Benevolent Dictator for Life: Difference between revisions
imported>ZachPruckowski m (→See also: remove non-existent languages) |
imported>ZachPruckowski (sourcing part of article. If anyone knows a more legit website with the text of the book, please change it.) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{sources}} | {{sources}} | ||
'''''Benevolent Dictator for Life''''' ('''BDFL''') is the informal | '''''Benevolent Dictator for Life''''' ('''BDFL''') is the informal title given to a respected individual in the [[open source]] development community who sets general directions and makes final calls in certain situations within the scope of a given project. The term "Benevolent Dictator" is [http://fringe.davesource.com/Fringe/Computers/Philosophy/Homesteading_The_Noosphere/homesteading-15.html first used] in the open source development context by [[Eric Raymond]] in his book <i>[[Homesteading the Noosphere]]</i> to refer to a project structure in which "a project has multiple co-maintainers working under a single `benevolent dictator'" | ||
A "benevolent dictator" (or '''Benevolent Dictator for Life''') is the person who effectively holds dictator-like powers over that project, yet is trusted by other users/developers not to abuse this power. The term is used humorously, because the "subjects" of the project leader contribute voluntarily, and the end-product may be used by everyone. A dictator in this context has power only over the process, and that only for as long as the trust remains. Examples include [[Linus Torvalds]] for the [[Linux kernel]]; [[Guido van Rossum]] for the [[Python programming language]]; [[Larry Wall]] for the [[Perl programming language]]. Many claim [[Jimmy Wales]] is the benevolent dictator for the [[Wikimedia Foundation]], but it is argued that most of the power belongs to its board of directors. | A "benevolent dictator" (or '''Benevolent Dictator for Life''') is the person who effectively holds dictator-like powers over that project, yet is trusted by other users/developers not to abuse this power. The term is used humorously, because the "subjects" of the project leader contribute voluntarily, and the end-product may be used by everyone. A dictator in this context has power only over the process, and that only for as long as the trust remains. Examples include [[Linus Torvalds]] for the [[Linux kernel]]; [[Guido van Rossum]] for the [[Python programming language]]; [[Larry Wall]] for the [[Perl programming language]]. Many claim [[Jimmy Wales]] is the benevolent dictator for the [[Wikimedia Foundation]], but it is argued that most of the power belongs to its board of directors. | ||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
Not all, or even most, open source projects have a BDFL. | Not all, or even most, open source projects have a BDFL. | ||
The title is | The title is an extension of the concept of a [[benevolent dictator]] and a [[president for life]]. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 16:25, 21 October 2006
Template:Sources Benevolent Dictator for Life (BDFL) is the informal title given to a respected individual in the open source development community who sets general directions and makes final calls in certain situations within the scope of a given project. The term "Benevolent Dictator" is first used in the open source development context by Eric Raymond in his book Homesteading the Noosphere to refer to a project structure in which "a project has multiple co-maintainers working under a single `benevolent dictator'"
A "benevolent dictator" (or Benevolent Dictator for Life) is the person who effectively holds dictator-like powers over that project, yet is trusted by other users/developers not to abuse this power. The term is used humorously, because the "subjects" of the project leader contribute voluntarily, and the end-product may be used by everyone. A dictator in this context has power only over the process, and that only for as long as the trust remains. Examples include Linus Torvalds for the Linux kernel; Guido van Rossum for the Python programming language; Larry Wall for the Perl programming language. Many claim Jimmy Wales is the benevolent dictator for the Wikimedia Foundation, but it is argued that most of the power belongs to its board of directors.
Of course, a project coordinator cannot really be anything like a dictator in the sense that one ultimately cannot enforce a decision, since a project fork is always possible.
Not all, or even most, open source projects have a BDFL.
The title is an extension of the concept of a benevolent dictator and a president for life.