Apache Governance: The Systems and Structures of Apache Leadership

Apache governance is a complex and multifaceted system that oversees the development and maintenance of the Apache Software Foundation’s (ASF) open-source projects. At its core, Apache governance is designed to ensure the long-term health, stability, and success of the ASF’s projects, while also fostering a collaborative and inclusive community.

The Apache Way

The Apache Way is a set of guiding principles that underpin the ASF’s governance structure. It emphasizes the importance of:

• Meritocracy: Decisions are made based on the quality of the code, rather than on personal relationships or position.
• Openness: All decisions and discussions are transparent and open to the community.
• Community involvement: The community is actively engaged in the decision-making process.
• Peer review: Code and decisions are reviewed by peers to ensure quality and consistency.
• Simplicity: The governance structure is designed to be simple and easy to understand.

The Apache Foundation’s Governance Structure

The ASF’s governance structure is based on a number of key components, including:

• The Board of Directors: The Board is responsible for overseeing the overall direction and strategy of the ASF.
• The Project Management Committees (PMCs): Each PMC is responsible for a specific Apache project, and is responsible for making decisions about the project’s direction and development.
• The Apache Members: Apache Members are individuals who have been elected to the ASF and are responsible for participating in the decision-making process.
• The Apache Committers: Apache Committers are individuals who have been granted commit access to an Apache project and are responsible for contributing to the project’s development.

Decision-Making Processes

The ASF uses a number of different decision-making processes, including:

• Voting: Decisions are made through a voting process, where each PMC or Board member has a vote.
• Consensus: Decisions are made through a consensus process, where all parties must agree on a course of action.
• Majority vote: Decisions are made through a majority vote, where a simple majority is sufficient to pass a decision.

Conflict Resolution

The ASF has a number of mechanisms in place to resolve conflicts and disputes, including:

• The Apache Conflict Resolution Process: This process outlines the steps that should be taken to resolve conflicts and disputes within the ASF.
• The Apache Ombudsman: The Ombudsman is an independent individual who can help to resolve conflicts and disputes within the ASF.

Conclusion

Apache governance is a complex and multifaceted system that is designed to ensure the long-term health and success of the ASF’s open-source projects. By understanding the Apache Way, the ASF’s governance structure, decision-making processes, and conflict resolution mechanisms, individuals can better navigate the ASF and contribute to its success.