[FFmpeg-devel] Is the GA democratic ?

[Niklas Haas]

On Tue, 21 Jan 2025 18:41:49 +0100 Michael Niedermayer <michael at niedermayer.cc> wrote:
> Hi
> 
> As people likely know i belive it is not but i got a 2nd opinion:
> 
> 
> I asked chat gpt this:
> [...]

The validity and relevance of AI tools notwithstanding, I suggest to take a
look at this ChatGPT session:

https://chatgpt.com/share/678febb2-a3ac-8003-953c-0b06d78020ba

While it tries very hard to maintain a neutral tone throughout, highlighting
the strengths of both a democratic and centralized power model in FOSS projects,
it does succinctly summarize the current problems in the FFmpeg community and
offers a clear solution to our current community woes.

I want to highlight some quotes:

> In summary, while FFmpeg officially adopts a democratic governance model
> with decision-making through consensus and voting, there are indications
> that, in practice, the project may still exhibit characteristics of a
> BDFL model. This suggests that FFmpeg's governance may align with the
> scenario where a democratically elected committee's decisions are
> occasionally overridden by a single leader, reflecting a hybrid model with
> centralized influences.
>
> [...]
>
> Risks of Status Quo:
>   If contributors perceive that the democratic process is a façade or their
>   input is consistently disregarded, community morale and trust will erode.
>   The project may face difficulty scaling or sustaining long-term growth if
>   contributors disengage, potentially stagnating as competing projects (or
>   forks) attract disillusioned members.
>
> [...]
>
> My Recommendation
>
>  FFmpeg should move toward a more democratic governance model for its
>  long-term sustainability and growth. The project has grown too large and
>  essential for authoritarian leadership to remain practical or desirable.
>
> [...]
>
> Removing all disgruntled community members and consolidating sole control
> under an authoritarian leader may appear to streamline governance in the
> short term, but it is rarely a sustainable or beneficial strategy in the
> long term.

Of course, only a fool would take anything an AI chatbot says at face value.

Just some food for thought.

> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Michael     GnuPG fingerprint: 9FF2128B147EF6730BADF133611EC787040B0FAB
> 
> No human being will ever know the Truth, for even if they happen to say it
> by chance, they would not even known they had done so. -- Xenophanes
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