So, a number of people have written (and/or added their names to the list of signatures agreeing with it) to a petition/statement/WhatEverYouWantToCallIt calling out the (real and/or perceived) flaws with the forthcoming (when? Who knows, but since I believe SQL Server 2008 requires its final release, at that time) Entity Framework coming out of Redmond.
I first noticed it when Dave Laribee posted about its existence on the alt.net mailing list where he briefly mentioned its contents and added:
"I'd encourage you all to sign if (and only if) this is something you agree with and please spread the word."
I'm going to interpret the 'and' as 'and/or', and thus this post.
Quite some time ago, Danny Simmons from Microsoft posted about some 'great discussions' with the NHibernate Mafia (Bellware, Palermo, and Laribee are mentioned, I know there were others, but too tired/lazy to get a comprehensive list) about said Mafia's initial 'misgivings' (other words would probably work but let's go with that) about the direction of the Entity Framework. After a bit more time, he posted in greater detail about his understanding of the 'misgivings', of how he believed they could be addressed, and how the v1 release of EF wouldn't be able to address them.
The 'Vote of No Confidence' seems to be a restatement of the misgivings, and so initially, it seems a bit odd to make a show of it. Then again, it's been a hella long time from the 'great discussions' till now, and if you don't read every blog about everything, you wouldn't necessarily know about them.
Around the same time, Tim Mallalieu was posting about the new transparency the EF team was hoping to follow in developing v2 of EF.
As people became aware of the petition, more commentary came about.
Mary-Jo Foley gave it a shout. And it was nice to see the usual suspects with the expected response (it didn't explicitly demand an apology on behalf of the entire .NET community and wasn't as or ). Side note: when the petition list first came out, it listed Scott as first on the list (though didn't mark him as an MVP). It also, IIRC, listed Paul Wilson, originator of WORM as an MVP. Shortly thereafter, Scott's name moved to #23 and it listed Paul as (MVP ret.), though I don't think you retire an MVP, you just don't get renewed. Not sure if the re-ordering was deliberate or a technical thing, but if anyone felt strongly about adding their signature but opted out because Bellware's name was listed #1, they're an idiot.
Tim then posted a longer response that addressed the petition more directly.
Others have been slightly more vitriolic.
In any event, it looks like there will be more of a feedback loop for v2 of EF and that's probably a good thing. The petition itself is certainly more measured and productive than what's been seen in the past.
I wouldn't sign something like this myself (it's not like there is much to disagree with, it's just, well, weirdly misplaced), but if it is something you agree with, pony up.