SymPEP Purpose and Process and SymPEP Template

SymPEP-0001.md

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+# SymPEP 1 --- SymPEP Purpose and Process
+
+**Author** Aaron Meurer, Jason K. Moore  
+**Status** Draft  
+**Type** Process  
+**Created** 2021-01-27  
+**Resolution**  
+
+## Abstract
+
+SymPEPs are a formal process whereby important changes are proposed and
+discussed. Corresponding to each SymPEP is a document that outlines the
+proposed change(s), the discussion around those changes, and motivation for
+that change. This document outlines the details of the SymPEP process and
+corresponding documents.
+
+## What is a SymPEP?
+
+SymPEP stands for "SymPy Enhancement Proposal". SymPEPs represent a formal
+process whereby important changes are proposed and discussed in the SymPy
+community. Corresponding to each SymPEP is a SymPEP document which outlines the
+proposal and corresponding discussion. SymPEPs are based on the
+[PEP](https://www.python.org/dev/peps/) process used by the Python language
+community to propose changes to the Python language. It also takes motivations
+from other similar processes in communities adjacent to SymPy, such as the
+[NEP](https://numpy.org/neps/nep-0000.html) process for NumPy and the
+[MEP](https://matplotlib.org/devel/MEP/index.html) process for Matplotlib.
+However, the SymPEP process differs from these processes in some ways, so those
+who may already be familiar with similar processes from other communities
+should read this document to understand how it works for SymPEPs.
+
+## Types
+
+There are two kinds of SymPEPs:
+
+A **Software Track** SymPEP describes a new feature or important change for the
+code in SymPy.
+
+A **Process** SymPEP describes a process related to SymPy, or proposes a
+change to (or an event in) a process. Process SymPEPs are like Software Track
+SymPEPs but apply to areas other than the SymPy library itself. They may
+propose an implementation, but not to SymPy’s codebase; they require community
+consensus. Examples include procedures, guidelines, changes to the
+decision-making process, and changes to the tools or environment used in SymPy
+development. Any meta-SymPEP is also considered a Process SymPEP.
+
+## Purpose
+
+The SymPEP process and corresponding documents serve several purposes:
+
+- To decide, as a community, whether a proposed change should be made.
+- To decide on the process by which a change will be implemented, for example,
+  whether the change should be implemented in several stages, whether
+  intermediate releases are required for things like deprecations, and so on.
+- To document the above discussions and decisions for future reference.
+- To document the motivations for a change from the perspective of end users
+  who may be affected by it. Here "end users" means both users of the SymPy
+  library, developers working on parts of SymPy itself which may be affected by
+  the change, and developers of downstream libraries that depend on SymPy.
+
+Importantly, **a SymPEP is not documentation** for the proposed change. End
+user documentation should be included with the implementation of the feature in
+the corresponding SymPy documentation. This also means that other documentation
+should not rely on cross-referencing a SymPEP as if it were documentation for a
+feature. Even technical discussion of a feature should be documented separately
+from a SymPEP. The reason is that SymPEPs will necessarily include details that
+are irrelevant to the final implementation, such as discussions of alternate
+implementations which were rejected and discussions of implementation of the
+change.
+
+## SymPEP Workflow
+
+Discussions around a proposed change typically begin informally on the mailing
+list or SymPy issue/pull-request tracker. However, once it is decided that the
+formal SymPEP process is desired for a change, the discussion should move to
+the [SymPEP repository](https://github.com/sympy/SymPEPs) on GitHub.
+
+Not all significant changes or additions to SymPy require a SymPEP. If the
+change would benefit from extended discussion or needs a roadmap for
+implementation, a SymPEP should be considered. If unsure, consult with the
+community on the currently active discussion forum. Most changes to and
+decisions regarding SymPy can be made through issues and pull requests, so it
+is best to start with one or the other. Examples of things that likely need a
+SymPEP are: major version changes (1.X.X -> 2.0), large breaks in backwards
+compatibility, adding new primary packages within SymPy, adding hard
+dependencies, introduction of development practices or tools all developers
+need to adopt, etc. Long term SymPy policies and goals should also be discussed
+and developed as SymPEPs. Statements of these policies and goals should be
+incorporated into the SymPy documentation, as determined in the associated
+SymPEP.
