[llvm-dev] [PITCH] Improvements to LLVM Decision Making

[David Chisnall via llvm-dev]

On 15/01/2020 10:04, Doerfert, Johannes via llvm-dev wrote:
>> "It isn't clear how to propose some changes in the first place, and it
>> is often unclear who the decision makers are."
> I feel that patches and RFCs are well established*and documented*  [1,2]
> ways to propose changes. In addition, the *-dev lists, IRC, etc. do
> provide ways to clear uncertainties. Adding more documentation on this
> can obviously be helpful. Also, we are already improving the existing
> documentation [0].

This came up at the WICT workshop (which still doesn't have a writeup on 
the LLVM web site) and has previously come up in Cambridge and Paris 
LLVM socials that I've attended and at EuroLLVM:

There is no formal definition of 'the LLVM community' and therefore 
anything that requires consensus of the community is difficult to 
define.  I have spoken to several people who have believed based on 
mailing list discussions that consensus on an issue is one thing, but 
then the decision has been taken to do the other option, often with the 
justification that this was the consensus of the people at a BoF at the 
San Jose dev meeting.

There is no formal leadership of the LLVM community.  The LLVM 
Foundation leadership is self-selected and not necessarily 
representative, so cannot fill the 'buck stops here' role of someone who 
has to make the call and justify their decisions when they come up for 
reelection.

David