Timeline to Last Call

Dear HTML WG,

The Chairs have been discussing with the team the need for a timeline to get to Last Call. The W3C Team has strongly urged us to create a timeline to drive an initial Last Call candidate, and we agree that this is essential to progress HTML5.

The key aspect of this timeline is that there will be a cutoff date for bugs to be considered before Last Call; any bugs after that date will instead be treated as Last Call feedback. That date is October 1. Any bug in the system by that date (even if reopened, resolved, or escalated) will be resolved before Last Call, and we will fully process any that are escalated to issues.

Each date in this timeline is a deadline with a consequence. If the date is missed, the consequence *will* be applied. If there are any issues that WG Members feel are critical to address before Last Call, then it is essential to make sure they are in the bug system ASAP and that other required milestones are met.

This timeline is primarily intended for the HTML5 draft. However, if any editors feel they have other drafts that are ready to proceed to Last Call on the same schedule, please let the Chairs know as soon as possible, by the end of the week at the latest.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask here, ask the chairs privately, or ask offlist on www-archive.

= Timeline =

- Oct 1, 2010 - cutoff for bugs to be considered as pre-LC feedback
Consequence of missing this date: bugs beyond this date will be treated as Last Call comments. The Chairs could grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis, but in general there is no guarantee of a bug filed after the cutoff being settled before Last Call. 

Note: We're working with the editor to find ways to ensure tighter change control for the draft after the cutoff date, but we do not have anything to announce on this front yet.

(2 months + 1 week for TPAC)

- Dec 8, 2010 - all bugs filed by cutoff date addressed by editor
Consequences of missing this date: bugs still open past this date can be escalated to issues immediately if the originator so chooses.

(1 month + 2 weeks for winter holidays)

- Jan 22, 2010 - cutoff for escalating bugs for pre-LC consideration - all issues in tracker, calls for proposal issued by this date
Consequences of missing this date: any further escalations will be treated as a Last Call comment.

 (1 month)

- Feb 23, 2011 - every issue has at least one Change Proposal
Consequences of missing this date: issues will be closed without prejudice and marked POSTPONED; can be reconsidered during LC or for a later version of HTML.

 (1 month)

- Mar 22, 2011 - all calls for counter-proposals complete
Consequences of missing this date: if any issue has only one proposal, we call for consensus on that proposal.

 (1 month)

- April 22, 2011 - all issues resolved; LC resolution presented to group
Consequences of missing this date: this would be solely a failure by the chairs, so we would publicly eat crow and plot a new date.

 (1 month)

- May 22, 2011 - fixable LC objections addressed; if all goes well, LC resolution carries
Consequences of missing this date: try LC resolution again.

Maciej Stachowiak
(on behalf of the HTML WG co-Chairs)

Received on Wednesday, 8 September 2010 06:25:50 UTC