Difference between revisions of "Project Graduation Checklist"

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'''The official copy of this document lives at http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/project_graduation_checklist.html'''
 
'''The official copy of this document lives at http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/project_graduation_checklist.html'''
 
<font color="red">Wiki version [http://wiki.osgeo.org/index.php?title=Project_Graduation_Checklist&oldid=50824 50824] of this document was discussed at [http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/IncCom_Meeting14 Incubation Meeting 14], and a number of suggested changes were made. Logs here: http://irclogs.geoapt.com/osgeo/%23osgeo.2010-03-03.log</font>
 
 
Jody has gathered the changes below into a readable [[Draft Project Graduation Checklist Draft]]
 
  
 
= Document Status =
 
= Document Status =
  
'''IncCom Document Number''': <font color="red">X</font>
+
'''IncCom Document Number''': X
  
'''Version''': <font color="red">2.0. Updates since 1.0 are in red.</font>
+
'''Version''': 2.0-RC1
  
'''Last Updated''': <font color="red">January 2012.</font>
+
'''Last Updated''': Work in progress
  
'''Status''': <font color="red">draft</font>
+
'''Status''': Draft (for the stable version refer to: http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/project_graduation_checklist.html)
  
 
= Purpose =
 
= Purpose =
Line 20: Line 16:
  
 
A project should have institutionalized the processes in this list or provide justification why the process is not used.
 
A project should have institutionalized the processes in this list or provide justification why the process is not used.
 +
 +
See also:
 +
 +
* [http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/application.html Incubation Application Questionnaire]
 +
* [http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/statustemplate.html Project Status Template]
  
 
= Terms and Definitions =
 
= Terms and Definitions =
  
 
; Mentor : A member of the Incubation Committee chosen to assist a Project through the Incubation Process.
 
; Mentor : A member of the Incubation Committee chosen to assist a Project through the Incubation Process.
; Institutionalized Process : A documented process which which addresses a need and is actively in use. It typically takes months before a process becomes institutionalized. ''A more detailed definition of institutionalization is found in the [http://www.sei.cmu.edu/pub/documents/02.reports/pdf/02tr012.pdf Capability Maturity Model (CMMI)] <font color="red">- "Generic Goal 2: Institutionalize a Managed Process"</font>''
+
; Institutionalized Process : A documented process which which addresses a need and is actively in use. It typically takes months before a process becomes institutionalized. ''A more detailed definition of institutionalization is found in the [http://www.sei.cmu.edu/pub/documents/02.reports/pdf/02tr012.pdf Capability Maturity Model (CMMI)] - "Generic Goal 2: Institutionalize a Managed Process"''
 +
; Open Source License : a license recognized by the [http://opensource.org Open Source Initiative]
  
= Checklist =
+
= Incubation Checklist =
  
<strike><font color="red">The following checklist is used during graduation to ensure we have not missed anything.</font></strike>
+
== Open ==
<span style=background:yellow>Cameron Shorter comment: This sentence is covered under the "Purpose" heading above, hence it doesn't need repeating here.</span>
+
 +
The project has demonstrated that it has an open, active and healthy user and developer community:
 +
# Open: projects are expected to function in an open and public manner and include:
 +
#* Open source license(s),
 +
#* Open communication channels,
 +
#* Open decision making process,
 +
# Active and healthy community:
 +
#* The project should have a community of developers and users who actively collaborate and support each other in a healthy way. <br/><i>Eg. collaboration on project activities such as testing, release and feature development.</i>
 +
#* Long term viability of the project is demonstrated by showing participation and direction from multiple developers, who come from multiple organisations. <br/> <i> Eg. The project is resilient enough to sustain loss of a developer or supporting organisation, often referred to as having a high [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_factor bus factor]. Decisions are made openly instead of behind closed doors, which empowers all developers to take ownership of the project and facilitates spreading of knowledge between current and future team members.</i>
  
== <font color="red">Intellectual Property and License</font><strike>License</strike>==
+
== Copyright and License ==
  
