholding the Four Essential Freedoms, the GNU 157The new text is "Besides upholding the Four Essential Freedoms, the GNU
143Project pays attention to new threats to users' freedom, and responds to 158Project pays attention to new threats to users' freedom, and responds to
144them as they arise." 159them as they arise."
145 160
146# (g) GSC signature required for contribution? 161## (g) GSC signature required for contribution?
147 162
148> > Just to clarify here, do you mean to say that you do not 163> > Just to clarify here, do you mean to say that you do not
149> > want to make endorsement of the GNU Social Contract a 164> > want to make endorsement of the GNU Social Contract a
@@ -161,35 +176,34 @@ them as they arise."
161> or oversight enacted and there is no requirement that 176> or oversight enacted and there is no requirement that
162> any contributor should adhere to it. Motivations 177> any contributor should adhere to it. Motivations
163> for contribution are left entirely up to the individual. 178> for contribution are left entirely up to the individual.
164>
165 179
166## Resolution 180### Resolution
167 181
168We do not intend to make endorsing the document a condition for 182We do not intend to make endorsing the document a condition for
169contribution to any package. The GSC simply defines the core values of 183contribution to any package. The GSC simply defines the core values of
170the GNU Project. For brevity, we are choosing not to add a 184the GNU Project. For brevity, we are choosing not to add a
171clarification to the document. 185clarification to the document.
172 186
173# (h) Implications regarding non-GNU activity 187## (h) Implications regarding non-GNU activity
174 188
175> Does adhering to this "social contract" mean that as a GNU developer 189> Does adhering to this "social contract" mean that as a GNU developer
176> I should not work at <state sponsored spying agency>, <proprietary 190> I should not work at <state sponsored spying agency>, <proprietary
177> company> or <privacy violating entity>. 191> company> or <privacy violating entity>.
178 192
179## Resolution 193### Resolution
180 194
181While we certainly do not think that you should violate anyone's 195While we certainly do not think that you should violate anyone's
182privacy, the document simply describes what we do in GNU and when 196privacy, the document simply describes what we do in GNU and when
183representing GNU and does not have any broader scope. 197representing GNU and does not have any broader scope.
184 198
185# (i) A general meta-question regarding why the document is needed 199## (i) A general meta-question regarding why the document is needed
186 200
187> The tone and content of the draft contract are not changed from 201> The tone and content of the draft contract are not changed from
188> existing practice. But give a better explanation of why a 202> existing practice. But give a better explanation of why a
189> restatement of the GNU project's goals and standards is needed, and 203> restatement of the GNU project's goals and standards is needed, and
190> where it differs from the goals/standards in previous years. 204> where it differs from the goals/standards in previous years.
191 205
192## Resolution 206### Resolution
193 207
194The goals and principles of the GNU Project should stand on their own 208The goals and principles of the GNU Project should stand on their own
195and provide volunteers with a key document they can use to decide what 209and provide volunteers with a key document they can use to decide what
@@ -202,13 +216,13 @@ short document that summarizes our core commitments, with the goal of
202building a shared understanding of our mission as part of the GNU 216building a shared understanding of our mission as part of the GNU
203Project. 217Project.
204 218
205# (j) Welcoming all contributions even from those who don't endorse 219## (j) Welcoming all contributions even from those who don't endorse
206 220
207- Endorsement of the GNU Social Contract should not be a requirement 221- Endorsement of the GNU Social Contract should not be a requirement
208 for contributing to GNU. Explicitly adding this under "welcomes 222 for contributing to GNU. Explicitly adding this under "welcomes
209 contributions from all and everyone" would be helpful. 223 contributions from all and everyone" would be helpful.
210 224
211## Resolution 225### Resolution
212 226
213Accepted in point (g). 227Accepted in point (g).
214 228