Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

I see that there are packages stagnating with one or two super testers votes.

I would suggest that only one super tester vote should be needed to promote to extras as these people are supposed to be doing a real testing process, not like the rest of us ;)

Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

i wanna be a tester too. I'm here to help your work and i have much time to waste for those things..

;) i'm not a newbie this can help u to understand that i can resolve common problems during the test by myself notepading :D u what i ve done

Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

I think it might be worthwhile thinking about how to improve the testing criteria / requirements. Currently it is somewhat feasible to reach the required package karma of at least 10, but the problematic part is to get the required minimum of three votes by someone from the testers group. Also, as it takes such a long time to get the needed votes, and if a new package version is pushed into extras-testing, the voting process has to be started from scratch again.

Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

You misunderstand the current process. The requirement to be unlocked is one of the following being met:

1. 10 days and a net voting of 10 or more users.
2. 20 days and a net voting of 3 or more super-testers.

Anyone can contribute to unlocking by being in the first group.

Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

Thanks for the clarification, in this case the requirements are sensible.

Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

I would also propose a role as "Super Mantainer".

They should be people with good background in Debian packaging, no need to be programmers, but also being a super tester would be appreciated.

They could promote packages already tested but orphaned from their original developers.

They should be able to fix any minor problems in packages without the need of permission from maintainers. Things such as

- Not proper package description.
- Incorrect section. Very usual with theme packages in section System.
- Lack of icon.
- Dependency problems.

This way I can think in a good bunch of packages that could be promoted easily.

It would also be a good way of polishing packages.

Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

Great minds think alike(ish). Within this story, I posted:

However, to your proposal, which was more focused on maintainer packagers, rather than developer packagers:

It's an interesting idea. Historically, we've not had much separation between developers and maintainers; and someone can take ownership of a package which has been abandonned (to upload a version with the fixes above).

Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

Actually, I think that we have a lot of unpolished packages, precisely because developers/designers are not good at packaging or even don't care at all.

There is also a growing number of applications and scripts that haven't landed in Extras and are floating around in Media Fire accounts or attached to posts in TMO that could worth this packaging effort.

Re: [Council] "Super" testers required to clear up Extras backlog
 

These don't need any process changes, though - just someone willing to pick them up. Do you think it's worth some kind of central place for people to ask for help?

Certainly through MWKN we try and point people to packaging if the person asks for help as part of an announcement, e.g. http://www.mwkn.net/2011/01/announce.html#announce-7