<font color="red">We need to ensure that project owns or otherwise has obtained the ability to release:</font>
+
We need to ensure that the project owns or otherwise has obtained the ability to release the project code by completing the following steps:
# The <font color="red">project</font> code<font color="red">, documentation and data</font> has been adequately vetted to assure it is all properly licensed <strike>(a.k.a</strike><font color="red">as per a</font> [http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/codereview.html provenance review].
+
# All project source code is available under an Open Source license.
# All code contributors have agreed to abide by the project's license policy<font color="red">, and this agreement has been documented and archived</font>.
+
# Project documentation is available under an open license, such as Creative Commons.
# <font color="red"><strike>Any other legal checks such as trademark and patent.</strike>The project has checked for inappropriate use of trademark or patents and the results of such checks have been documented.</font><span style=background:yellow>Cameron Shorter comment: This point needs to be definitive if it is included. Also, I think that it should be included in the "Provenance Review" checklist (which could be renamed "Legal Checklist"). And before it is included (which I think is a good idea long term), we need to do an audit of existing graduated projects to see if they would pass. Hence, I suggest that inclusion of this point be delayed until a future version of this document.</span>
+
# The project code, documentation and data has been adequately vetted to assure it is all properly licensed, and a copyright notice included, as per a [http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/codereview.html Provenance Review].
# <font color="red">The project has the ability to shut off downloads if a blocking legal issue is found.</font>
+
# The project maintains a list of all copyright holders identified in the Provenance Review Document.  
 +
# All code contributors have agreed to abide by the project's license policy, and this agreement has been documented and archived.
  
 
== Processes ==
 
== Processes ==
  
<strike><font color="red">Documented processes:</font></strike>
+
# The project has code under configuration management. <br/><i>Eg, subversion, git.</i>
<span style=background:yellow>Cameron Shorter comment: This line isn't required if you have "Processes" heading above.</span>
+
# The project uses an issue tracker and keeps the status of the issue tracker up to date.
 
+
# The project has documented its management processes. <br/><i>This is typically done within a Developers Guide or Project Management Plan.</i>
# The project has code under configuration <font color="red">management</font><strike>control</strike>. <i>Eg, subversion, <font color="red">git.</font></i>
+
#* The project has a suitable open governance policy ensuring decisions are made, documented and adhered to in a public manner. <br/><i>This typically means a Project Management Committee has been established with a process for adding new members. A robust Project Management Committee will typically draw upon developers, users and key stakeholders from multiple organisations as there will be a greater variety of technical visions and the project is more resilient to a sponsor leaving.</i>
# The project uses an issue tracker<font color="red"> and keeps the status of the issue tracker up to date</font>.
+
#* The project uses public communication channels for decision making to maintain transparency.<br/><i> E.g. archived email list(s), archived IRC channel(s), public issue tracker.</i>
# The project has documented its management processes. <i>This is typically done within a Developers Guide or Project Management Plan.</i>
 
#* The project has a suitable <font color="red">open</font> governance policy ensuring decisions are made, documented and adhered to. <i><font color="red">This typically means a</font> Project Management Committee has been established with a <font color="red">process for adding new members. A robust Project Management Committee will typically draw upon developers, users and key stakeholders from multiple organisations</font> as there will be a greater variety of technical visions and the project is more resilient to a sponsor leaving.</i>
 
#* The project uses public communication channels <font color="red">for decision making to maintain transparency.</font><i> E.g. archived email list(s)<font color="red">, archived IRC channel(s), public issue tracker.</font></i>
 
<strike>#* See Documentation and Release Procedure for more information</strike>
 
<span style=background:yellow>Cameron Shorter comment: This line is out of place in a check list (Also this doc is short enough that we don't need to reference another heading).</span>
 
 
 
<strike><font color="red">This checklist can only document process requirements; the goal of the above procedures is to check that</font> the developer community works in a healthy way:
 
* <font color="red">Open Development:</font> open to input, new members and reaching consensus on decisions.
 
* Ideally, the developers <font color="red">and Project Management Committee members </font>come from a diversity of backgrounds as there will be a greater variety of technical visions and the project is more resilient to a sponsor leaving.</strike>
 
<span style=background:yellow>Cameron Shorter comment: Covered in list above.</span>
 
  
==<font color="red">Documentation</font>==
+
== Documentation ==
 
 
<strike><font color="red">We ask that extra care be taken to ensure high quality documentation and releases:</font></strike>
 
  
 
# The project has user documentation:
 
# The project has user documentation:
#* <font color="red">Including sufficient detail to guide a new user through performing the core functionality provided by the application</font>.
+
#* Including sufficient detail to guide a new user through performing the core functionality provided by the application.
 
