W3C

- DRAFT -

Revising W3C Process Community Group Teleconference

11 Dec 2019

Attendees

Present
dsinger, jeff, plh, florian, Léonie, (tink)
Regrets
anna, wseltzer
Chair
SV_MEETING_CHAIR
Scribe
fantasai, jeff

Contents


<fantasai> ScribeNick: fantasai

[agenda fiddling]

PSIG call summary

jeff: Florian, fantasai, and Wendy did a terrific job preparing for the call
... sent material to PSIG before the call
... Wendy and fantasai did a great job providing a concise description of what the Process changes were and what Patent Policy changes were needed
... There were 7-10 attorneys on the call, more attendance than usual, which was great
... amount of familiarity with Process 2020 was highly variable, which created some challenges
... nonetheess got through agenda
... Comments were in three categories
... First, there were comments about the minutiae of the proposed patent policy changes
... Not time on the call for us to thoroughly thras through and reach consensus on these
... 2nd class of comments, new to me, had to do not with Patent Policy itself, but with process of how a new patent policy gets introduced
... questions like how do we get agreement on it, are people signing up without consent, does it apply automatically to all WGs, is it retroactive?
... Need to address these
... Third set of comments, some pushback on how we're doing things within Process 2020
... If we had done things in P2020 different here/there, maybe simplify changes to Patent Policy
... Those are main categories of comments we received
... 1.5hr call, fairly short considering magnitude of the change
... PSIG members were asked to send their comments to Wendy and to PSIG ML over next week or so
... Based on categories, most urgent for PSIG to deal with patent policy
... and we deal with transition afterwards
... Next PSIG is scheduled for January 13
... Depending on comments and when they come in, Wendy might or might now have time to prep revision
... Chair proposed to increase frequency of meetings rather than once/month
... Decided not to due to holidays yet, but might consider iafter the holidays

fantasai: wrt retroactivity etc., we need a transition clause inthe Patent Policy so that part can't happen later
... definitely varying levels of familiarity with what's going on

Everblue Changes

dsinger: overview?

florian: One thing that made Everblue changes hard to understand
... is that Chapter 6 of the Process was already messy and hard to understand
... So we spit changes into two phases
... First to make changes to make CHapter 6 more understandable
... then actual changes to Process

<dsinger> see the Github process readme for section-6 cleanup and everblue branch: https://github.com/w3c/w3process

florian: Thhe editorial changes are mostly moving things around
... occasionally merging sentences
... Reason why this Chapter is a mess
... is that it largely started with definitions of each maturity
... and largly described how to transition from one to the other

<florian> https://services.w3.org/htmldiff?doc1=https%3A%2F%2Fw3c.github.io%2Fw3process%2F&doc2=https%3A%2F%2Fw3c.github.io%2Fw3process%2Fsection-6-clean-up

florian: but there were bits of definitions in the transition process descriptions, and bits of transition process descriptions in the maturity defintions
... So we tried to untangle this
... 95% moving sentences, 5% merging/rephrasing sentences
... At the end of these changes (link above)

<florian> https://services.w3.org/htmldiff?doc1=https%3A%2F%2Fw3c.github.io%2Fw3process%2Fsection-6-clean-up%2F&doc2=https%3A%2F%2Fw3c.github.io%2Fw3process%2Feverblue%2F

florian: we apply Everblue changes
... This next diff (above) is against the refactored Process document
... so easier to understand the changes

plh: I don't think Process should say that we're entitled to markup changes in a REC
... we have a modification-in-place policy

florian: This is not new. This is all existing stuff, haven't changed.

plh: Next is editorial changes, we always allow editorial changes
... we always allow editorial changes
... If you want to make editorial changes, we try to give you a clean path to do it
... You were talking about moving things around, maybe add a sentence that you can always make them by republishing the document, status of document doesn't matter

florian: When we did this clean up, goal was to not change anything. Just move around to be easier to read.
... Your suggest seems to be to make a revision of the Process where we refactor some stuff a little more
... Related to this, there's concept of Edited REC
... Process has some confusion as to what that is exists
... but, if you make an editorial change to a REC, it's called Edited REC
... I think could simplify by making them not a special class of REC
... but that's a larger change

