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Maintainer handover: how it works

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a.reyesTL4 Admin11 Mar 2025#1

On the subject in the title: Maintainer handover: how it works Working notes rather than a conclusion.

Process question about how this site works.

I have read the guidelines and the trust-level page and I still have a question about the mechanism rather than the rule. Specifically, I would like to understand the reasoning behind it, because I suspect the reasoning is better than the rule sounds.

Not a complaint. If the answer is "because of a failure mode you have not seen yet", I would like to hear about the failure mode.

19 likes 17mo

c.amankwahTL2 Moderator11 Mar 2025#2

Coming back to the opening post, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.

Maintainer handovers: if a page's maintainer is inactive and needs a new one, discussing that here can facilitate the transition.

22 likes 17mo

endo_fellow_rkTL3Endocrinology fellow12 Mar 2025#3

Revision disputes: if you disagree with an edit a maintainer made, discussing it here invites resolution rather than conflict.

0 likes 17mo

r.ekstromTL2 Moderator12 Mar 2025#4

Redundancy: if two maintained pages cover largely the same ground, consolidation might improve clarity. Pointing out redundancy helps maintainers see the issue.

1 like 17mo

ms_hollowayTL4Mass spectrometrist12 Mar 2025#5

endo_fellow_rk, post #3: Revision disputes: if you disagree with an edit a maintainer made, discussing it here invites resolution rather than conflict. Go to post

This follows post #2 rather than contradicting it.

Outdated external links: if a maintained page links to external sources and those links are broken or pages have moved, reporting that helps keep the page current.

6 likes in reply to #3 17mo

y.adebayoTL212 Mar 2025#6

Collapsed as off-topic by two members at trust level 3 or above

I read post #4 twice before replying, because I had assumed the opposite.

Evidence synthesis: if you think a page should cover recent evidence or a new development, suggesting specific content helps the maintainer prioritise updates.

s.leclercTL4 Moderator12 Mar 2025#7

Staff post. Actions described here are recorded in the public moderation log and may be challenged in Meta.

I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.

The distinction being drawn does not survive when you look at the published data for this specific question. I would be glad to be shown wrong on this, because the version I am arguing against is more convenient.

31 likes 17mo

m.ibarraTL2 Moderator12 Mar 2025#8

Review dates: each maintained page has a review date (the date by which it should be checked). If a page is past its review date, flagging it here alerts the maintainer.

0 likes 17mo

i.aranda_esTL2Translator · ES13 Mar 2025#9

I disagree with the reply above, and I think the disagreement is substantive rather than terminological.

3 likes 17mo

sa.rasmussenTL2 Moderator13 Mar 2025#10

Cross-referencing: if two pages should reference each other but do not, suggesting the cross-reference helps the maintainer see the connection.

10 likes 17mo

r.aldana_pharmdTL4Pharmacist13 Mar 2025#11

On post #7 — agreed on the reasoning, with one qualification.

Authority: if you think a page needs input from someone with specific expertise, suggesting that person helps the maintainer recruit contributors.

25 likes 17mo

e.vargaTL2 Moderator13 Mar 2025#12

sa.rasmussen, post #10: Cross-referencing: if two pages should reference each other but do not, suggesting the cross-reference helps the maintainer see the connection. Go to post

Scope creep: if a page is attempting too much, suggesting it split into multiple pages can improve clarity.

12 likes in reply to #10 17mo

lc_gradientTL3Analytical chemist13 Mar 2025#13

Review dates: each maintained page has a review date (the date by which it should be checked). If a page is past its review date, flagging it here alerts the maintainer.

1 like 17mo

s.okaforTL2 Moderator13 Mar 2025#14

Authority: if you think a page needs input from someone with specific expertise, suggesting that person helps the maintainer recruit contributors.

0 likes 17mo

a.batistaTL2 Moderator13 Mar 2025#15

s.okafor, post #14: Authority: if you think a page needs input from someone with specific expertise, suggesting that person helps the maintainer recruit contributors. Go to post

Worth separating two things that post #11 runs together.

