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.
7 # The Systemic Laws of Organisations.
9 The Systemic Laws are explained below.
13 Every contributor and their contributions and achievements are recognised.
14 This further encourages people to contribute; they feel welcome, and their
17 ## Everyone is respected and honoured, past and present
19 When someone leaves a project, particularly under less than ideal circumstances,
20 it is still vitally important to value and respect both them *and* their
23 ## Role, Seniority and Expertise are all respected.
25 This can be very challenging, particularly when someone with more expertise
26 meets someone whose length of service is greater.
28 ## We accept the responsibility of our position
30 If we choose a position of responsibility, we must actually acknowledge and
31 accept the responsibility of that role! People will be relying on us.
33 ## Everyone is rewarded equitably for their contributions
35 In a "Libre" context this is often extremely hard to do, as the normal
36 rules of profit-maximising business (do not provide goods or services
37 until payment has been received) do not apply: our "product" - the
38 source code - is made available at zero monetary cost. So it is down
39 to us to ensure that part of our time is spent making sure that everyone
40 *is* actually rewarded, whether through contracts, sponsorship, donations,
41 crowd-funding and profit-sharing in the same, and so on.
43 ## Everyone is responsible and accountable (for the "good" *and* the "bad")
45 When we do something well, it is vital that we (alone) own and hold the
46 credit for that achievement (nobody else takes the credit; we *accept*
47 the credit). When we screw up, it is just as equally vital that we take
48 responsibility for cleaning up our mess, and that nobody else is blamed
49 *or think they own it*, or tries to take it the task away from us!
51 In this way, two vitally important things happen. Firstly: we can rely
52 on each other, as we trust that the tasks that others chose will be
53 completed (even if they mess up a few times). Secondly: in our chosen
54 opportunity to grow and learn, we know and trust that nobody will take
55 that away from us, and, further, that our achievements and the credit