+
+Every SymPEP must have at least one champion. The champion(s) are persons who
+are responsible for writing the SymPEP, leading the discussions around it, and
+developing consensus around it.
+
+The author of a SymPEP should fork the repository and create a draft pull
+request with a new SymPEP document based on the [SymPEP
+template](SymPEP-template). The SymPEP document may be named `SymPEP-XXXX.md`
+until a number is assigned. Once the author completes all information in the
+template and would like it to be reviewed, one of the [core SymPy
+developers](https://github.com/orgs/sympy/teams/developers-with-push-access-to-everything)
+should decide if the proposal is a legitimate proposal and then assign a number
+to the SymPEP, in which case `XXXX` should be replaced with the number with
+leading 0s. The pull request can then be moved to an open pull request and is
+ready for community feedback and discussion but remains in draft status. The
+person who assigns the number should also update the
+[README](https://github.com/sympy/SymPEPs/blob/main/README.md) of the main
+[SymPEP repository](https://github.com/sympy/SymPEPs) to list that number.
+Numbers should be assigned to SymPEPs as soon as it is determined that they are
+a legitimate proposal. If a SymPEP is not deemed necessary, the author should
+rework the SymPEP or move it to a normal pull request or issue on the main
+SymPy repository. If a SymPEP ends up being rejected or postponed, it keeps its
+number, as rejection or postponement status is still a discussion that should
+be documented in the SymPEP. SymPEP numbers should generally be assigned in
+increasing numeric order.
+
+The author should announce the SymPEP on the mailing list when the number is
+assigned to encourage discussion. Discussion on the SymPEP should primarily
+continue on the open pull request but may also take place in other places, such
+as [GitHub discussions](https://github.com/sympy/SymPEPs/discussions) or the
+[mailing list](http://groups.google.com/group/sympy) with the latter being
+favored. All discussions should be cross-referenced in the "Discussions"
+section of the SymPEP document.
+
+For each SymPEP, the community should decide whether a draft implementation of
+the change is needed before acceptance or not. For instance, if a SymPEP
+concerns the details of how a feature is implemented, it should be accepted
+before that happens. On the other hand, the community may decide that it cannot
+come to a consensus about a SymPEP until a draft implementation is proposed.
+
+Once the community reaches a consensus about a SymPEP, the status of a SymPEP
+should be updated (see below). This consensus may be to accept or to reject
+the SymPEP, or to defer it. Here the "community" refers to the broader
+community that has a stake in the SymPEP, not just the core SymPy developers.
+The purpose of the SymPEP process is not to create a cabal of decision makers,
+but rather to enhance the involvement of the broader SymPy community in the
+decision making process.
+
+### Status
+
+The **status** section at the top of the SymPEP document (see the
+[template](SymPEP-template)) should be updated according to the current status
+of the SymPEP. Do not confuse this with the "draft/open pull request state on
+Github".
+
+All SymPEPs should be created with the **Draft** status. **Draft** status
+SymPEPs generally live in a pull request.
+
+Eventually, after discussion, there may be a consensus that the SymPEP should
+be accepted; see the next section for details. At this point the status becomes
+**Accepted**.
+
+Once a SymPEP has been **Accepted**, the reference implementation must be
+completed. When the reference implementation is complete and incorporated into
+the main source code repository, the status will be changed to **Final**.
+
+A SymPEP can also be assigned status **Deferred**. The SymPEP author or a core
+developer can assign the SymPEP this status when no progress is being made on
+the SymPEP.
+
+A SymPEP can also be **Rejected**. Perhaps after all is said and done it was
+not a good idea. It is still important to have a record of this fact. The
+**Withdrawn** status is similar, it means that the SymPEP author themselves has
+decided that the SymPEP is actually a bad idea or has accepted that a competing
+proposal is a better alternative.
+
+SymPEPs can also be **Superseded** by a different SymPEP, rendering the
+original obsolete.
+
+Process SymPEPs may also have a status of **Active** if they are never meant to
+be completed, e.g. SymPEP 1 (this SymPEP).
