KDE Publishes Manifesto 58
Several readers sent word that KDE has published a manifesto. According to its official announcement, the KDE community's growth over the past 15 years has "created a need for clarity about what pulls us together as a community." It continues, "The KDE Manifesto is not intended to change the organization or the way it works. Its aim is only to describe how the KDE Community sees itself. What binds us together are certain values and their practical implications, without regard for who a person is or what background and skills they bring." The manifesto opens boldly, saying, "We are a community of technologists, designers, writers and advocates who work to ensure freedom for all people through our software." It comes along with more detailed descriptions of the benefits and principles of a KDE project.
Re:Well, that's a good sign! (Score:2, Insightful)
I was just thinking to myself:
How much code could have been written for the same amount of effort as this piece of content-less puffery?
Re:Well, that's a good sign! (Score:5, Insightful)
Considering how much flack Gnome has gotten for not having any discernible goals or performance metrics, a manifesto seems like a reasonable place to start if you want to avoid Headless Chicken Syndrome.
Re:Well, that's a good sign! (Score:5, Insightful)
seriously? Having a document saying what the project stands for is a bad thing?
Re:Well, that's a good sign! (Score:3, Insightful)
Yep. If you have to state it, it means that the people within the group don't know it, that it's reached a state where management of it is required, and where people outside the group would be expected not to know the motivation for the project. Otherwise you wouldn't need to state it.
It's nothing more than a company mission statement. Who cares about a company mission statement from, say, Google, or Microsoft, or your local bakery, or any company of any scale whatsoever apart from the people who write it? No-one.
When you've crossed from "we're writing some desktop environment software" to needing a manifesto, bureaucracy has taken over to the point where you've already lost sight of the goal.
Re:Well, that's a good sign! (Score:4, Insightful)