Project:Ops

The goal of the #gentoo operators project is, among other things, to clarify how #gentoo is maintained. Most of the communication about actual channel management takes place on IRC, and this project aims to describe how we do it, and who we are.

Channel Policy
Compared to most IRC channels on freenode and indeed on other IRC networks, #gentoo has a rather strict policy, and this policy is enforced as strictly as possible. #gentoo is the focal point of many support enquiries and can be very busy at times. Because of the many (often ~1000) users that chat (and lurk) in #gentoo, making it one of the largest channels on the freenode network, and perhaps also because of the mild animosity that any Linux distribution causes among users of other Linux distributions, it is also the focal point of spammers, pranksters, and trolls.

The policy set up to manage #gentoo is therefore very straightforward and simple:


 * The topic of the channel is Gentoo Linux support. To be precise, this means the Gentoo Linux that you install using the Gentoo Handbook.
 * Alternative operating systems (where the difference may be in, for example, the kernel, userland, or package manager) do not fall into this category.
 * Gentoo derivatives are considered as alternative systems; users of these distributions are asked to consult their distribution's support venues, not #gentoo.
 * We can not provide support for using Gentoo projects (such as OpenRC, genkernel, etc.) on these alternative systems.
 * "Manual installation", i.e. working around the official package manager by manually downloading sources and unpacking, configuring, compiling, and installing (normally to ) is not supported.
 * Actual chat (such as personal stories, comments on external events, even mild flamewars about program X versus program Y) is not on topic.
 * Users participating in such conversations will usually be asked to take the discussion elsewhere.
 * Discussion of #gentoo management is off topic.
 * The appropriate place to discuss matters of #gentoo</tt> policy and its enforcement is #gentoo-ops</tt> (and not #gentoo</tt>: it's just too busy for that).
 * #gentoo</tt> operates a clean language policy.
 * Because of the varied nature of Gentoo users and the varied environments in which they might use #gentoo</tt>, the channel has a strict language policy, meaning that anything you wouldn't dare say to your proverbial grandmother, you shouldn't say in #gentoo</tt>.
 * The use of expletives is strongly discouraged.
 * No bots or scripts that talk or publicly log the channel.
 * This includes away/return messages and 'now playing' announcements.
 * No pasting >3 lines.
 * Please use a pastebin, or the handy wgetpaste utility to provide links to longer pastes in the channel instead.

Abuse Management
Users found in violation of the above rules or otherwise negatively impacting the channel will in most cases be warned/asked to stop first. Should they persist, consequent muting or banishment follows.

Users may appeal or discuss any action taken against them in #gentoo-ops</tt>, or via email at [mailto:ops@gentoo.org ops@gentoo.org]. Mutes and bans may normally only be unset by the banner - (s)he has a responsibility to set reasonable bans.

Bots
#gentoo</tt> has a few official bots that are exempted from the "no talking bots" rule:


 * willikins
 * Gentoo's helpful IRC bot. Shows details when given a bug number, resolves package maintainers, and does a lot more. /msg willikins help for more information.


 * gen2
 * Utility bot for operators. He/she/it does not provide any functionality for channel users.


 * zoidberg
 * Flood control bot. Only in use when needed. Does also not offer any functionality for channel users.

Participating
Both Gentoo developers and users can become #gentoo</tt> ops. The selection process basically works as in any other Gentoo project: if you put in the work, helping users in #gentoo</tt>, you are certain to get noticed and may get asked to join the team.

Operator status in #gentoo is not intended as a status symbol: operators are given privileges only to effectively uphold service standards in #gentoo. Regular contributors may be given autovoice (+V</tt>), so they have voice in the channel even when the channel mode mutes other users. Regular contributors who are interested in maintaining channel security may be given +o</tt> to "op up" when needed. Operators with +o</tt> who are not developers and developers who are also operators are listed in this document.

Operator status can be removed after a period of inactivity or not using operator privileges for a good while (say a couple of months).

Operator status does not automatically mean membership of the team and vice versa.

Via e-mail
To send e-mail to the #gentoo</tt> operators team, point your favourite e-mail client to [mailto:ops@gentoo.org ops@gentoo.org].

On freenode
Join #gentoo-ops</tt> if you want to chat directly with #gentoo</tt> operators. Also, any urgent issues with regard to <tt>#gentoo</tt> channel management (abuse, pointers to important bugs that affect many users) should be brought to our attention there.