# The project has developer documentation:
 
# The project has developer documentation:
#* <font color="red">Including checkout and build instructions.</font>
+
#* Including checkout and build instructions.
#* <font color="red">Including commented code, ideally published for developer use. Examples: javadocs for Java applications, or Sphinx documentation for Python applications.</font>
+
#* Including commented code, ideally published for developer use. <br/><i>Examples: javadocs for Java applications, or Sphinx documentation for Python applications.</i>
#* <font color="red">Providing sufficient detail for an experience programmer to contribute patches or a new module in accordance with the project's programming conventions.</font>
+
#* Providing sufficient detail for an experience programmer to contribute patches or a new module in accordance with the project's programming conventions.
  
==<font color="red">Release Procedure</font>==
+
==Release Procedure==
  
<strike><font color="red">It is not enough to make and document a release; the goal of the above checklist is to focus team reliability:</font>
+
In order to maintain a consistent level of quality, the project should follow defined release and testing processes.
* <font color="red">Ideally we would like a new developer to walk up; follow the instructions and correctly engage the community to build a release</font></strike>
 
  
<font color="red">In order to maintain a consistent level of quality, the project should follow defined release and testing processes.</font>
+
# The project follows a defined release process:
 +
#* Which includes execution of the testing process before releasing a stable release.
 +
# The project follows a documented testing process. <br/><i>Ideally, this includes both automated and manual testing</i><br/><i>Ideally this includes documented conformance to set quality goals, such as reporting Percentage Code Coverage of Unit Tests.</i>
 +
# Release and testing processes provide sufficient detail for an experienced programmer to follow.
  
# The project <font color="red">follows</font><strike>has</strike> a defined release process:
+
= OSGeo Committees and Community =
#* <font color="red">Which includes execution of the testing process before releasing a stable release.</font>
 
#<strike> The project has an automated build process.</strike> The project <font color="red">follows a documented <font color="red">testing process:</font></font><strike> manages quality</strike>
 
#* Ideally, this includes <font color="red>both automated and manual testing</font><strike>an automated test system</strike>.
 
#* <font color="red">Ideally this includes documentation conformance to set quality goals, such as reporting Percentage Code Coverage of Unit Tests.</font>
 
# <font color="red">Release and testing processes provide sufficient detail for an experienced programmer to follow.</font>
 
  
* <span style=background:yellow>Cameron Shorter comment: At a later stage, it would be good to expect OSGeo projects to maintain a periodic stable release schedule, ideally linked in with distribution release cycles. However, I don't think we have reached that level of maturity across our projects yet.</span>
+
The OSGeo Foundation is made up of a number of committees, projects and local chapters. This section gathers up information these groups have requested from OSGeo projects. These expectations are not mandatory requirements before graduation, but a project should be prepared to address them in order to be considered a good OSGeo citizen.
* <span style=background:yellow>Jody Garnett comment: You will need an OSGeo project as a good example before asking for a Quality Process. Example: GeoTools mandates modules obtain 40% code coverage prior to being published</span>
 
 
 
= Community =
 
 
 
<font color="red">The OSGeo Foundation is made up of a number of committees, projects and local chapters. This section gathers up information these groups have requested from OSGeo projects. <strike>Participation is optional but recommended.</strike></font>
 
<span style=background:yellow>Cameron Shorter comment: The items listed in this section should all be addressed during incubation (or an explanation provided as to why it hasn't been addressed).</span>
 
  
 
== Board ==
 
== Board ==
  
<font color="red">The OSGeo [[Board]] holds ultimate responsibility for all OSGeo activities. The Board requests:
+
The OSGeo [[Board]] holds ultimate responsibility for all OSGeo activities. The Board requests:
  
 
# A project provide a Project Officer as a contract point:
 
# A project provide a Project Officer as a contract point:
 
#* The Project Officer should be listed at: [[Contacts#Software_Projects|Project Officer]]
 
#* The Project Officer should be listed at: [[Contacts#Software_Projects|Project Officer]]
 
#* This person is established when the incubation committee recommends the project for graduation
 
#* This person is established when the incubation committee recommends the project for graduation
#* Your community can change the project officer as needed (just add an agenda item to the next board meeting so they can recognise the change of officer).</font>
+
#* Your community can change the project officer as needed (just add an agenda item to the next board meeting so they can recognise the change of officer).
  
