Re: [board-discuss] Re: Enable TDF to contribute more code to LibreOffice with in-house developers to address our donors specific needs

Hi all!

On Thu, Feb 10, 2022 at 4:45 PM sophi <sophi@libreoffice.org> wrote:

> Their is even no written proposal at the moment, but only a discussion
> on the pros and cons and what it could bring to the project. But it
> seems impossible to discuss because the ecosystem companies won't allow it.

And yet it seems here we are discussing it!  It's fun to do things that
aren't allowed :-)

The OP did indeed not make a written proposal, but there still* a *Board
Motion to hire two developers despite this. Personally (and I don't work
for any "ecosystem company" or TDF or belong to a local group) I don't feel
either the OP's proposal or any other response commenting on it here
represents me.

I volunteered here because I think LibreOffice is massively important to
the free/open source software movement, as well as to the freedom of
citizens globally, including especially non-English-speaking and
differently-able people. I want to see TDF spend its money in the service
of that global movement to the maximum extent it has allowed itself to in
its bylaws. I especially believe TDF needs to act to allow individuals to
avoid the need to use centralised services for making, reading and sharing
documents of all kinds.

Right now TDF is not doing so, despite being given millions of euros by
end-users. My concern is thus not with the desire to spend donated money on
donor problems - we should do more of it, and better, and not let any
corporate interest stop us. My concern is with accepting as agreed the
proposal that TDF should hire developers and afterwards address what they
would do, how and under whose supervision. I can see *significant* risks
from doing so and I do not want in any way to endorse that premature
proposal.

So sure, let's have a pros and cons discussion.  I have already chipped in
positively elsewhere and look forward to being able to amplify other
positive ideas, But first let's take the political and premature motion off
the table so that no-one feels their contribution is either supporting or
opposing it.  It has led to an essential discussion becoming yet another
divisive fight and that's got to stop.

Cheers!

Simon
-- 
*Simon Phipps*
*TDF Trustee*