Branden Robinson
Encyclopedia
G. Branden Robinson is a Debian
developer, known for his contributions to the packaging of the X Window System
, and his tenure as the Debian Project Leader from April 2005 to April 2006.
packages, which he took over from Mark W. Eichin by uploading the 3.3.2 release of the XFree86
packages on 1998-03-25. Before that time, other developers had tried (and failed) to create usable and efficient packages of the X Window System; they failed mostly because the X source is so large that it is too much work for one developer alone.
Robinson remedied this by founding the X Strike Force, a loosely-knit group of developers who would assist him in finding and fixing bugs
, testing X packages on architectures
he doesn't have the hardware
for, and similar things. Branden would, however, remain primarily responsible for the X packages, and would be the only person to upload packages. In founding the X Strike Force, Robinson in effect turned X into the first package maintained by a group of people, well before this was established and even recommended practice in the Debian project. Today, a large number of packages, including the KDE
and GNOME
desktops, are group-maintained, and the Release Managers recommend that developers maintain medium to large packages in groups. In 2004, Robinson turned the X Strike Force into a real maintainer group, with more than one person allowed to make uploads of the X system. As of 2007, Robinson makes little or no contribution to the X Strike Force.
Robinson has also held the position of Treasurer of Software in the Public Interest
, Debian's legal umbrella organization, between 2001 and 2004.
, who had been elected project leader in 2003 and 2004. The 2005 election was peculiar because Robinson was joined by Andreas Schuldei and four other developers in the so-called Project Scud, by which they formed a team which would attempt to win the election, rather than a single nominee.
During Branden Robinson's term as a leader, the project achieved some incremental successes, such as a stable point release of stable by new release managers for that distribution, having AMD64 added to testing, and the inclusion of modular X
in unstable.
For the 2006 elections, Robinson was not a candidate. It was won by Anthony Towns
, who became the new DPL on April 18, 2006.
Debian
Debian is a computer operating system composed of software packages released as free and open source software primarily under the GNU General Public License along with other free software licenses. Debian GNU/Linux, which includes the GNU OS tools and Linux kernel, is a popular and influential...
developer, known for his contributions to the packaging of the X Window System
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
, and his tenure as the Debian Project Leader from April 2005 to April 2006.
Contributions
Robinson has contributed to Debian since 1998. His most visible contribution is his long-time maintenance of the X Window SystemX Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
packages, which he took over from Mark W. Eichin by uploading the 3.3.2 release of the XFree86
XFree86
XFree86 is an implementation of the X Window System. It was originally written for Unix-like operating systems on IBM PC compatibles and is now available for many other operating systems and platforms. It is free and open source software under the XFree86 License version 1.1. It is developed by the...
packages on 1998-03-25. Before that time, other developers had tried (and failed) to create usable and efficient packages of the X Window System; they failed mostly because the X source is so large that it is too much work for one developer alone.
Robinson remedied this by founding the X Strike Force, a loosely-knit group of developers who would assist him in finding and fixing bugs
Software bug
A software bug is the common term used to describe an error, flaw, mistake, failure, or fault in a computer program or system that produces an incorrect or unexpected result, or causes it to behave in unintended ways. Most bugs arise from mistakes and errors made by people in either a program's...
, testing X packages on architectures
Computer architecture
In computer science and engineering, computer architecture is the practical art of selecting and interconnecting hardware components to create computers that meet functional, performance and cost goals and the formal modelling of those systems....
he doesn't have the hardware
Hardware
Hardware is a general term for equipment such as keys, locks, hinges, latches, handles, wire, chains, plumbing supplies, tools, utensils, cutlery and machine parts. Household hardware is typically sold in hardware stores....
for, and similar things. Branden would, however, remain primarily responsible for the X packages, and would be the only person to upload packages. In founding the X Strike Force, Robinson in effect turned X into the first package maintained by a group of people, well before this was established and even recommended practice in the Debian project. Today, a large number of packages, including the KDE
KDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
and GNOME
GNOME
GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
desktops, are group-maintained, and the Release Managers recommend that developers maintain medium to large packages in groups. In 2004, Robinson turned the X Strike Force into a real maintainer group, with more than one person allowed to make uploads of the X system. As of 2007, Robinson makes little or no contribution to the X Strike Force.
Robinson has also held the position of Treasurer of Software in the Public Interest
Software in the Public Interest
Software in the Public Interest, Inc. is a non-profit organization formed to help other organizations create and distribute free/open-source software and open-source hardware...
, Debian's legal umbrella organization, between 2001 and 2004.
Leadership
Robinson was elected by his fellow developers in 2005, after running for the position five times between 2001 and 2005. He succeeded Martin MichlmayrMartin Michlmayr
Dr. Martin Michlmayr is a Debian developer working on quality management.Michlmayr became a member of the Debian project in 2000 and soon began work as an Application Manager for membership applications. He subsequently worked as a member of the Front Desk which coordinates the New Maintainer...
, who had been elected project leader in 2003 and 2004. The 2005 election was peculiar because Robinson was joined by Andreas Schuldei and four other developers in the so-called Project Scud, by which they formed a team which would attempt to win the election, rather than a single nominee.
During Branden Robinson's term as a leader, the project achieved some incremental successes, such as a stable point release of stable by new release managers for that distribution, having AMD64 added to testing, and the inclusion of modular X
X.Org
X.Org refers to several things related to the X Window System:* X.Org, the organisation in charge of X standards from 1999 * The X.Org Foundation, a community-based foundation which took over X stewardship in 2004...
in unstable.
For the 2006 elections, Robinson was not a candidate. It was won by Anthony Towns
Anthony Towns
Anthony Towns is a computer programmer who was a long-time Debian release manager, ftpmaster team member and later the Debian Project Leader...
, who became the new DPL on April 18, 2006.