 
== Marketing ==
 
== Marketing ==
  
<font color="red">Access to OSGeo's [[Marketing_Committee]] and associated [[Marketing_Pipeline]] is one of the key benefits of joining the OSGeo foundation<strike> - please help them out with the following information</strike>. The Marketing Committee requests:</font>
+
Access to OSGeo's [[Marketing_Committee]] and associated [[Marketing_Pipeline]] is one of the key benefits of joining the OSGeo foundation. The Marketing Committee requests:
  
# Marketing <strike>material</strike>artefacts have been created about the project <strike>for</strike><font color="red">in line with the incubation criteria listed in</font> the OSGeo Marketing Committee<font color="red">'s [http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Marketing_Artefacts Marketing Artefacts]. This lists the documentation requirements for [http://live.osgeo.org OSGeo-Live].</font> <strike>(can we assume pdf handout, presentation slides and a feature matrix?)</strike> Marketing Artefacts include:
+
# Marketing artefacts have been created about the project in line with the incubation criteria listed in the OSGeo Marketing Committee's [http://wiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Marketing_Artefacts Marketing Artefacts]. This lists the documentation requirements for [http://live.osgeo.org OSGeo-Live]. Marketing Artefacts include:
 
#* Application Overview
 
#* Application Overview
 
#* Application Quick Start
 
#* Application Quick Start
 
#* Logo
 
#* Logo
#* Graphical Image</font>
+
#* Graphical Image
# <font color="red">Ideally, stable version(s) of executable applications are bundled with appropriate distributions, (In most cases, this will at least include [http://live.osgeo.org OSGeo-Live], but may also include [http://wiki.debian.org/DebianGis DebianGIS], [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuGIS UbuntuGIS], and/or [http://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo4w/ osgeo4w] [http://www.maptools.org/ms4w/ ms4w], etc.)</font>
+
# Ideally, stable version(s) of executable applications are bundled with appropriate distributions.<br/><i>In most cases, this will at least include [http://live.osgeo.org OSGeo-Live], but may also include [http://wiki.debian.org/DebianGis DebianGIS], [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuGIS UbuntuGIS], and/or [http://trac.osgeo.org/osgeo4w/ osgeo4w] [http://www.maptools.org/ms4w/ ms4w], etc.)</i>
  
 
== Projects ==
 
== Projects ==
  
<font color="red">Projects do not exist in isolation; and are expected to communicate and collaborate on key issues. As an example the PostGIS release procedure asks that the release be checked with MapServer, GeoServer and others.</font>
+
Projects do not exist in isolation; and are expected to communicate and collaborate on key issues.  
 +
 
 +
<i>As an example the PostGIS release procedure asks that the release be checked with MapServer, GeoServer and others.</i>
  
 
== SAC ==
 
== SAC ==

Revision as of 07:39, 28 October 2013

The official copy of this document lives at http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/project_graduation_checklist.html

Document Status

IncCom Document Number: X

Version: 2.0-RC1

Last Updated: Work in progress

Status: Draft (for the stable version refer to: http://www.osgeo.org/incubator/process/project_graduation_checklist.html)

Purpose

The purpose of this checklist is to determine whether an Incubator Project produces quality products, remains true to its stated licence and is sustainable. Satisfying this checklist is a pre-requisite for graduation.

A project should have institutionalized the processes in this list or provide justification why the process is not used.

See also:

Terms and Definitions

Mentor
A member of the Incubation Committee chosen to assist a Project through the Incubation Process.
Institutionalized Process
A documented process which which addresses a need and is actively in use. It typically takes months before a process becomes institutionalized. A more detailed definition of institutionalization is found in the Capability Maturity Model (CMMI) - "Generic Goal 2: Institutionalize a Managed Process"
Open Source License
a license recognized by the Open Source Initiative

Incubation Checklist

Open

The project has demonstrated that it has an open, active and healthy user and developer community:

  1. Open: projects are expected to function in an open and public manner and include:
    • Open source license(s),
    • Open communication channels,
    • Open decision making process,
  2. Active and healthy community:
    • The project should have a community of developers and users who actively collaborate and support each other in a healthy way.
      Eg. collaboration on project activities such as testing, release and feature development.
    • Long term viability of the project is demonstrated by showing participation and direction from multiple developers, who come from multiple organisations.
      Eg. The project is resilient enough to sustain loss of a developer or supporting organisation, often referred to as having a high bus factor. Decisions are made openly instead of behind closed doors, which empowers all developers to take ownership of the project and facilitates spreading of knowledge between current and future team members.

