Lingham, Perklin, Pouliot named to Bitcoin Foundation Board / Mission Statement

[BruceFenton]

I like the suggestion of making it a placeholder and gatherer of ideas.

Not a fan of the elections in general, not efficient and don't seem to help us help Bitcoin.

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[Peter R]

Why only foster Core development?  Why not support development in general--actually encouraging decentralization away from Core?

Great point.

To you have a suggestion for wording?

This is an active document in GitHub as we speak

Sure!

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FOSTERING PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT

The foundation seeks to foster continued advancement of the Bitcoin protocol by encouraging multiple protocol implementations and by increasing knowledge about the development process.  Not only do multiple protocol implementations improve code diversity and network robustness, but they also increase opportunities for new developers to get involved.   New developers can work with a team that shares similar ideologies and work ethics, allowing each new developer to contribute to her fullest, benefitting the overall Bitcoin ecosystem in the process.

The primary tool for this is the [__needs a new name__] conference series which is designed to "Develop the Developers" there have so far been three events: London, Boston and San Jose.

The events have included as faculty well known leading developers and technical experts such as Greg Maxwell, Gavin Andresen, Charlie Lee, Jeff Garzik, Andreas M. Antonopoulos, Matt Corallo, Jeremy Allaire, Michael Perklin, Sean Neville and others.

Additional work for fostering development is in the areas of exploring better ways to bridge the gap of knowledge between development and the public and corporations.

The foundation Chief Scientist is Gavin Andresen. The foundation also wishes to create a Technical Communications Committee which will be chaired by someone with significant knowledge about core development. The primary role of this committee will be to bridge the gap between protocol development and the public and business leaders by updating members of the industry on current events in development and what they mean to the Bitcoin industry.
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[franky1]

Additional work for fostering development is in the areas of exploring better ways to bridge the gap of knowledge between development and the public and corporations.

whats needed is better commenting of code. maybe as a separate code repository where each line of code is commented to explain things better, back in my day we not only had to comment code, but also write 'pseudo-code' (laymans version) to help explain it better.

its ok to only write code if your the only coder and you understand where one line of code affects the other instantly.. but when there are strangers looking at it or taking over projects then it must be made as simple as possible for others to read the code and understand it without having to scroll pages of pure code just to find references and functions to get to know how it works

[Peter R]

Additional work for fostering development is in the areas of exploring better ways to bridge the gap of knowledge between development and the public and corporations.

whats needed is better commenting of code. maybe as a separate code repository where each line of code is commented to explain things better, back in my day we not only had to comment code, but also write 'pseudo-code' (laymans version) to help explain it better.

its ok to only write code if your the only coder and you understand where one line of code affects the other instantly.. but when there are strangers looking at it or taking over projects then it must be made as simple as possible for others to read the code and understand it without having to scroll pages of pure code just to find references and functions to get to know how it works

Agreed!

[BruceFenton]

Thanks for the productive comments.

The Bitcoin Foundation belongs to everyone in Bitcoin it's as much yours as it is mine or any other member or the boards.

I think the foundation was a joke and instead of wishing it to be destroyed I accepted a volunteer offer to work to fix it.

If we all put our heads and a little effort and acknowledge that the past is the past and say we've got this thing, let's do something useful with it then that is a positive.

[Blazed]

The Bitcoin Foundation's name is too tainted in my opinion and will never get much community support. They way Oliver was axed was the final straw for many I would guess. I like what you are trying Bruce, but you would be better off forming something new. How many people would be willing to donate to the current foundation after all the history it has?

[franky1]

The Bitcoin Foundation's name is too tainted in my opinion and will never get much community support. They way Oliver was axed was the final straw for many I would guess. I like what you are trying Bruce, but you would be better off forming something new. How many people would be willing to donate to the current foundation after all the history it has?

though the foundation has a nasty history. IF its reorganized so that people are not buying memberships or donating to a pot of funds that has not even been made clear how is spent. but instead organized so that people only put in any amount they want to a certain idea/project. and this scheme is advertised like kickstarter, then the foundation may actually find they see more people contributing

[siameze]

The Bitcoin Foundation's name is too tainted in my opinion and will never get much community support. They way Oliver was axed was the final straw for many I would guess. I like what you are trying Bruce, but you would be better off forming something new. How many people would be willing to donate to the current foundation after all the history it has?

Agreed. I wouldn't waste a single satoshi to buy water if one of the members was on fire. Pretty much all "The Bitcoin Foundation" is good for is kissing political ass and making the community at large look like thieves, liars, and preschoolers.

No thanks.

The Bitcoin Foundation belongs to everyone in Bitcoin it's as much yours as it is mine or any other member or the boards.

If this is true, return my donation from ~2 years ago. I'll call it a wash. /s

[Blazed]

The Bitcoin Foundation's name is too tainted in my opinion and will never get much community support. They way Oliver was axed was the final straw for many I would guess. I like what you are trying Bruce, but you would be better off forming something new. How many people would be willing to donate to the current foundation after all the history it has?

though the foundation has a nasty history. IF its reorganized so that people are not buying memberships or donating to a pot of funds that has not even been made clear how is spent. but instead organized so that people only put in any amount they want to a certain idea/project. and this scheme is advertised like kickstarter, then the foundation may actually find they see more people contributing

I agree 100%. I would donate/fund a foundation with a clear set of guidelines and goals. I want a group that has a plan and will efficiently spend the funds they get towards something that helps Bitcoin...not the staff of a foundation.

[franky1]

...
I would donate/fund
...
something that helps Bitcoin...not the staff of a foundation.

100% agree

[BruceFenton]

...
I would donate/fund
...
something that helps Bitcoin...not the staff of a foundation.

100% agree

Just for reference the board and Executive Director are all volunteers,  the only paid staff are a part time bookeeper and a part time ops person

[siameze]

...
I would donate/fund
...
something that helps Bitcoin...not the staff of a foundation.

100% agree

Just for reference the board and Executive Director are all volunteers,  the only paid staff are a part time bookeeper and a part time ops person

We know, you have repeated this like a drunk parrot about 1000 times in the past week. The mismanagement of funds ( including Gavin's salaray) is at issue here.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

I don't remotely trust any type of self appointed Bitcoin Foundation. I think it stinks tbh & I'd rather place any trust I have in the miners & actual bitcoin community/users.

How long before this foundation start paying themselves obscene bonuses & acting like fiat banks.

Not for me sadly, I'm not interested in supporting them.

[siameze]

I don't remotely trust any type of self appointed Bitcoin Foundation. I think it stinks tbh & I'd rather place any trust I have in the miners & actual bitcoin community/users.

How long before this foundation start paying themselves obscene bonuses & acting like fiat banks.

Not for me sadly, I'm not interested in supporting them.

Looking at the (finally released) 2014 financial statements there are lots of funds that simply can't be accounted for properly. I agree that the community itself is the real "foundation". A six figure salary for a "Chief Scientist" that does little besides work on his own fork of Bitcoin is ridiculous.

I'm sure The Foundation can get Roger Verified though. He'll shill for anything.

[BruceFenton]

I don't remotely trust any type of self appointed Bitcoin Foundation. I think it stinks tbh & I'd rather place any trust I have in the miners & actual bitcoin community/users.

How long before this foundation start paying themselves obscene bonuses & acting like fiat banks.

Not for me sadly, I'm not interested in supporting them.

Looking at the (finally released) 2014 financial statements there are lots of funds that simply can't be accounted for properly. I agree that the community itself is the real "foundation". A six figure salary for a "Chief Scientist" that does little besides work on his own fork of Bitcoin is ridiculous.

I'm sure The Foundation can get Roger Verified though. He'll shill for anything.

The expenses listed on the 990 form for 2014 were made by a different administration than is there now.

The current expenses are low.

I'd ask people to judge the foundation and people involved by the actual acts they were or are responsible for.

It's harder to be a turnaround team when the new people are blamed for the actions of those they replaced.