#1345 FPC is not working
Closed None Opened 9 years ago by hguemar.

= phenomenon =

FPC is a critical committee for Fedora as the packaging authority, and yet it has become a bottleneck. In the last months, it losts 3 important members (chairman included) due to burnout, and many important guidelines are stalled (Go, SCL, etc.)

Since FPC is a subcommittee of FeSCo, I believe this FeSCo responsability to analyze and find solution to this crisis.

= background analysis =

Various issues:
too much work: 80% of requests are bundled library exceptions, many guidelines are incomplete and some are outside the expertise of FPC members requiring active collaboration from upstream (SCL) or experts (Golang)
Recruitment model: new members are chosen by remaining members, only suggested replacement and it doesn't help diversifying the opinions.

Theorically, since Golang packaging guidelines were not approved, we shouldn't grant golang packages reviews. It sounds bad ? yes, it is :(

= implementation recommendation =

I advise that after F21 release, FeSCo audit FPC.
Few suggestions:
Bundled library exceptions should follow a fast-track processus modelled on provenpackager/sponsor processus (+3 and no -1 => granted after 1 or 2 weeks, else should be examined or flat out refused)
Improve the packaging guidelines workflow so that FPC doesn't have to waste time on incomplete drafts. There should be a timeout on all guidelines review, and escalation to FeSCo when it is problematic (ie: SCL)
* Improve recruitment model and regular membership renewal.


About packaging guidelines, some suggested to provide different level of repository:
trusted: packages following packaging guidelines, actively maintained
staging: packages actively maintained, but with relaxed packaging guidelines
* contrib: use at your own risk (unmaintained, FTBFS are regularly removed)

packages should not requires packages from lower standards repositories, having a staging repository may help to get feedbacks on packaging guidelines.

=> this require input from rel-eng but that would allow us to be more flexible, and offer a larger packages collection.
trusted and staging will get official support from Fedora at di= phenomenon =

FPC is a critical committee for Fedora as the packaging authority, and yet it has become a bottleneck. In the last months, it losts 3 important members (chairman included) due to burnout, and many important guidelines are stalled (Go, SCL, etc.)

Since FPC is a subcommittee of FeSCo, I believe this FeSCo responsability to analyze and find solution to this crisis.

= background analysis =

Various issues:
too much work: 80% of requests are bundled library exceptions, many guidelines are incomplete and some are outside the expertise of FPC members requiring active collaboration from upstream (SCL) or experts (Golang)
Recruitment model: new members are chosen by remaining members, only suggested replacement and it doesn't help diversifying the opinions.

Theorically, since Golang packaging guidelines were not approved, we shouldn't grant golang packages reviews. It sounds bad ? yes, it is :(

= implementation recommendation =

I advise that after F21 release, FeSCo audit FPC.
Few suggestions:
Bundled library exceptions should follow a fast-track processus modelled on provenpackager/sponsor processus (+3 and no -1 => granted after 1 or 2 weeks, else should be examined or flat out refused)
Improve the packaging guidelines workflow so that FPC doesn't have to waste time on incomplete drafts. There should be a timeout on all guidelines review, and escalation to FeSCo when it is problematic (ie: SCL)
* Improve recruitment model and regular membership renewal.


About packaging guidelines, some suggested to provide different level of repository:
trusted: packages following packaging guidelines, actively maintained
staging: packages actively maintained, but with relaxed packaging guidelines
* contrib: use at your own risk (unmaintained, FTBFS are regularly removed)

packages should not requires packages from lower standards repositories, having a staging repository may help to get feedbacks on packaging guidelines and provide actual facts.
Could even be just a tag rather than different repositories.

=> this require input from rel-eng but that would allow us to be more flexible, and offer a larger packages collection.
trusted and staging will get official support from Fedora at different level, contrib is no support at different level, contrib is no support at all.
It may be outside the scope of merely "fixing the FPC" but FPC issues are symptomatic of a bigger problem: Fedora has grown bigger and it needs to scale.


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