1 # Discussion and commentary on Libre-RISCV Member Agreement
5 It's called a Code of "Honour", not a Code of "Conduct", for a reason.
6 A Code of "Honour" is a positive and clear statement. Everyone knows
7 the difference between "good" and "bad". Codes of "Conduct" on the
8 other hand have nothing to do with honour, and by the time the reader
9 has finished going through a horrific list of "proscribed behaviours",
10 what are the chances that they will actually genuinely feel that the
11 project is safe and welcoming?
13 # The Systemic Laws of Organisations.
15 The Systemic Laws are explained below.
19 Every contributor and their contributions and achievements are recognised.
20 This further encourages people to contribute; they feel welcome, and their
23 ## Everyone is respected and honoured, past and present
25 When someone leaves a project, particularly under less than ideal circumstances,
26 it is still vitally important to value and respect both them *and* their
29 ## Role, Seniority and Expertise are all respected.
31 This can be very challenging, particularly when someone with more expertise
32 meets someone whose length of service is greater.
34 ## We accept the responsibility of our position
36 If we choose a position of responsibility, we must actually acknowledge and
37 accept the responsibility of that role! People will be relying on us.
39 ## Everyone is rewarded equitably for their contributions
41 In a "Libre" context this is often extremely hard to do, as the normal
42 rules of profit-maximising business (do not provide goods or services
43 until payment has been received) do not apply: our "product" - the
44 source code - is made available at zero monetary cost. So it is down
45 to us to ensure that part of our time is spent making sure that everyone
46 *is* actually rewarded, whether through contracts, sponsorship, donations,
47 crowd-funding and profit-sharing in the same, and so on.
49 ## Everyone is responsible and accountable (for the "good" *and* the "bad")
51 When we do something well, it is vital that we (alone) own and hold the
52 credit for that achievement (nobody else takes the credit; we *accept*
53 the credit). When we screw up, it is just as equally vital that we take
54 responsibility for cleaning up our mess, and that nobody else is blamed
55 *or think they own it*, or tries to take it the task away from us!
57 In this way, two vitally important things happen. Firstly: we can rely
58 on each other, as we trust that the tasks that others chose will be
59 completed (even if they mess up a few times). Secondly: in our chosen
60 opportunity to grow and learn, we know and trust that nobody will take
61 that away from us, and, further, that our achievements and the credit