Benevolent Dictator for Life

Benevolent Dictator for Life (BDFL) is the informal, slightly tongue-in-cheek title given to a respected individual in the open source development community who sets general directions and makes final calls in certain situations within the scope of a given project. The BDFL is a tacit acknowledgement that communal, consensus-based decision making within the open source community occasionally runs up against obstacles, in which case a single authoritative voice can be useful. That BDFLs survive and flourish in these otherwise anarchistic contexts is attributed to their personal charisma and their reluctance to wield their power except in rare moments.

Related Topics:
Tongue-in-cheek - Open source - Anarchistic

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Of course, a project coordinator cannot really be anything like a dictator in the sense that he or she ultimately cannot enforce a decision, since a project fork is always possible.

Related Topics:
Dictator - Fork

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Not all, or even most, open source projects have a BDFL.

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The title is a play on the concept of a benevolent dictator and a president for life.

Related Topics:
Benevolent dictator - President for life

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