For the past 7 or so months (maybe more?) I've been in the mode of quitting Gentoo. At first, I wanted to make sure I had a new email address at which people could contact me. Since 2001, my primary and only email address has been my Gentoo one. And it's still the one that appears on google searches of me. Now, of course, I'm me at this domain, so it should be a no-brainer. Anyway, as I established that I also wanted to make sure that my employer had access to Gentoo development, so that fixes and patches needed there were able to get through to the right people/places easily and quickly. With Justin Bronder on board with Gentoo, that accomplished that mission. His first commit today got me back on track to officially resigning.
Let's be honest, I haven't played a meaningful role in Gentoo development in a very long time. So, really, this resignation was a long time coming Apart from that, I've been engaged in other activities (using django, thinking about platforms, consulting, work, and my own personal life and family) that Gentoo has taken a back seat in my life for about a year. The demotivating side-effects of Gentoo's growth simply catalysed that.
I may commit my thoughts on Gentoo's direction and future (and suggestions) in a later post, but really, the distribution is on some sort of track, and I hope for its success. Gentoo has come a long way, and it has a long way yet to go.
While I join many friends in the land of the ex-devs, I also leave many many friends behind. To everyone who's had an effect on me in the last almost 7 years with Gentoo: my sincerest gratitude. The experience of Gentoo is one that I would never replace -- it has enriched me on many levels, and the bulk of that is via the people I've been fortunate enough to meet and exchange ideas with. Gentoo has shaped a lot of my life, and I'm better off for that.
I will miss being a Gentoo developer, but I'm looking forward to being a Gentoo user.
I don't know when this syndication will end on Planet Gentoo, but if you'd like to follow along with my future projects, please stay tuned to my blog for updates.
6 Comments
I remember when you made me a gentoo dev once.... Long ago.
You were always Mr. Gentoo to me over the years and while we hadn't much contact, working together with you was always a pleasure (worth mentioning when you met some people in the free software world where that's really not the case :-).
Gentoo will miss you.
Well said. Just not interested anymore. You better keep in touch with me, mate or else! :P
Thanks for sponsoring me, I had a good run too.
Seemant - Wow, seven years?? I guess so! I learned a lot from you when I was a dev - thanks for being patient and ever-so kind. Good luck with your future endeavors - as if you need luck! ;)
Cheers, //zhen
Sorry to see you go man. Sincerely hope you come back to Gentoo sometime in the future. Good luck with everything.
Uncle Seemant ("don't you know it's spelled cement?" is an irc thread I'll never forget...), thanks for all the fish (and tacos...and hospitality...). You were always a big inspiration and sound ear, something Gentoo needed. You did good, kid :)
~mcummings
So long and thanks for being such an inspiration for Gentoo.