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Comment by Sir_Cmpwn | Hacker News Reader

Out of curiosity, I dug for info on you a little bit after reading your comment. Found your Github: https://github.com/rdegges?tab=repositories

Two things are clear:

1 - you have time to be prolific in open source

2 - you have significant Python skills

Seems like you fit the bill for what Wesnoth needs! Why not step in and help yourself? I don't want to come across as calling you out here - I'm genuinely interested in learning why, because I maintain many open source projects myself and I want to know some of the reasons why skilled programmers who appreciate projects don't contribute to them.

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Isn't Battle for Wesnoth looking for C++ programmers to maintain their codebase?

It's not that I don't have significant programming skills myself, nor that I don't work on side projects, nor even that I don't really like Battle for Wesnoth... I've just sworn off every working on a C++ legacy codebase.

So I'm not really sure what I have to contribute to a legacy C++ codebase.

Ed: I went back and read, and they're looking for people to add Python code to their toolchain. My answer is thus amended: I dislike trying to interface toolchains for building data to legacy codebases, and I do that for my job. I have no interest in doing ugly hacky things on legacy codebases for free, because it's honestly sort of soul crushing work.

"I'm not interested in that kind of work" is a fair answer, but it seems pretty rude to dismiss it as an ugly hacky legacy code base without reviewing it first.

Rude like asking someone who has disposable income why they aren't donating to a specific cause? Hmm.

For the record, I looked at the Wesnoth codebase in college, so my opinions are outdated (by 5+ years) but not unfounded.

Rather, I'm merely repeating why I didn't help then, instead of particularly why now, which is a much more boring "I'm just busy".

I suppose it's possible the codebase has changed so much in those years that the answers are no longer relevant, but they would be the only open source project (not sponsored by a corporation) I'm aware of that happening in.

It's an old C++ codebase.

By near definition, it's ugly hacky legacy code.

That's just the nature of these things.

I didn't realize they needed Python help! I was looking through the site, and it appeared they needed C++ / graphics people to help out.

If that's the case, I'll certainly see what I can do!

I spend quite a bit of my free time doing open source work because it's fun =)

I really wanted to disengage, but I've noticed that both of your comments on this article have been calling people out.

Out of curiosity, why call people out?? Has it worked for you in other projects?? Or, have you reached contributor burnout?

I've only made one top level comment on this article. I'm not trying to convince this guy to contribute, I'm trying to find out why he doesn't. Can no one just take me at my word? Yeesh.

That top level and this one (which is in response to someone who answered your question) are both rather combative. If I wanted to create dialogue, I wouldn't attack answers as rude.

"I'm not interested in that kind of work" is a fair answer, but it seems pretty rude to dismiss it as an ugly hacky legacy code base without reviewing it first.

Like I said, I wanted to disengage but I see this kind of attitude repeat itself over and over within open source communities and can't escape the feeling that it only pushes people away from contributing.

Before this conversation, I planned to do some work on Wesnoth, but it reminded me of all the politics involved in contributing. I don't want to be called out when my ideas don't align with those of 'the elite' so why would I possibly get involved in a project?

What is up with so much of the software community getting involved in meta discussion about how everything doesn't suit their perfect little bubble lately? So what, some people are going to be abrasive. Being an adult means doing what you want in the face of that.

Incidentally, I have a history of starting activist organizations and have a nearly two decade long record of attracting volunteers.

Based on my experience, the following things do not work:

A) Accessing someone's personal details with the intention of asking them why they will contribute to one cause but not another.

B) Asking an open-ended question then attacking answers that do not align with yours.

If you are burned out or just need to vent, email me and we can talk about this. I've been burned out from managing/recruiting volunteers and I likely understand the feeling as well as anyone. Use me if I can be of any assistance.

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It's not directly linked, but it is shallowly indirectly linked by going to their home page which is listed on their profile. In any case I agree that presenting information in this manner can feel a bit invasive, as in putting someone on the spot/making the topic about them.

Click profile -> follow link to website -> click "code"

His Github username is also the same as his Hacker News username.

Chill out.

It's not really ok to bring someone's personal details into a thread and ask them to account for their choices. It's good that you were polite about it, and curiosity is a good intention, not an attack. Still, this is a questionable thing to do, so I don't think you get to respond rudely ("Chill out") when questioned about it, or react like what you did is normal; it's not.

rdegges obviously has a lot on their plate already.

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