If I understand this correctly authors of original code do not get
appreciation of their work on PEAR web-pages if they are not lead
developers. Also docblocks contain only strings @author instead of
@lead or @maintainer, so even if the person didn't written the code
and just incorporates patches (which can be provided, BTW, by other
people in most cases). I.e. docblocks make maintainers and lead
developers the same as authors, but without writing too much. Lead
and maintainer names are on the site, but authors can easily be
forgotten.
Is that ok?
There is the "helper" role. I somebody writes significants portions of the code
he/she will credited that way. CVS commits and cvs annonate will show that as
well. A docblock can updated, the contributor can even send a patch which the
maintainers can choose to apply.
I believe that if no credit is ever given people will naturally stop
contributing, without external intervention.
Arnaud.