[Charter] New process for clear consensus based on GitHub pull-requests

Dear group

In today's WebConf call, we discussed (and within the call reached consensus) that we want to apply the following process to compile the IG Re-charter (also see https://www.w3.org/2016/04/27-wot-minutes.html):


-        Starting with a template in GitHub that has only boilerplate, but no specific content.

-        Each topic of the charter is formulated in an individual draft and opens a pull-request ("PR").

-        We discuss each pull-request on GitHub, where we can comment on individual lines or give general feedback as comment on the PR.

-        The original author updates the pull-request with new commits and only once we have consensus, the editor (e.g., W3C staff) merges the PR to include the charter topic.


-        Feedback on the mailing list is still possible and converted by W3C staff or an appointed helper to GitHub comments or new pull-requests.

-        If you have not worked with GitHub in this way before, we can compile a howto for you or given give direct assistance. Do not hesitate to ask!

The logistics will be as follows (as discussed in the call):


-        To not clutter the w3c/charter-drafts repo, the charter(s) will be hosted in the w3c/wot repository. I will take care of proper GitHub labels to improve readability.

-        We will prepare the boilerplate template for the IG re-charter and add it to the repo.

-        The issues will be moved to the w3c/wot repo and only closed in the old repo when done, so we do not lose any (actually there is only one issue on the IG re-charter).

-        The IG members start to create pull-requests for each topic they want to have addressed. Of course it makes sense here to coordinate quickly where some of us already have partial consensus and create a single PR.

Since this process also makes total sense for the WG charter, I would propose the following there:


-        We add the current draft to the w3c/wot repository.

-        Everyone converts their open issue to a concrete pull-request with a proposal to solve the issue. Once the PR is opened, the old issue in w3c/charter-drafts can be closed.

Please respond ASAP if you have any feedback to this process, since we need to start this very soon. I will actually already start the preparation in w3c/wot.

With best regards,
Dr. Matthias Kovatsch

Siemens AG
Corporate Technology
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mailto:matthias.kovatsch@siemens.com

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