<dsinger> Suggest PLH submits simplifying pull-request(s)

plh: We don't surface the concept of Edited REC into our document sin practice
... Even if Process changes to give special labels to things, we can make their status present largely the same as existing status
... don't need too many status types, confusing to community
... can put stuff in Status of the Document

florian: There was also some concerns about making Process shorter and more conceise in general
... Jeff suggested we should tackle after P2020
... because it's more changes, and we're already doing a lot of changes

dsinger: I would suggest we look at what changes plh would want, and then decide
... would be against clean-up branch?

florian: I'm happy to work with plh on the changes, just want us to know if we're doing now or later

dsinger: Would like to next do description of Everblue branch
... try to get towards merging these into the main doc

florian: OK, so clean-up is mostly moving things around, maybe let's review, issue CfC, and merge it in

dsinger: I'm willing to read it in detail

fantasai: I've reviewed in detail because co-edited changes with Florian
... Jeff reviewed in detail, sent many comments, which were addressed

Everblue

florian: Changes in Everblue
... Major change is introducing two types of CR
... another is defining amendment process for REC, invoking for class 3 changes and class 4 changes slightly separately
... Factored out "update request"
... Had "transition request" previously
... but "update request" for CR revisions was embedded in CR-sepcific section
... we pulled it out so that it could be re-used for republishing RECs
... Then there is bit of defining the two subtypes of RECs
... Then some smaller changes
... There are 2 open issues I'm aware fhtat are worth talking about
... One talked about on the ML a lot, framed differently in various times
... issue ????
... Distinction between ERECs and plain RECs

<dsinger> https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/345

Extendable REC vs non-extendable REC

github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/345

florian: mchampion gave a useful distinction between producers and consumers of RECs
... Labelling RECs that can accept new features those that can't differently was a feature not for producers of RECs, but rather consumers RECs.
... Historically RECs have not been able to accept new features
... could accept corrections, but not new features
... so current proposal does not change this
... so that ppl who want scope of feature-set fixed are not surprised and can continue to have that
... Separately we have ERECs, which are exactly the same as RECs, except that changes can include new features
... suggestion was to have this distinction listed in the charter, so that AC can review this distinction
... For awhile it wasn't clear if people understood the motivations for this distinction
... but now that seems to be the case
... Seems nobody except fantasai and I think this is a useful distinction to have
... most others seem to feell that it's not useful

mchampion: jeff suggested just putting this info in the Status of the Document, whether certian paths in PRocess were used

<Zakim> jeff, you wanted to comment on the new topic and to provide a pointer to the email discussion

florian: The distinction isn't so much which *was* used, but which *will* be used
... but yes, could put it in Status of the Document

<jeff> https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-w3process/2019Dec/0026.html

jeff: mchampion's suggestion to simplify got +1 from a number of people
... Florian said willing to fold
... Main point here is to simplify document, think that has pretty wide support

fantasai: ...

plh: In practice, we do supersede RECs

fantasai: That's different
... It's a new document that supersedes
... It doesn't change what has been referenced by other documents

plh: But if you accept fixes, you're making changes anyway

dsinger: Differences in referencing. Referring dated versions vs referencing "top of tree"

florian: ISO is not a problem, they used dated drafts
... but Bluetooth or HbbTV are better examples, they don't republish our stuff, they reference

dsinger: Most groups use dated versions, WHATWG asks to not do that

plh: People can reference whatever they want, let's simplify the Process

dsinger: I'm all in favor of simplifying Process as long as two communities understand it
... One is lawyers
... the other is the outside world, and we need to be clear with them how to refer to this thing
... and refering to top-of-tree
... if that's covered by Status of the Document rather than formal Process or whtaever, fine, but I do want it to be clear to those two communities

<Zakim> jeff, you wanted to say that Elika's concerns are the reason to put something in the SotD; not needed in the process

jeff: Want to say briefly that I embrace Elika's concerns, but in the balance, as discussed on ML, is that including it in the status of the document was sufficient clarity to base decisions on
... cleaning up the Process was more improtant

florian: With 2 audiences concerned, I'm not concerned about lawyers, because RECs that don't acquire new features still acquire fixes
... and from patent PoV any change is relevant
... Other audience ...
... At this point I think better to simplify Process because there seems to be a lot of confusion

<jeff> +1 to Florian's FAQ idea.

