13:53:52 RRSAgent has joined #w3process 13:53:52 logging to https://www.w3.org/2021/04/14-w3process-irc 13:53:54 RRSAgent, make logs Public 13:53:56 Meeting: Revising W3C Process Community Group 14:01:41 jrosewell_ has joined #w3process 14:01:59 jrosewell__ has joined #w3process 14:02:27 present+ 14:02:52 present+ 14:03:26 ScribeNick: fantasai 14:03:31 Topic: Agenda Bashing 14:03:57 dsinger: Coments on agenda? 14:04:15 Topic: PSIG Report 14:04:46 wseltzer: Lengthy discussion of registries track 14:04:54 wseltzer: PSIG came away with an understanding of what we were aiming to do here 14:05:09 plh has joined #w3process 14:05:16 present+ plh 14:05:25 wseltzer: asked some questions primarily around, was there sufficient clarity on what can be in a registry data table to ensure we don't get material put directly into the registry 14:05:40 wseltzer:to give comfort with the registry track not being subject to patent policy 14:05:54 wseltzer: I invited ppl to come share their questions or comments with the process cg 14:06:01 wseltzer: We didn't take a formal PSIG resolution 14:06:18 wseltzer: Wanted to ask Process CG to ask if wanted anything specific from PSIG 14:06:25 q+ 14:06:47 wseltzer: We also brought to them their attention the Process edits on recording of meetings 14:06:52 wseltzer: there was no discussion, just heads up 14:07:09 scribe+ 14:07:23 Fantasai: Being clear that no patented material allowed in data tables 14:07:37 ... Mike Gelblum questioned what we said 14:07:47 ... we said no normative stuff in registries 14:07:51 s/Mike Gelblum/someone/ 14:08:04 ... but tokens for algorithms could be in registeries 14:08:20 ... but indirect references are already not covered by PP 14:08:25 ... so the same what we have 14:08:38 ... we shouldn't exclude something from registry track 14:08:44 ack fan 14:09:13 ... while we are wording the recordings 14:09:33 dsinger: Suppose we had a registry of W3C abbreviations. There would be no external references, but still a useful registry. 14:09:50 florian: The issue is about referencing normative texts. 14:10:06 wseltzer: Concern is around patentable things, like algorithms 14:10:49 fantasai: E.g. EME registration of formats that link to their specs 14:11:01 https://www.w3.org/TR/2016/NOTE-eme-initdata-registry-20160510/#entry-requirements 14:11:10 dsinger: Should we ban RFC2119 words? 14:11:23 florian: There are other ways to normatively describe requirements 14:11:42 plh: Also registry definition has to use those 14:11:49 florian: Right. But those apply to people, not to implementations. 14:12:02 florian: I don't think there's a real problem, just PSIG getting acquainted with the topic 14:12:21 florian: Not obvious to me the current wording is problematic, just noticed that the topic is worth consideration, and has problematic areas if not defined well 14:12:32 florian: Don't think they've had enough time to look at wording one way or another 14:12:40 wseltzer: I didn't get any specific change requests from them 14:13:07 dsinger: Question of registry definition being under Patent Policy or not, any discussion there? 14:13:10 wseltzer: Not really 14:13:19 florian: We put it on their radar, they're aware of the topic 14:13:31 florian: but should probably assume it's fine until they tell us it's not, but give them some time 14:13:50 dsinger: We've got several cycles of review, so not imminently publishing anyway 14:13:50 q? 14:13:54 ack jeff 14:14:05 jeff: dsinger had asked whether we should get a resolution approved by PSIG 14:14:07 jeff: I think yes 14:14:13 jeff: Since questions have been asked and concerns mentioned 14:14:31 jeff: Would rather start the dialog with them earlier, and cleanest way is to ask for a crisp resolution 14:14:42 jeff: Maybe suggest a resolution 14:14:48 jeff: Would be wise to get them to say yay or nay 14:15:05 jeff: if unable to answer question, we would learn something from that 14:15:13 jeff: better to learn sooner than that 14:15:42 florian: the Process text is clear about interaction with PP atm, what kind of resolution do we want, to restate the text? to accept the text? 14:16:05 jeff: Not sure what resolution is, maybe just no problems forseen in the existing Process text 14:16:14 jeff: Don't want PSIG to raise concern at the last hour 14:16:58 dsinger: Maybe, wseltzer, can you get back to PSIG that we'll keep going, and then will send for review and would want PSIG to weigh in by then 14:17:10 wseltzer: Will look into copying Process 2020 process 14:17:19 q? 14:17:45 florian: fantasai, you had some concern about how REC docs reference registries, do we need to tweak that text? 14:17:53 fantasai too tired to know 14:18:11 florian: So we might need to do some tweaking 14:18:20 dsinger: Not promising our text is frozen anyway 14:18:32 ACTION fantasai figure out if any tweaks need to be made 14:18:41 ACTION fantasai: figure out if any tweaks need to be made 14:18:52 q? 14:18:54 florian: ... 