MOTUApplication

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Here is a list of mostly simple merges I have done to familiarize myself with the tools involved: Here is a list of mostly simple merges/FTBFS packages I have done to familiarize myself with the tools involved:

I, Brian Thomason, apply for MOTU (general development in Ubuntu)

Name

Brian Thomason

L.P. Page

https://launchpad.net/~brian-thomason

Wiki Page

BrianThomason

Location

McDonough, GA, USA

Who I am

I first tried Linux back in 1998 with the release of Red Hat 5.2, but actually started using Linux in 2000 with the release of Mandrake 7.1. I switched to Debian Potato in late 2000 and have been using Debian or derivatives ever since. I began work for Linspire (then Lindows) in 2003 as a member of the Services Team maintaining packages. In 2007 I began working for Canonical maintaining the technical side of the Canonical Partner Program.

Examples of my work / Things I'm proud of

LSongs

The now defunct music player that I did some work on at Linspire, so it held a special place in my heart. The package in Edgy (also now defunct, of course) was in a horrible state, so I fixed it up. I have since switched to Banshee and LSongs has died, but it was an early contribution I am proud to have made at the time.

Asterisk

I contributed a patchset for a number of CVE related security fixes for the Asterisk package in Hardy, Intrepid, and Jaunty. This was one of my first projects under the mentorship of Jamie Strandboge who has provided invaluable help along my MOTU way.

Alfresco

Though in the Partner repository, where much of my work lies, the package is in decent shape and I am proud to have been involved creating the package and making it available to the Ubuntu community. I also now maintain the swftools package needed by Alfresco.

Openbravo

Another open source package I am happy to have helped create and make available to Ubuntu users through the Partner repository. This package still needs a lot of love as we convince vendors that updating via package management rather than through your own application actually benefits users. I consider this an "accomplishment in progress"

Areas of work

I have worked on some SRUs, Merges, bugfixes, etc..., but I found my main interest to be in merging security patches from Debian and have done quite a few of those:

Here is a list of mostly simple merges/FTBFS packages I have done to familiarize myself with the tools involved:

Things I could do better

I've been packaging for a long time now, but most of my work has been with commercial software that I solely maintain. I can definitely improve my interaction with the community, and also spend a little more time on updates. My main weakness with some of my updates was uploading with too little info in the changelog. When I fix something, I want to push it out! I have improved in this area, but am working to do even better.

Plans for the future

General

I would like to continue helping with security updates, merges, and bug squashing near release time. I am also looking at maintaining a package I use that is not in Debian/Ubuntu called the reconstructor engine. (http://www.reconstructor.org) I'm in contact with the upstream to do just that, and would like to see it in Maverick, or at the very least, Maverick+1.

What I like least in Ubuntu

  • I must say that the thing I like least about Ubuntu is also its strength - the release cycle. Having updates every 6 months brings in the latest and greatest software but also introduces new bugs and regressions.

Comments

If you'd like to comment, but are not the applicant or a sponsor, do it here. Don't forget to sign with @SIG@.

JonathanRiddell

I am the primary archive admin contact for any desktop software uploaded to partner by Brian. I review all desktop packages that Brian makes for partner. Partner packaging is tricky with applications often needing quite unique packaging compared to free software ones. Brian's packages are high quality and rarely contain problems. I entirely commend Brian for MOTU.

TEMPLATE

== <SPONSORS NAME> ==
=== General feedback ===
## Please fill us in on your shared experience. (How many packages did you sponsor? How would you judge the quality? How would you describe the improvements? Do you trust the applicant?)

=== Specific Experiences of working together ===
''Please add good examples of your work together, but also cases that could have handled better.''
=== Areas of Improvement ===

CategoryHomepage CategoryMOTUApplication

BrianThomason/MOTUApplication (last edited 2011-08-08 20:21:03 by adsl-98-88-3-209)