diff --git a/candidates/newton/TC/david_lyle.txt b/candidates/newton/TC/david_lyle.txt new file mode 100644 index 00000000..61bc90ee --- /dev/null +++ b/candidates/newton/TC/david_lyle.txt @@ -0,0 +1,89 @@ +I would like to announce my candidacy for election to the Technical Committee. + +You may know me from being the Horizon PTL for the past five releases and a +member of the OpenStack community since 2012 as an operator, contributor and +PTL. Over my tenure, I helped guide the Horizon team through growth that has +paralleled the growth of OpenStack. During this time, I have become sensitized +to the issues that are facing OpenStack at large and specifically from a +horizontal project perspective. I decided to step away from the PTL role this +cycle as I want to focus my efforts toward addressing these issues. The main +issues I want to see progress on in Newton and Ocata are: + +1) Setting and driving technical direction and project vision + +I think the Technical Committee should take a more active role in driving the +direction of OpenStack. OpenStack now contains many, many projects. The +unified guiding technical direction for those projects is missing. The +OpenStack mission statement reads: + + "to produce the ubiquitous Open Source Cloud Computing platform that will + meet the needs of public and private clouds regardless of size, by being + simple to implement and massively scalable" + +I will argue that without a unified direction, OpenStack will be many cloudy +things that, with considerable effort, can be used to deliver a cloud computing +solution. That delivers more toward the first half of the mission, than the +latter half. But the technical direction from the TC needs to be more than make +the mission statement reality. While that is enough for projects to make +progress, it is insufficient for end users and operators. + +The current cross-project model is broken. The idea of cross-project +initiatives and specs is correct, the problem arises in getting projects to + a) participate in that process + b) actually have that initiative put items on their roadmap + c) actually implement the change + +There is no motivation, carrot or stick at this point for projects on +cross-project initiatives. Currently, any cross-project initiative can +effectively be pocket vetoed by a project in OpenStack that does not find it a +priority. Additionally, the cross-project priorities vary per project. Making +progress currently relies on a few individuals doing the work in all effected +projects. With 54 projects, 36 of which are service related, this can be +a prohibitive task. I commend all those who are driving these efforts. + +I propose the Technical Committee, working with the user committee and project +teams define some core objectives per release that define the release goals and +track to those. With 54 projects in OpenStack, there is not another way to move +these efforts forward without a lead time of years. One could argue that this +is the purview of the cross-project liaisons, but the TC is the elected +technical governing body in OpenStack and the only one actually defined in the +OpenStack Bylaws. + + +2) Addressing Big Tent ramifications + +Having moved away from a relatively narrow and focused scope for OpenStack, +it is imperative that we improve at functioning as one project. Looking across +OpenStack, since the big tenting, I see a few issues. First and foremost, the +problem of maintaining consistency across projects went from bad to worse. +Previously, consistency problems were centered on APIs, logging, message +content and structure. Now, we have added items like end user documentation and +the forced proliferation of plugin formats. The large number and variety of +projects also makes it difficult to maintain an overall project vision. I think +that may be the current goal. But if we view OpenStack as a merely a kit, we +will again be pushing undo burden on end users and operators. The TC should +formally state whether OpenStack is meant to be a product or a kit, +understanding that a product can have optional and swappable parts. + + +3) Growth and organization + +Many projects are big and unwieldy including the one I lead. The large scope +of projects and the corresponding number of contributors make these projects +sluggish and makes contributing difficult. Contributions are being shoved +through a narrow funnel where priorities are a strange mix of new feature +development and addressing operator needs. I think we need to reevaluate +project scope and governance. This is one area that the big tent provides some +relief, rather than forcing the franken-projects of yore. Breaking out +separable pieces from larger projects should be a high priority. We started +doing this work in Horizon. The consequences of not breaking the monoliths is +that we continue to frustrate new and old developers alike, drown reviewers and +make little relative forward progress. I believe the TC can help design and +drive this restructuring effort. + +I still believe OpenStack has the potential to deliver on our mission +statement. And, I think that diverse views being included in the TC is to +everyone's advantage. + +Thank you for your consideration, +David Lyle