14:19:10 Topic: Editor's status report 14:19:22 dsinger: Other than Tooling, do we need to land anything? 14:19:36 florian: disclaimer, very long day and may be forgetting things 14:19:44 florian: I believe we have to finish registries, in there, has to be right 14:19:54 florian: need to discuss switching of tracks, that will need to land as well 14:20:09 florian: I think it would be desirable to close the issue on minutes 14:20:28 florian: Would be good to take Tooling and Chairing, but they're independent pieces. 14:20:35 florian: I would like to draw the line to include those 14:20:40 q? 14:20:42 dsinger: But draft is up to date with resolutions? 14:20:43 florian: yes 14:20:58 Topic: Issue Triage 14:21:15 dsinger: Didn't notice anything new and pressing 14:21:31 dsinger: also I forgot to remove Agenda+ from some issues, might not really need discussion 14:21:35 Topic: Switching Tracks 14:21:42 Switching Tracks #509 14:21:52 github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/509 14:22:03 florian: I'm happy with the text in the PR now 14:22:13 florian: Anyone else with comments? 14:22:22 dsinger: basically if you switch tracks, you start at the beginning 14:22:31 q? 14:22:38 florian: Yes, the only nuance is that there are Patent implementations for switching to/from REC 14:22:52 florian: Better than copy-paste, because maintain some commitments from before 14:23:08 florian: but it's tricky, so we want people to pay attention to that when switching to/from REC 14:23:24 q+ 14:23:25 q? 14:23:34 florian: "A [=technical report=] should not switch away from the [=Recommendation Track=] 14:23:37 without due consideration of the Patent Policy implications 14:23:40 and approval of the W3C’s legal counsel 14:23:42 if the Working Group envisions a likelihood of returning to it later." 14:23:45 q+ 14:23:52 florian: You can do it, but we want to avoid doing it accidentally 14:24:08 q? 14:24:12 ack jeff 14:24:21 florian: The check is on leaving the REC track, not returning, because if you need to return to REC track the best thing to do is return to it. But in that case ideally shouldn't have switched away from REC in the first place. 14:24:33 jeff: Curious if we've shared this one with PSIG and asked for any input? 14:24:48 florian: I don't believe we have. Also note this doesn't introduce a new possibility. You can currently go from REC to NOTE and back today. 14:25:08 florian: It's the separation of tracks that we created earlier that makes this switching tracks section necessary 14:25:14 q? 14:25:16 ack ws 14:25:20 dsinger: We currently mandate abandoned WDs to switch to NOTE 14:25:55 wseltzer: Am I correct that the reason we prohibit REC and PRD switching to NOTE is to avoid confusion about status under shortname? 14:26:08 florian: There's a designated status for abandoned RECs/PRDs (not a NOTE) 14:26:17 dsinger: You've completed the track, so 14:26:32 wseltzer: Why do we have that restriction? 14:26:49 florian: The most important is PRD 14:27:06 florian: Seems weird to switch from "we made a spec with patent commitments, but decided it shouldn't be" seems weird 14:27:25 wseltzer: I'd rather have us make it clear to people what the recommended things to do are, rather than prohobit things 14:27:39 wseltzer: If ancient piece of tech in this PRD, want to use it as exemplary text for something else 14:27:52 florian: This statement doesn't prohibit copy-paste. You can take the content of your PRD and make it something esle. 14:28:04 florian: but if you have a PRD and want to rescind it, can do that. 14:28:23 florian: If you have a PRD, and ppl have implemented it, and then you decide to make it a Note, that's ... 