The document discusses navigating the Apache Incubator process for open source projects. It explains that the Incubator helps projects join the Apache Foundation by ensuring they meet legal standards and the collaborative development model. Projects go through an incubation phase where they build community, follow procedures, and release versions before attempting to graduate. Not all projects will graduate but the Incubator addresses important issues for projects seeking to join Apache.

1. Navigating the Incubator at the
Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

2. Navigating the Incubator
• The ASF in 3 slides
• Why Apache?
• What is incubation all about
• Getting started
• Incubating
• Graduation, and the alternatives
• Examples
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

3. Introduction
• Member and Director of the ASF
• Committer, PMC member at Apache Maven, Archiva,
Continuum, NPanday, Infrastructure, others
• Podling mentor - Apache CloudStack, OpenEJB, Directory
• CTO, MaestroDev
• DevOps Orchestration engine
• Apache Maven 2: Effective Implementation
• Better Builds with Maven
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

4. The ASF in 3 Slides
• Began as Apache Group in 1996
• Incorporated as the ASF in 1999
• Independent US non-profit - 501(c)3
• Volunteer organisation
• Member-based corporation - individuals
• Funded through sponsorship program
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

5. The ASF in 3 Slides
Projects: Foundation:
Community and Technical Organisational • > 100 projects
PMC Member
Members • > 3200 committers
Committer Officers / • > 1500 PMC members
Committees
• 432 Members
Executive
Contributor Officers
• Officers: operations +
Board
PMC chairs
User
• 9 directors elected by
Members
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

6. The ASF in 3 Slides
• Provide open source software to the public
free of charge
• Provide infrastructure and resources
• Independent legal entity
• Protect brand
http://www.slideshare.net/jimjag/code-community-and-open-source
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

7. Why Apache?
• Collaborative software development under the
Apache License
• Neutral ground for competitors to collaborate
• Lots of support
• Opportunities for cross-project collaboration
• Be part of a wider community
• ... but not right for every project
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

8. What makes a successful
Apache project?
• Many shapes and sizes
• Many different ways of doing development
• One common attitude to the approach
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

9. What is the Incubator?
• Help existing projects join the Foundation
• Ensure all donations meet ASF legal
standards
• Ensure they are compatible with ASF model
of collaborative development
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

10. Becoming an Apache
project is a process, not
just a decision
-- Bertrand Delacrétaz
http://grep.codeconsult.ch/2011/06/01/becoming-an-apache-project-is-a-process-not-just-a-decision/
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

11. Incubation is not for
building projects
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

12. Getting started
• Roles
• Proposal & Vote
• Infrastructure
• IP clearance
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

13. Roles
• Champion
• Mentor
• Incubator PMC
• Podling PMC (PPMC)
• Sponsoring project
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

14. Proposal
• More than a template - what is the project
fit?
• Check the name you want to use is
allowed!
• Improve it on the list
• Start a vote
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

15. Infrastructure
• Mailing lists
• Code repository and import
• Issue tracking and import, etc.
• Have a strategy in mind, and work it out on
your new lists!
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

16. IP clearance
• Get it out of the way early!
• Use the status file as a guide
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

17. Incubating
• Community building
• Reports
• Releases
• Procedures
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

18. Community Building
• The most important part!
• ...but there is no “one size fits all” solution
• Make sure there are avenues of
participation
• Be inclusive
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

19. Reports
• Quarterly reports, in the same way as top
level projects
• Help Incubator PMC and Board understand
current state of the podling
• Keep the status page up to date!
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

20. Releases
• Incubator releases get the best review
• Release early and often
• Apache only releases source code
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

21. Other procedures
• Use the documentation, but don’t obsess
over it
• Borrow from other podlings
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

22. Graduating
• Don't get too comfortable
• Plan to graduate, don't wait for it to happen
• Be comfortable with your development and
release process
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

23. Graduation: How It
Works
• Community discussion or vote
• Incubator vote
• Board resolution
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

24. What if it doesn't work
out?
• Some fail to graduate
• Always “retired”
• Source code still available if it cleared IP
• Can be rebooted - inside or outside ASF
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

25. Examples
• Subversion
• OpenEJB
• Heraldry
• Log4PHP
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

26. Why does this matter?
• Resources for developers of projects
• Legal
• Brand
• Infrastructure
• Community
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

27. Why does this matter?
• Assurance for users of projects
• Know what you are getting from a
project
• Places to look for more information
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

28. Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

29. Summary
• Many types of projects can come to Apache
• Every new Apache project must survive
incubation
• Incubation goes through phases
• Addresses stuff that matters to open
source projects
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

30. More information...
• http://incubator.apache.org/
• http://www.slideshare.net/jimjag/code-
community-and-open-source
• http://www.slideshare.net/jukka/open-
source-masterclass-life-in-the-apache-
incubator
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

31. Incubation is not for
building projects
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

32. Incubation is not for building projects
Incubation is for
building community for
a project
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

33. The Incubator is just
the beginning
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter

34. Over to You!
brett@apache.org @brettporter
http://www.slideshare.net/brettporter/
Navigating the Incubator at the Apache Software Foundation
Brett Porter