@@ -3,60 +3,67 @@ This document describes the governance model for this project.
33(This is adapted from the template provided by http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/benevolentdictatorgovernancemodel )
44
55## Overview
6- This project is led by a benevolent dictator and managed by the community. That is, the community actively contributes
7- to the day-to-day maintenance of the project, but the general strategic line is drawn by the benevolent dictator. In
8- case of disagreement, they have the last word. It is the benevolent dictator's job to resolve disputes within the
9- community and to ensure that the project is able to progress in a coordinated way. In turn, it is the community's job
10- to guide the decisions of the benevolent dictator through active engagement and contribution.
6+ This project is led by a benevolent dictator and managed by the community. That is, the
7+ community actively contributes to the day-to-day maintenance of the project, but the general
8+ strategic line is drawn by the benevolent dictator. In case of disagreement, they have the
9+ last word. It is the benevolent dictator's job to resolve disputes within the community and
10+ to ensure that the project is able to progress in a coordinated way. In turn, it is the
11+ community's job to guide the decisions of the benevolent dictator through active engagement
12+ and contribution.
1113
1214## Roles and responsibilities
1315### Benevolent dictator (project lead)
1416
15- Typically, the benevolent dictator, or project lead, is self-appointed. However, because the community always has the
16- ability to fork, this person is fully answerable to the community. The project lead's role is a
17- [ difficult one] ( http://producingoss.com/html-chunk/social-infrastructure.html#benevolent-dictator-qualifications ) : they
18- set the strategic objectives of the project and communicate these clearly to the community. They also have to understand
19- the community as a whole and strive to satisfy as many conflicting needs as possible, while ensuring that the project
20- survives in the long term.
21-
22- In many ways, the role of the benevolent dictator is less about dictatorship and more about diplomacy. The key is to
23- ensure that, as the project expands, the right people are given influence over it and the community rallies behind the
24- vision of the project lead. The lead's job is then to ensure that the committers (see below) make the right decisions
25- on behalf of the project. Generally speaking, as long as the committers are aligned with the project's strategy, the
26- project lead will allow them to proceed as they desire.
17+ Typically, the benevolent dictator, or project lead, is self-appointed. However, because the
18+ community always has the ability to fork, this person is fully answerable to the community.
19+ The project lead's role is a [ difficult one] ( http://producingoss.com/html-chunk/social-infrastructure.html#benevolent-dictator-qualifications ) :
20+ they set the strategic objectives of the project and communicate these clearly to the
21+ community. They also have to understand the community as a whole and strive to satisfy as
22+ many conflicting needs as possible, while ensuring that the project survives in the long
23+ term.
24+
25+ In many ways, the role of the benevolent dictator is less about dictatorship and more about
26+ diplomacy. The key is to ensure that, as the project expands, the right people are given
27+ influence over it and the community rallies behind the vision of the project lead. The
28+ lead's job is then to ensure that the committers (see below) make the right decisions on
29+ behalf of the project. Generally speaking, as long as the committers are aligned with the
30+ project's strategy, the project lead will allow them to proceed as they desire.
2731
2832### Committers
2933
30- Committers are contributors who have made several valuable contributions to the project and are now relied upon to
31- both write code directly to the repository and screen the contributions of others. In many cases they are programmers
32- but it is also possible that they contribute in a different role. Typically, a committer will focus on a specific aspect
33- of the project, and will bring a level of expertise and understanding that earns them the respect of the community and
34- the project lead. The role of committer is not an official one, it is simply a position that influential members of the
35- community will find themselves in as the project lead looks to them for guidance and support.
36-
37- Committers have no authority over the overall direction of the project. However, they do have the ear of the project
38- lead. It is a committer's job to ensure that the lead is aware of the community's needs and collective objectives, and
39- to help develop or elicit appropriate contributions to the project. Often, committers are given informal control over
40- their specific areas of responsibility, and are assigned rights to directly modify certain areas of the source code.
41- That is, although committers do not have explicit decision-making authority, they will often find that their actions
42- are synonymous with the decisions made by the lead.
34+ Committers are contributors who have made several valuable contributions to the project and
35+ are now relied upon to both write code directly to the repository and screen the
36+ contributions of others. In many cases they are programmers but it is also possible that
37+ they contribute in a different role. Typically, a committer will focus on a specific aspect
38+ of the project, and will bring a level of expertise and understanding that earns them the
39+ respect of the community and the project lead. The role of committer is not an official one,
40+ it is simply a position that influential members of the community will find themselves in as
41+ the project lead looks to them for guidance and support.
42+
43+ Committers have no authority over the overall direction of the project. However, they do
44+ have the ear of the project lead. It is a committer's job to ensure that the lead is aware
45+ of the community's needs and collective objectives, and to help develop or elicit
46+ appropriate contributions to the project. Often, committers are given informal control over
47+ their specific areas of responsibility, and are assigned rights to directly modify certain
48+ areas of the source code. That is, although committers do not have explicit decision-making
49+ authority, they will often find that their actions are synonymous with the decisions made by
50+ the lead.
4351
4452### Contributors
4553
46- Contributors are community members who either have no desire to become committers, or have not yet been given the
47- opportunity by the benevolent dictator. They make valuable contributions, such as those outlined in the list below,
48- but generally do not have the authority to make direct changes to the project code. Contributors engage with the
49- project through communication tools, such as email lists, and via reports and
50- [ patches] ( http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/softwarepatch ) attached to issues in the issue tracker, as detailed in
51- our [ community tools document] ( http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/communitytools ) .
