RE: Last Call timeline

There were a couple of incorrect dates (ie 2010 instead of 2011) in my original message.  This message contains a corrected timeline.

/paulc

 The Chairs have been discussing with the W3C Team the need for a timeline for Last Call. The W3C Team has asked us to create a timeline to drive the Last Call to successful completion and we agree that this is essential to successfully progress the HTML Last Call Working Drafts.

The key aspect of this timeline is that there will be a cutoff date for bugs to be considered during Last Call; any bugs after that date will instead be treated during a subsequent Last Call, possibly during Candidate Recommendation or for a subsequent version of HTML.  The Last Call period for the WG's Last Call Working Drafts will be 10 weeks long from May 24 through Aug 2.  Any bug in the system by Aug 2 (even if reopened, resolved, or escalated) will be resolved during 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 or reviewers feel are critical to address during Last Call, then it is essential to make sure they are in the bug system ASAP and that other required milestones are met.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask here, ask the chairs privately, or ask off list on www-archive@w3.org.

= Timeline =

- May 24, 2011 - Opening of Last Call review period - May 24-Aug 2 (10 weeks)
- May 24, 2011 - Commence processing of open issues that exist at the start of Last Call Consequences of missing this date: Delay in processing of open issues at the start of Last Call will put subsequent dates at risk.

(6 weeks)

- Jul 5, 2011 - all bugs filed by the start of Last Call addressed by editors Consequences of missing this date: bugs still open past this date can be escalated to issues immediately if the originator so chooses.

(4 weeks)

- Aug 2, 2011 - cutoff for bugs to be considered as Last Call feedback Consequence of missing this date: bugs beyond this date will NOT 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 during the Last Call period. 

(8 weeks)

- Sep 27, 2011 - all bugs filed by Last Call cutoff date addressed by editors Consequences of missing this date: bugs still open past this date can be escalated to issues immediately if the originator so chooses.

(2 weeks)

- Oct 11, 2011 - cutoff for escalating bugs for Last Call consideration - all issues in tracker, calls for proposal issued by this date Consequences of missing this date: any further escalations will not be treated as a Last Call comment.

(4 weeks)

- Nov 8, 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 second LC or for a later version of HTML.

(4 weeks)

- Dec 6, 2011 - all calls for counter-proposals complete Consequences of missing this date: if any issue has only one proposal, we will call for consensus on that proposal.

(4 weeks plus 2 weeks for end of the year holidays)

- Jan 17, 2012 - all issues resolved; next step resolution presented to HTML Working 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.

(2 weeks)

- Jan 31, 2012 - fixable LC objections addressed; if all goes well, next step resolution carries Consequences of missing this date: try next step resolution again.

/paulc
for the HTML WG co-chairs

Paul Cotton, Microsoft Canada
17 Eleanor Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K2E 6A3
Tel: (425) 705-9596 Fax: (425) 936-7329

Received on Monday, 16 May 2011 05:32:22 UTC