AsyncAPI Technical Steering Committee Onboarding

Summary

This presentation introduces new maintainers to the Technical Steering Committee (TSC) of the Assing API initiative, explaining its governance, responsibilities, and benefits. The speaker outlines the committee's principles, including transparency and inclusivity, emphasizing that anyone contributing regularly can join the TSC. They discuss the importance of maintaining high-quality projects and how TSC members can influence the future of open-source API development. The session highlights opportunities for recognition and participation in community initiatives, encouraging new members to engage actively and leverage their experience for personal and professional growth.

Takeaways

• 🍷 The presentation introduces the onboarding process for new maintainers of the Assing API initiative.
• 📅 The agenda covers the history, principles, duties, and benefits of being a member of the Technical Steering Committee (TSC).
• 📝 The charter ensures project ownership belongs to the Linux Foundation, preventing individual or company control over the initiative.
• 👥 Becoming a TSC member is open to all maintainers, with no formal invitation process; participation is democratic.
• 📈 Transparency is key in decision-making, with all meetings public and decisions made asynchronously to include all contributors.
• 🔍 TSC members are involved in accepting new projects, organizing initiatives, approving budgets, and conflict resolution.
• 📊 Voting tools will soon be implemented to facilitate member participation in decisions with an emoji-based response system.
• 💼 Members gain exposure to the API community, including opportunities for conference attendance and roles in events.
• 🌱 Being active in the TSC allows members to influence the direction of the project and contribute to its growth.
• 🤝 Participation in subcommittees and initiatives can lead to sponsorship support for TSC members who aren't company-funded.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the presentation?

The main purpose of the presentation is to onboard contributors who have become maintainers of the Assing API initiative and to explain the role and responsibilities of being a member of the Technical Steering Committee (TSC).

What historical context is provided about the Assing API initiative?

The Assing API initiative was donated to the Linux Foundation in March 2021 to ensure that the ownership of the project is not held by any individual or company, but by a foundation.

How can someone become a member of the Technical Steering Committee?

To become a TSC member, one must be a maintainer of any repository within the Assing API organization. They can simply open a pull request (PR) to add their name to the list of TSC members.

What is the governance model of the TSC?

The governance model emphasizes transparency, inclusivity, and democratic participation, where any regular maintainer can join the TSC without needing an invitation.

What is the significance of the charter mentioned in the presentation?

The charter serves as a legal document that outlines the governance structure of the Assing API initiative, ensuring the project is managed by the TSC and providing guidelines for participation.

What are the main duties of a TSC member?

The main duty of a TSC member is to actively participate in the community and contribute to discussions and decisions that affect the overall project, including accepting new projects and resolving conflicts.

How does the TSC handle conflicts among maintainers?

The TSC is responsible for conflict resolution that affects the whole initiative, while personal conflicts related to the code of conduct are managed by a dedicated committee established for that purpose.

What kind of benefits do TSC members receive?

Benefits include greater exposure to the API community, priority access to free conference tickets, opportunities to participate in events, and a chance to influence the future direction of the project.

How does the TSC ensure broad representation and avoid dominance by a single company?

The TSC limits the number of members affiliated with the same company to one-fourth of the total TSC members to prevent any single company from gaining majority control.

What communication channels are available for TSC members to stay informed?

TSC members can stay informed through a dedicated Slack channel, email subscriptions for discussions, and GitHub notifications related to TSC activities.