52-
53- Anyone can become a contributor. There is no expectation of commitment to the project, no specific skill requirements
54- and no selection process. To become a contributor, a community member simply has to perform one or more actions that
55- are beneficial to the project.
54+ Contributors are community members who either have no desire to become committers, or have
55+ not yet been given the opportunity by the benevolent dictator. They make valuable
56+ contributions, such as those outlined in the list below, but generally do not have the
57+ authority to make direct changes to the project code. Contributors engage with the project
58+ through communication tools, such as email lists, and via reports and [ patches] ( http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/softwarepatch )
59+ attached to issues in the issue tracker, as detailed in our [ community tools document] ( http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/communitytools ) .
5660
57- Some contributors will already be engaging with the project as users, but will also find themselves doing one or more
58- of the following:
61+ Anyone can become a contributor. There is no expectation of commitment to the project, no
62+ specific skill requirements and no selection process. To become a contributor, a community
63+ member simply has to perform one or more actions that are beneficial to the project.
5964
65+ Some contributors will already be engaging with the project as users, but will also find
66+ themselves doing one or more of the following:
6067* Supporting new users (current users often provide the most effective new user support)
6168* Reporting bugs
6269* Identifying requirements
@@ -67,44 +74,52 @@ of the following:
6774* Fixing bugs
6875* Adding features
6976
70- As contributors gain experience and familiarity with the project, they may find that the project lead starts relying
71- on them more and more. When this begins to happen, they gradually adopt the role of committer, as described above.
77+ As contributors gain experience and familiarity with the project, they may find that the
78+ project lead starts relying on them more and more. When this begins to happen, they
79+ gradually adopt the role of committer, as described above.
7280
7381### Users
7482
75- Users are community members who have a need for the project. They are the most important members of the community:
76- without them, the project would have no purpose. Anyone can be a user; there are no specific requirements.
83+ Users are community members who have a need for the project. They are the most important
84+ members of the community:
85+ without them, the project would have no purpose. Anyone can be a user; there are no specific
86+ requirements.
7787
78- Users should be encouraged to participate in the life of the project and the community as much as possible. User
79- contributions enable the project team to ensure that they are satisfying the needs of those users. Common user
80- activities include (but are not limited to):
88+ Users should be encouraged to participate in the life of the project and the community as
89+ much as possible. User contributions enable the project team to ensure that they are
90+ satisfying the needs of those users. Common user activities include (but are not limited to):
8191
8292* Evangelizing about the project
8393* Informing developers of project strengths and weaknesses from a new user's perspective
8494* Providing moral support (a 'thank you' goes a long way)
8595* Providing financial support
8696
87- Users who continue to engage with the project and its community will often find themselves becoming more and more
88- involved. Such users may then go on to become contributors, as described above.
97+ Users who continue to engage with the project and its community will often find themselves
98+ becoming more and more involved. Such users may then go on to become contributors, as
99+ described above.
89100
90101### Support
91102
92- All participants in the community are encouraged to provide support for new users within the project management
93- infrastructure. This support is provided as a way of growing the community. Those seeking support should recognize that
94- all support activity within the project is voluntary and is therefore provided as and when time allows. A user requiring
95- guaranteed response times or results should therefore seek to purchase a support contract from a vendor. (Of course,
96- that vendor should be an active member of the community.) However, for those willing to engage with the project on its
97- own terms, and willing to help support other users, the community support channels are ideal.
103+ All participants in the community are encouraged to provide support for new users within the
104+ project management infrastructure. This support is provided as a way of growing the
105+ community. Those seeking support should recognize that all support activity within the
106+ project is voluntary and is therefore provided as and when time allows. A user requiring
107+ guaranteed response times or results should therefore seek to purchase a support contract
108+ from a vendor. (Of course, that vendor should be an active member of the community.)
109+ However, for those willing to engage with the project on its own terms, and willing to help
110+ support other users, the community support channels are ideal.
98111
99112### Contribution process
100113
101- Anyone can contribute to the project, regardless of their skills, as there are many ways to contribute. For instance, a
102- contributor might be active on the project mailing list and issue tracker, or might supply
103- [ patches] ( http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/softwarepatch ) . The various ways of contributing are described in more detail
104- in our [ roles in open source document] ( http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/rolesinopensource ) .
114+ Anyone can contribute to the project, regardless of their skills, as there are many ways to
115+ contribute. For instance, a contributor might be active on the project mailing list and
116+ issue tracker, or might supply [ patches] ( http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/softwarepatch ) .
117+ The various ways of contributing are described in more detail in our
118+ [ roles in open source document] ( http://oss-watch.ac.uk/resources/rolesinopensource ) .
105119
106120### Decision-making process
107121
108- The benevolent dictatorship model does not need a formal conflict resolution process, since the project lead's word is
109- final. If the community chooses to question the wisdom of the actions of a committer, the project lead can review their
110- decisions by checking the communication archives, and either uphold or reverse them.
122+ The benevolent dictatorship model does not need a formal conflict resolution process, since
123+ the project lead's word is final. If the community chooses to question the wisdom of the
124+ actions of a committer, the project lead can review their decisions by checking the
125+ communication archives, and either uphold or reverse them.
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