Copyright and License

We need to ensure that the project owns or otherwise has obtained the ability to release the project code by completing the following steps:

  1. All project source code is available under an Open Source license.
  2. Project documentation is available under an open license, such as Creative Commons.
  3. The project code, documentation and data has been adequately vetted to assure it is all properly licensed, and a copyright notice included, as per a Provenance Review.
  4. The project maintains a list of all copyright holders identified in the Provenance Review Document.
  5. All code contributors have agreed to abide by the project's license policy, and this agreement has been documented and archived.

Processes

  1. The project has code under configuration management.
    Eg, subversion, git.
  2. The project uses an issue tracker and keeps the status of the issue tracker up to date.
  3. The project has documented its management processes.
    This is typically done within a Developers Guide or Project Management Plan.
    • The project has a suitable open governance policy ensuring decisions are made, documented and adhered to in a public manner.
      This typically means a Project Management Committee has been established with a process for adding new members. A robust Project Management Committee will typically draw upon developers, users and key stakeholders from multiple organisations as there will be a greater variety of technical visions and the project is more resilient to a sponsor leaving.
    • The project uses public communication channels for decision making to maintain transparency.
      E.g. archived email list(s), archived IRC channel(s), public issue tracker.

Documentation

  1. The project has user documentation:
    • Including sufficient detail to guide a new user through performing the core functionality provided by the application.
  2. The project has developer documentation:
    • Including checkout and build instructions.
    • Including commented code, ideally published for developer use.
      Examples: javadocs for Java applications, or Sphinx documentation for Python applications.
    • Providing sufficient detail for an experience programmer to contribute patches or a new module in accordance with the project's programming conventions.

Release Procedure

In order to maintain a consistent level of quality, the project should follow defined release and testing processes.

  1. The project follows a defined release process:
    • Which includes execution of the testing process before releasing a stable release.
  2. The project follows a documented testing process.
    Ideally, this includes both automated and manual testing
    Ideally this includes documented conformance to set quality goals, such as reporting Percentage Code Coverage of Unit Tests.
  3. Release and testing processes provide sufficient detail for an experienced programmer to follow.

OSGeo Committees and Community

The OSGeo Foundation is made up of a number of committees, projects and local chapters. This section gathers up information these groups have requested from OSGeo projects. These expectations are not mandatory requirements before graduation, but a project should be prepared to address them in order to be considered a good OSGeo citizen.

Board

The OSGeo Board holds ultimate responsibility for all OSGeo activities. The Board requests:

  1. A project provide a Project Officer as a contract point:
    • The Project Officer should be listed at: Project Officer
    • This person is established when the incubation committee recommends the project for graduation
    • Your community can change the project officer as needed (just add an agenda item to the next board meeting so they can recognise the change of officer).

Marketing

Access to OSGeo's Marketing_Committee and associated Marketing_Pipeline is one of the key benefits of joining the OSGeo foundation. The Marketing Committee requests:

  1. Marketing artefacts have been created about the project in line with the incubation criteria listed in the OSGeo Marketing Committee's Marketing Artefacts. This lists the documentation requirements for OSGeo-Live. Marketing Artefacts include:
    • Application Overview
    • Application Quick Start
    • Logo
    • Graphical Image
  2. Ideally, stable version(s) of executable applications are bundled with appropriate distributions.
    In most cases, this will at least include OSGeo-Live, but may also include DebianGIS, UbuntuGIS, and/or osgeo4w ms4w, etc.)

Projects

Projects do not exist in isolation; and are expected to communicate and collaborate on key issues.

As an example the PostGIS release procedure asks that the release be checked with MapServer, GeoServer and others.

SAC

The System Administration Committee is available to help infrastructure and facilities. Information for this committee is collected as part of the Project Status Template. The following should be set up:

A project may optionally request SAC help to make use of: