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Python Software Engineering

Benevolent dictator for life (BDFL)

See also: Python, Python Bibliography and Bibliography of Python Libraries and Web Frameworks, Python Programming Courses

“Benevolent dictator for life (BDFL) is a title given to a small number of open-source software development leaders, typically project founders who retain the final say in disputes or arguments within the community. The phrase originated in 1995 with reference to Guido van Rossum, creator of the Python programming language.[1][2] Shortly after Van Rossum joined the Corporation for National Research Initiatives, the term appeared in a follow-up mail by Ken Manheimer to a meeting trying to create a semi-formal group that would oversee Python development and workshops; this initial use included an additional joke of naming Van Rossum the “First Interim BDFL”.[1] Van Rossum announced on July 12, 2018 that he would be stepping down as BDFL of Python without appointing a successor, effectively eliminating the title within the Python community structure.[3]” (WP)

“BDFL should not be confused with the more common term for open-source leaders, “benevolent dictator”, which was popularized by Eric S. Raymond‘s essay “Homesteading the Noosphere” (1999).[4] Among other topics related to hacker culture, Raymond elaborates on how the nature of open source forces the “dictatorship” to keep itself benevolent, since a strong disagreement can lead to the forking of the project under the rule of new leaders.” (WP)

Referent candidates

(WP)

NameProjectTypeReference
Sylvain BennerSpacemacsCommunity-driven Emacs distribution[5]
Vitalik ButerinEthereumBlockchain-based cryptocurrency[6]
Dries BuytaertDrupalContent management framework[7]
Haoyuan LiAlluxioData Orchestration System[8]
Evan CzaplickiElmFront-end web programming language[9][10]
David Heinemeier HanssonRuby on RailsWeb framework[11]
Rich HickeyClojureProgramming language[12]
Adrian Holovaty
and Jacob Kaplan-Moss		DjangoWeb framework[13]
Laurent DestailleurDolibarr ERP CRMSoftware suite for Enterprise Resource Planning and Customer Relationship Management[14]
Francois CholletKerasDeep learning framework[15]
Xavier LeroyOCamlProgramming language[16][17]
Yukihiro Matsumoto (Matz)RubyProgramming language[18]
Wes McKinneyPandasPython data analysis library[19]
Bram MoolenaarVimText editor[20]
Matt Mullenweg [a]WordPressContent management framework[21]
Martin OderskyScalaProgramming language[22]
Taylor OtwellLaravelWeb framework[23][24]
Theo de RaadtOpenBSDA Unix-like operating system[citation needed]
Ton Roosendaal[b]Blender3D computer graphics software[25]
Sébastien RosOrchard ProjectContent management system[26]
Mark Shuttleworth[c]UbuntuLinux distribution[27]
Don Syme[d]F#Programming language[28]
Linus Torvalds[e]LinuxOperating system kernel[11][29]
José ValimElixirProgramming language[30]
Pauli VirtanenSciPyPython library used for scientific and technical computing[31][32]
Patrick VolkerdingSlackwareGNU/Linux distribution[33]
Nathan VoxlandLiquibaseDatabase schema management[34]
Shaun WalkerDotNetNukeWeb application framework[35]
Larry WallPerlProgramming language[36]
Jeremy Soller[37]RedoxOperating system[38]
Eugen RochkoMastodonOpen source, decentralized social network[39]
Dylan ArapsKISS LinuxA bare-bones Linux distribution based on musl libc and BusyBox[40]
Gavin Mendel-Gleason[f]TerminusDBOpen-source graph database for knowledge graph representation[41][42]

Organizational Positions

  1. ^ Lead Developer at the WordPress Foundation
  2. ^ Chairman of the Blender Foundation
  3. ^ Until December 2009, CEO of Canonical Ltd
  4. ^ Technical Advisor at the F# Software Foundation
  5. ^ Sponsee of the Linux Foundation. Also holds the trademark for Linux
  6. ^ CTO of TerminusDB

(WP)

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By Cloud Guru

Cloud Monk is Losang Jinpa, PhD, MCSE/MCT