14:28:28 florian: It's weird, nobody wants it, don't do it. 14:28:31 q? 14:28:53 florian: and it's easy to relax restrictions later if we feel like it, but it's hard to undo the problem 14:29:20 florian: If you change PRD to NOTE, material in PRD is still under patent protection, but that would be very non-obvious from the most recently published NOTE 14:29:25 q? 14:29:28 wseltzer: Seems fine. Grammar suggestion. 14:29:34 dsinger: Consensus to include? 14:29:37 +1 14:29:44 q? 14:29:52 RESOLVED: Merge PR for #509 14:30:16 Topic: Alternate AC Rep 14:30:22 github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/505 14:30:37 dsinger: Do we want to do this? We or the AB need to ask what's practical, not overdefine 14:30:51 florian: I suspect we want to ask Systeam and the legal side. 14:31:01 florian: My sense is that this is desirable, but we need to make sure it's possible 14:31:06 florian: in both respects 14:31:14 florian: I can imagine ways it's not a problem, but that doesn't mean it's right 14:31:14 q+ 14:31:21 ack jef 14:31:55 jeff: I haven't reviewed the legal issues, but I wonder if there are engineering approaches to dealing with this that get us close enough that don't require changin process or legal things 14:31:59 jeff: Two components 14:32:12 jeff: One is keeping multiple alternates informed. ML forwarding, not exactly a challenge. 14:32:18 dsinger: it's ballots that's the concern 14:32:26 jeff: The second thing is the formal things 14:32:35 q+ 14:32:41 jeff: a really clunky engineering thing is temporary changes of AC rep 14:32:44 jeff: clunky but doable 14:32:55 jeff: Seems like that's doable today with no change 14:33:04 planned absence is relatively easily handled; unplanned is where it really matters 14:33:09 For those where this is a major issue then the AC Rep can be changed temporarily. How big an issue is this in practice? How important is this compared to other issues? 14:33:10 jeff: What's the pain of doing that, compared to complexity of legal process issues 14:33:26 dsinger: Can we do this in a way that minimizes the legal and practical pain 14:33:33 dsinger: Conversation for the Team 14:33:33 q+ 14:33:39 florian: sort of thing Jeff just suggested seems to work 14:33:54 ack fl 14:33:59 florian: I'm not concerned about the ballots, we always keep the latest one 14:34:21 florian: What may not necessarily be fine is that AC rep can do some things that cannot be undone 14:34:30 florian: Joining a WG has patent implications that you can't undo by leaving 14:34:59 florian: Implementation doesn't matter, we can just say we switch back and forth and that's fine, but what if there's a conflict? 14:35:03 jeff: caveat emptor 14:35:21 jeff: In my solution, or in the formal alternate AC rep solution, if an organization makes that change, they have to live with it 14:35:42 ack flo 14:35:46 dsinger: They chose that person. Sounds like a management problem on their part 14:35:46 ack ws 14:36:25 wseltzer: I'd love to get more AC input on this question. People so far have said it would be convenient to delegate this role. I wonder if anyone sees it as a valuable limitation, that there is only one person who can hold this role 14:36:46 wseltzer: Some considerations, e.g. have to double people ot reach out to if trying to reach out AC reps, etc. 14:36:54 wseltzer: is this a feature? 14:37:04 wseltzer: Also of course I want to make sure we do it carefully enough 14:37:15 dsinger: OK, I will send a message to AC-forum requesting input from AC reps 14:37:18 q+ 14:37:18 q? 14:37:27 ACTION dsinger: Ask ac-forum about alternate AC reps 14:37:28 ack fant 14:37:42 ack jef 14:37:42 s/carefully enough/carefully to get the legally binding representation/ 14:37:56 jeff: I'm not convinced we're ready to ask, because we don't have a proposal 14:38:11 jeff: I don't want to ask the AC conceptually, if need many changes 14:38:30 Agree with Jeff 14:38:38 dsinger: Let's leave it then, Jeff and Wendy will talk to the Team 14:38:55 dsinger: wseltzer would look at what would be binding, and Team will look into what's implementable 14:38:59 dsinger: Let's leave this to the Team 14:39:06 q+ 14:39:45 q+ 14:40:08 jeff: I would like a straw poll, whether the instinctive reaction is more towards a formal definition or is instinctive reaction towards an engineering solution where we can do this within existing Process 14:40:11 ack je 14:40:25 dsinger: If I could nominate an alternate, probably me and Tess would designate each other 14:40:39 dsinger: so if can do as a semi-permanent thing, would