[Mono-list] Re: mono-hackers --> mono-devel-list

[Adam Treat]

On Saturday 01 February 2003 06:57 pm, Miguel de Icaza wrote:
> Hello,
>
> > I am very aware that this is the solution you offer, but that does not
> > answer the question ... _why_?  Why do you want a developer mailing list
> > with only one subscriber while everyone else uses mono-hackers for
> > development discussion?  Why not just create an *open* mono development
> > mailing list which everyone can use to discuss mono's technical
> > development and create a different mailing list for Ximian's secrets? 
> > This way mono can be developed with the benefit of full community
> > participation.
>
> I think you are miss-understanding.  What I want is every person in
> mono-hackers to be automatically part of mono-devel (this can be
> achieved with subscribing mono-hackers to it), but to allow posting to
> it, I need the mailing list software to have a 'allows posters from X
> list to post to this list'.
>
> The above is important, so I do not have to maintain the membership of
> mono-hackers.

You can achieve the same result with no patch and no extra maintenance by 
simply creating mono-devel like you have all the other lists.  You can post a 
link to this list on go-mono.org and everyone who is interested in the 
technical discussion of mono development can subscribe.  mono-hackers can 
then become a place for you to distribute confidential information.  The 
benefit is clear ... No one needs to hack GNU Mailman and mono-devel can be 
an open list while you keep a list for confidential information.

> > It is not a matter of what *I* use to discuss mono development if
> > everyone else is using mono-hackers.  Why on earth would I want to join a
> > mailing list where I am the only subscriber?
>
> You are confused.  I hope my explanation above would clarify things.

No, I don't think I am confused.  In your scenario I would be the only real 
subscriber to mono-devel and everyone else would be subscribed to 
mono-hackers with GNU Mailman shuttling my messages back and forth.  This 
would be a hack and people subscribed to mono-hackers would not be able to 
adjust the settings for the mono-devel subscription. For instance they would 
not be able to stop receiving mail from mono-devel for awhile. Since 
mono-devel will likely be a high traffic list this isn't such a good idea.  
Two alternatives exist: 

1.  Setup mono-devel like you have every other mailing list and let people 
subscribe to that in the normal uniform fashion.

2.  Write a script that will take all the subscribers of mono-hackers and 
subscribe them to mono-devel.  This is not a good solution because you 
shouldn't be subscribing people without permission and because it requires 
someone (you have volunteered me and I do not accept) to write the script.  
Better to just let everyone manage his/her own subscription like every other 
mailing list.

Why is this so difficult?

Adam