florian: but that when we present to the AC we explain this situation, in case they want something different

fantasai: ...

dsinger: does this mean we can make such changes to any REC?

fantasai: Yes, any REC, including ones already published

dsinger: but can do that already right?

florian: No, you can make fixes, but you cannot add new features without starting a new document
... This changes that

dsinger: You could make that change even to an old REC, already published?

florian, fantasai: yes

mchampion: Why do that instead of revving the version number?

florian: If we don't ban the functionality, we shouldn't be surprised that people use it?

dsinger: It's likely lots of small changes that people want to make, but haven't because it was painful in the past, so by no means unlikely
... I think we need to think through this

fantasai: Should I change the title of the issue to be more general? discussion in issue is broader

jeff: Lots of ML discussion

dsinger: link issue to thread

florian: So what are we trying to do, are we asking AC?

dsinger: I think with next Process call, we decide on whether to act on 345 or not

florian: but are we pinging AC?

mchampion: Is there any other questions to put to the AC?

fantasai: I don't think so... this is the only one that changes something about our output, and that we aren't clear that we want (like CR stuff). It changes what a REC means, which might be relevant to people who don't care so much about details of PRocess

dsinger: Changes meaning of existing RECs as well which is significant

jeff: I'd like the chair to find a way for the CG to collaborate on how we present this to the AC
... I think depending on how it is phrased to AC, could change outcome of AC feedback

dsinger: Suggestion was to bring the question up to the AC until we present the Process
... ...

<jeff> +1 to the three decisions

dsinger: Three things we need to decide are * merging clean-up branch * merging Everblue branch * folding EREC and REC

<dsinger> github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/346

Types of CRs

STOP

somebeody screwed up the minutes

and my sound is out

I"M NOT MINUTING YOU FLORIAN

<dsinger> github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/345

Types of CR

github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/346

florian: We have these two types of CRs which are analogous to what's happening in WHATWG: snapshots vs updates
... The difference with WHATWG model is snapshot is not only for lawyers, it also has Director's review, which checks for wide review, horizontal review etc.
... We discussed it's good to tie carrot and stick

<inserted> scribenick: jeff

florian: without verification the work does not get done
... good idea to tie carrot to the stick
... this is intentional we discussed many times
... many people agreed, but Wendy does not.

David: People should just post to the issue.

Mike: I agree with Wendy. Cannot close this.

<fantasai> ScribeNick: fantasai

<jeff> David: 345 and 346 for next call.

Other Issues

dsinger: ???

florian: Move them to Process 2021

dsinger: issues 28 and 182 will move to 2021 unless something happens Very Soon Now
... before next call, we need to be very crisp on which issues we'll deal with for Process 2020
... so tag issues, discuss, we need to close down the list in January

florian: Question to Jeff, the issues you filed, did you want them addresed?

jeff: All for next section, except the class 3 / class 4 changes distinction
... I don't think we should distinguish these things in the Process
... Should both exist, but right now we have different modules for how to deal with class 3 vs class 4 changes
... I don't think there should be two different paths for that

florian: I don't understand how this is different from Extensible Recs

jeff: Not a nomenclature issue
... whether we have differnt paths

<dsinger> Chair says that ONLY by tagging agenda+ after we clean out after this call, will something be dealt with in this revision

<dsinger> https://github.com/w3c/w3process/labels/Agenda%2B

dsinger: Currently Agenda+ 3 issues
... if you want something else in Process 2020, mark it Agenda+ or else we *will not address it for Process 2020*
... we cannot review 30 issues on every call
... next call is formally on the 25th of December
... I suspect we'll not make it, so let's drop that call
... restart in January

<jeff> +1

dsinger: clear list of issues that we address
... formally accept Everblue, clean-up
... and then registries for following call
... anything else before we adjourn?
... meeting closed!

<wseltzer> [belated regrets, calendar sync and flight delays]

Summary of Action Items

Summary of Resolutions

[End of minutes]

Minutes manually created (not a transcript), formatted by David Booth's scribe.perl version 1.154 (CVS log)
$Date: 2019/12/11 16:02:58 $

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Present: dsinger jeff plh florian Léonie (tink)
Regrets: anna wseltzer
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Found Date: 11 Dec 2019
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