GNU C Library Steering Committee - Aligning glibc terminology with gcc

[Carlos O'Donell]

On 6/14/25 1:21 AM, Alexandre Oliva wrote:
> On Jun  5, 2025, "Carlos O'Donell" <carlos@redhat.com> wrote:
> 
>> I think it's a good idea to align with the usage in gcc, and thus
>> the GNU Toolchain usage.

Updating Ryan Arnold's email since I had the wrong one in my address book
by accident. The original thread starts here:
https://inbox.sourceware.org/libc-alpha/737f58ae-9d58-45fd-a10e-828e4b8d7066@redhat.com/

> I don't really mind the proposed change, but (i) I find it more
> important to remain in line with GNU at large than with a subset
> thereof, and (ii) I don't think we get to appoint ourselves for whatever
> role/position/title we choose; changing the terminology is something to
> be undertaken by whoever appointed us under the current terminology.
> What GNU appointeth, GNU renameth ;-)

Thanks for review.

I am not suggesting we change the name GNU Maintainer, or any other
term assigned by the GNU Project, so that is no change.

We can always realign as needed over time.

I'd like to avoid any EU CRA confusion.

> So my vote is for us to wait for GNU to make the official move.

I take that as not objecting to removing the name steward and aligning
with gcc.

> If anyone feels it is called for, I wouldn't mind the addition of a
> disclaimer of any "open-source steward"ship under the EU CRA that might
> be incorrectly presumed from our maintainership roles.

That's a disclaimer that I expect the GNU Project should make in the
"Words to Avoid" page:
https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.en.html

This has been discussed upstream in GNU Project discussions, but not yet
updated by the project (see the gnu-prod-discuss thread).

In summary:
- Using the name steering committee aligns with gcc.
- Using the name steering committee avoids a word with EU CRA meaning.
- The GNU Project is working to make the word "steward" a word to avoid.

-- 
Cheers,
Carlos.