be better than fiddling with database 14:40:41 durable Alternate solves many more problems than engineering reassignment 14:40:51 q? 14:41:05 ack jrose 14:41:08 q+ 14:41:13 jrosewell__: I agree with jeff's comment earlier. Should have a proposla 14:41:13 ack fant 14:41:52 q? 14:41:59 ack tall 14:42:05 fantasai: Could do Jeff's solution, just put people on a list of "people who're allowed to set the AC rep of my org" 14:42:08 TallTed: Interesting idea 14:42:26 TallTed: Something happens suddenly, can't set alternate 14:42:40 TallTed: So some kind of set-up that can handle such things 14:43:18 q? 14:43:36 dsinger: Seems that some solution might be desirable, not sure what. 14:43:43 dsinger: so going to leave this with the Team 14:44:02 Topic: Define Minutes 14:44:09 github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/511 14:44:18 dsinger: We discussed in previous meeting, can't remember conclusion 14:44:31 florian: IIRC we were in almost agreement, and then wseltzer quesiton some of the phrasing, which was later fixed 14:44:38 florian: so once we had that agreement, I merged it 14:44:47 dsinger: Anybody think we got this wrong or should I take off agenda? 14:44:48 q? 14:44:52 RESOLVED: close issue 14:45:13 Topic: Suspension/ removal for cause 14:45:18 dsinger: Can't remember why it's on the agenda 14:45:22 florian: I think we tlaked about it already. 14:45:42 florian: We had refactored this section in parallel 14:45:53 q+ 14:45:55 florian: This issue isn't closed because not fixed on Director-free branch 14:46:06 florian: So maybe we should close, and let DF branch will solve by rebasing 14:46:20 jeff: it's for DF, we're not doing that in P2021 14:46:34 dsinger: OK, removing Agenda+ 14:46:49 Topic: Improve AB Chairing 14:47:05 github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/514 14:47:12 q? 14:47:17 ack jeff 14:47:18 fantasai: AB gave us conceptual agreement, and a number of AB members have approved the text in the proposal 14:47:18 q- 14:47:25 q? 14:47:26 fantasai: I suggest we just merge it into Process 2021 14:47:36 https://github.com/w3c/w3process/issues/514#issuecomment-811301324 14:47:54 q? 14:48:03 dsinger: Approve? 14:48:05 [silence] 14:48:12 RESOLVED: Accept proposed text 14:48:15 -.1 14:49:05 jeff: I think text of resolution is fine. i've shared in other discussions think we should incubate before changing Process text, but don't really object, so if consensus then happy to yield to consensus 14:49:21 dsinger: I'm with you, but I'm also aware Chris and others who want Process updated aren't here 14:49:30 dsinger: we can always back it out if necessary 14:49:41 Topic: Tooling 14:49:44 q+ 14:49:49 github: https://github.com/w3c/w3process/pull/436 14:49:58 dsinger: I think we're settling on MUSt only for recordkeeping 14:50:09 dsinger: We've got continued debate on geographical restricitons 14:50:16 dsinger: nobody is on either extreme of the argument 14:51:04 dsinger: Somewhere between those two polar opposites is where we need to land, and that's what RFC2119 SHOULD is about 14:51:06 q? 14:51:08 3. SHOULD This word, or the adjective "RECOMMENDED", mean that there 14:51:08 may exist valid reasons in particular circumstances to ignore a 14:51:08 particular item, but the full implications must be understood and 14:51:08 carefully weighed before choosing a different course. 14:51:33 florian: If country has citizens has people who want to participate cannot, is a problem 14:51:47 dsinger: Does that automatically mean we can't use the tool even if no viable alternative? 14:51:54 ... find a workaround for them? 14:51:56 q? 14:52:00 dsinger: other opinions? 14:52:01 ack weil 14:52:10 weiler: interesting geographical and political 14:52:35 weiler: In the interest of moving the overall section forward, may I suggest we strike geographical bit? 14:52:40 weiler: and argue over it for another year? 14:52:51 weiler: You don't have consensus over geography text 14:53:09 weiler: Would want ppl who are affected involved 14:53:17 ack fant 14:53:21 florian: we've had such peeople involved 14:53:29 scribe: 14:53:49 Fantasai: We need to take geographic restrictions into account when selecting our tooling 14:54:00 ... people would like that considered 14:54:13 ... we made it a SHOULD so it could be a consideration 14:54:16 q+ 14:54:28 ... striking this and never putting it back would be unacceptable 14:54:35 ... can you live with a SHOULD? 