Maintainer handovers: if a page's maintainer is inactive and needs a new one, discussing that here can facilitate the transition.

0 likes in reply to #14 17mo

a.nwosuTL2 Moderator13 Mar 2025#16

e.varga, post #12: Scope creep: if a page is attempting too much, suggesting it split into multiple pages can improve clarity. Go to post

post #15 is right about the mechanism and I think understates the practical bit.

Orphaned pages: if a page has no incoming links and is not reachable from navigation, it is orphaned. Such pages should either be linked or deprecated.

17 likes in reply to #12 17mo

bench_notesTL4 Moderator13 Mar 2025#17

Redundancy: if two maintained pages cover largely the same ground, consolidation might improve clarity. Pointing out redundancy helps maintainers see the issue.

4 likes 16mo

a.novakTL2 Moderator14 Mar 2025 · edited#18

For anyone arriving from a search: the marked solution above is the direct answer, and the replies underneath it add the caveats that make it safe to use.

0 likes 16mo

titration_diaryTL3Regular14 Mar 2025#19

Revision disputes: if you disagree with an edit a maintainer made, discussing it here invites resolution rather than conflict.

12 likes 16mo

h.falkTL2 Moderator14 Mar 2025#20

Cross-referencing: if two pages should reference each other but do not, suggesting the cross-reference helps the maintainer see the connection.

4 likes 16mo

ambient_reviewTL3Regular14 Mar 2025#21

titration_diary, post #19: Revision disputes: if you disagree with an edit a maintainer made, discussing it here invites resolution rather than conflict. Go to post

post #20 is right about the mechanism and I think understates the practical bit.

Scope creep: if a page is attempting too much, suggesting it split into multiple pages can improve clarity.

17 likes in reply to #19 16mo

a.petrovTL2 Moderator14 Mar 2025#22

Worth separating two things that post #18 runs together.

Two things before anyone answers the substance.

First, the context in the first post is clear and specific. Second, the question is framed so that an answer can actually address it. Both are the norm here and both matter more than they sound.

32 likes 16mo

s.poulsenTL3Regular14 Mar 2025#23

Outdated external links: if a maintained page links to external sources and those links are broken or pages have moved, reporting that helps keep the page current.

0 likes 16mo

mi.almeidaTL2 Moderator14 Mar 2025#24

a.batista, post #15: Worth separating two things that post #11 runs together. Maintainer handovers: if a page's maintainer is inactive and needs a new one, discussing that here can facilitate the transition. Go to post

Evidence synthesis: if you think a page should cover recent evidence or a new development, suggesting specific content helps the maintainer prioritise updates.

3 likes in reply to #15 16mo

k.farrugiaTL3Regular14 Mar 2025#25

post #24 answers the question as asked. The question underneath it is different.

Cross-referencing: if two pages should reference each other but do not, suggesting the cross-reference helps the maintainer see the connection.

11 likes 16mo

k.okaforTL2 Moderator14 Mar 2025#26

Scope creep: if a page is attempting too much, suggesting it split into multiple pages can improve clarity.

24 likes 16mo

j.habermannTL3Regular14 Mar 2025#27

Outdated external links: if a maintained page links to external sources and those links are broken or pages have moved, reporting that helps keep the page current.

0 likes 16mo

d.nwosuTL2 Moderator15 Mar 2025 · edited#28

h.falk, post #20: Cross-referencing: if two pages should reference each other but do not, suggesting the cross-reference helps the maintainer see the connection. Go to post

Coming back to post #26, because the follow-up matters more than the original answer.

Evidence synthesis: if you think a page should cover recent evidence or a new development, suggesting specific content helps the maintainer prioritise updates.

1 like in reply to #20 16mo

r.marsdenTL3Regular15 Mar 2025#29

Orphaned pages: if a page has no incoming links and is not reachable from navigation, it is orphaned. Such pages should either be linked or deprecated.

31 likes 16mo

a.amankwahTL2 Moderator15 Mar 2025#30

Maintainer handovers: if a page's maintainer is inactive and needs a new one, discussing that here can facilitate the transition.

0 likes 16mo

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