+
+### Merging the SymPEP Document Pull Request
+
+Whenever a SymPEP moves from the **Draft** status to one of the other above
+statuses, the header should be updated, and the corresponding pull request
+should be merged. This way the document lives inside of the SymPEP repository
+proper. SymPEPs that are merged are not set in stone, and may be updated by
+future pull requests (although SymPEPs that are **Accepted** should generally
+not be significantly modified once they have reached that status). The purpose
+of merging is simply to make the SymPEP visible in the repository, even if it
+isn't yet accepted or rejected. SymPEP discussions that have stalled should
+also be merged, so that the SymPEP becomes visible in the SymPEP repository
+proper—again, discussion may be picked up again with a new pull request.
+
+### Accepting a SymPEP
+
+Once a SymPEP is Accepted by consensus of all interested contributors, an email
+should be sent to the [SymPy mailing
+list](http://groups.google.com/group/sympy) with a subject like:
+
+    Proposal to accept SymPEP #<number>: <title>
+
+In the body of your email, you should:
+
+- link to the latest version of the SymPEP,
+
+- briefly describe any major points of contention and how they were resolved,
+
+- include a sentence like: "If there are no substantive objections within 7
+  days from this email, then the SymPEP will be accepted; see SymPEP 1 for more
+  details."
+
+After you send the email, add the email thread to the Discussion section of the
+SymPEP, so that people can find it later.
+
+Generally the SymPEP author will be the one to send this email, but anyone can
+do it. The important thing is to make sure that everyone knows when a SymPEP is
+on the verge of acceptance, and give them a final chance to respond. If there's
+some special reason to extend this final comment period beyond 7 days, then
+that's fine, just say so in the email. It shouldn't be less than 7 days,
+because sometimes people are traveling or similar and need some time to
+respond.
+
+In general, the goal is to make sure that the community has consensus, not
+provide a rigid policy for people to try to game. When in doubt, err on the
+side of asking for more feedback and looking for opportunities to compromise.
+
+It is also important that SymPEPs are a mechanism to enable change as opposed
+to hindering and slowing change. The general approach of reviewers should be to
+help the author get it to a state that can be accepted or by offering
+alternative proposals. SymPEPs shouldn't be the place where energy and ideas
+die.
+
+If the final comment period passes without any substantive objections, then
+the SymPEP can officially be marked **Accepted**. A followup email should then
+be sent notifying the list. Update the SymPEP by setting its **Status** to
+**Accepted**, and its **Resolution** header to a link to your followup email.
+The SymPEP pull request should be merged at this time, if it hasn't been
+already, so that it is visible in the SymPEP repository proper.
+
+If there are substantive objections, then the SymPEP remains in Draft state,
+discussion continues as normal, and it can be proposed for acceptance again
+later once the objections are resolved.
+
+### SymPEP Steps
+
+This describes the general set of steps for a SymPEP:
+
+- From a discussion in the mailing list, an issue or PR, someone might suggest
+  a SymPEP being needed.
+- If discussion did not start on the mailing list, then move to the mailing
+  list (with cross-reference links) to gauge whether a SymPEP is appropriate to
+  pursue.
+- If it seems appropriate, make a draft pull request with your SymPEP. When your
+  draft is ready for a review, request a number assignment on the pull request.
+- A core developer other than the author(s) assigns the number and opens the
+  pull request (out of Github draft state).
+- Announce on the mailing list that the SymPEP is ready for review and
+  discussion. Suggest the primary forum for detailed discussion.
+- Detailed discussion takes place in the designated forum until consensus of
+  those participating is reached.
+- Once reached, announce the final draft of SymPEP on the mailing list and then
+  it can be 7 days or perhaps longer, if indicated, for anyone to object.
+- After the objection period, the status of the SymPEP is set to "Accepted" and
+  a core developer merges the pull request.
+- After implementation of the software changes or process changes, update the
+  SymPEP status to "Final".
+
+Deferment, rejection, or deemed inappropriate steps may occur along the way.
+
+## Discussion
+
+- [Initial mailing list post proposing
+  SymPEPs](https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/sympy/5RVMiWuCjoA/lr64dS1BBAAJ)
+- [sympy/SymPEPs#2](https://github.com/sympy/SymPEPs/pull/2)
+
+## Copyright
+
+This document has been placed in the public domain.