14:54:48 ... people in regions affected would like an effort to include them. 14:54:51 weiler: No, I can't live with this. 14:55:02 q+ 14:55:02 weiler: I might if some caveats around it, but don't want even with a SHOULD. 14:55:03 q+ 14:55:25 dsinger: [quotes text] 14:55:41 "Any tooling used by the group for producing its documentation and deliverables or for official group discussions should be usable without additional cost by all who wish to participate, to allow their effective participation regardless of disability or geographical location." 14:55:54 dsinger: We can leave out "regardless of disability or geographical location" 14:56:15 dsinger: Sentence would have same impact, just draw less attention to it 14:56:18 q? 14:56:21 ack ds 14:56:22 dsinger: thoughts on that? 14:56:25 ack flo 14:56:44 florian: I think that approach might work. personally I'm also satisfied with a SHOULD. But to go in Sams' direction, I can imagine additional phrasing that would make a difference 14:56:49 [also need to take it out in the previous section re: worldwide, but same idea] 14:57:09 florian: We could say things like, "however, access to electricity may be assumed" 14:57:17 florian: can't require participation by snail mail 14:57:29 q? 14:57:46 florian: Need to have general means of electronic communications available 14:57:46 ack jef 14:57:52 dsinger: Might just be able to delete words though 14:58:03 jeff: I want to know Sa's reaction to dsinger's proposal 14:58:17 weiler: I'm fine with it 14:58:32 fantasai: I can live with it 14:58:40 q? 14:58:49 +1 14:59:02 dsinger: OK, we'll just stop the sentence early 14:59:12 q? 14:59:14 florian: I'll just do it 14:59:26 weiler: There's multiple places 14:59:35 weiler: There's a reference to worldwide in the other section 14:59:58 weiler: in item 2 15:00:39 fantasai: I'm OK with dropping from item 2 15:00:51 jeff: can we just say for all? 15:01:12 dsinger: Maybe replace "worldwide" with "internationalization" 15:01:25 florian: We're just saying "follow best practices", why is this a problem? 15:02:34 [debate over where we're editing] 15:02:58 q? 15:03:10 weiler: Replace with "internationalization" 15:03:14 dsinger: OK 15:04:01 q? 15:04:16 fantasai: I have concerns actually with the earlier edit, I think it makes the sentence unclear, but I suggest we merge in and ask the AB about it 15:04:48 RESOLVED: Merge PR with the edits above: end item 4 before "regardless" and switch "accessibility worldwide" to "internationalization and accessibility" 15:04:57 Topic: Where are we 15:05:06 florian: I think we're at the point where we check over the text 15:05:25 dsinger: When you're done updating the text, please post a message about that 15:05:46 dsinger: restructuring of document 15:06:12 dsinger: Defining constitutents, define groups (e.g. AB/TAG), define publications, miscellaneous 15:06:21 dsinger: Trying to take seriously concern about document bieng hard to read 15:06:32 dsinger: would like intro to give us a roadmap of the document also 15:06:45 jeff: also +1 to what florian said about really getting a look at the wholistic document 15:07:07 jeff: I understand in bits and pieces, we review as a series of PR 15:07:16 jeff: so would like an opportunity to see the changes in totality 15:07:24 jeff: and say, great, those individual things we did realy do hang together! 15:07:42 dsinger: Yes, Florian has action item to prepare document and an explanation of what's been done 15:07:57 florian: Yes, I'll prepare, and we'll all take opporunity to do a holistic review 15:08:01 s/wholistic/holistic/ 15:08:07 florian: I'll also make a changelog 15:08:14 plh: Cleaning up wrt AC review comments? 15:08:22 florian: We have addressed some of them, but haven't prioritized all to to the topi 15:08:28 dsinger: Yes, pls look at them 15:08:34 dsinger: OK, seriously over time 15:08:46 dsinger: Next meeting, suggest we cancel 15:09:12 RESOLVED: Next meeting cancelled 15:09:27 dsinger: Please use spare time to look at ??, things we tagged and prioritzed for 2021, and AC comments from last time 15:09:37 dsinger: with that, let's adjourn 15:09:42 Meeting adjourned. 15:09:42 q? 16:35:04 tantek has joined #w3process 17:32:50 Zakim has left #w3process 18:51:30 rrsagent, generate minutes v2 18:51:30 I have made the request to generate https://www.w3.org/2021/04/14-w3process-minutes.html plh