MapGuide RFC 83 - Project Sponsorship

This page contains an change request (RFC) for the MapGuide Open Source project. More MapGuide RFCs can be found on the RFCs page.

Status

RFC Template Version	(1.0)
Submission Date	August 25, 2009
Last Modified	Trevor Wekel Timestamp
Author	Trevor Wekel
RFC Status	draft
Implementation Status	under development
Proposed Milestone	2.2
Assigned PSC guide(s)	Trevor Wekel
Voting History	(vote date)
+1
+0
-0
-1
no vote

Overview

This RFC details the uses, process, and benefits of project sponsorship for MapGuide Open Source.

Motivation

Project sponsorship is a key aspect to maintaining any open source project. It gives the PSC funding to help move the project forward. At the moment, MapGuide Open Source is relying on donations of time from the community and the project steering committee.

This is working to some extent but many individuals can only donate part of their time. This may be having an effect on the MapGuide Open Source release cycle. Crispin at !1Spatial recently posted a status inquiry on MapGuide Internals list regarding the 2.1 release date:

Please take this as a positive request for information! The MapGuide 2.1 release was originally scheduled for July 2008, then October 2008 and then moved to the current April 2008 (4 months late).

Based on Crispin's information, MapGuide 2.1 is more than a year behind schedule. This is problematic. Sponsorship funding would give the PSC a pool of funds to work with to help speed up the development and release lifecycle of MapGuide Open Source.

Proposed Solution

The following solution has been shamelessly compiled from the sponsorship pages of the ​GDAL/OGR, ​GRASS GIS, and ​OpenLayers projects.

Uses

Project sponsorship funding would be used for the following purposes under the direction of the PSC:

• Addressing bug reports - reproducing then fixing or passing on to another developer.
• Extending, and running the test suite.
• Compiling and managing appropriate data sets for testing.
• Improving documentation.
• Other improvements to the software.
• General user support on the mailing list.
• Rental of hardware and/or virtual machines for a multi-platform build and test environment.
• Maintenance and setup of a code collaboration/code review tool.

Benefits

Sponsoring MapGuide provides the following benefits:

1. Ensures the sustainability and health of the GDAL/OGR project.
2. All sponsors will be listed on the project Sponsors page, ordered by contribution class (Platinum, Gold, Silver) with a link back to the sponsor. Silver sponsors and above may include a logo. Platinum sponsors may also have a logo appearing on the OSGeo main page.
3. Sponsors will be permitted to indicate they are project sponsors in web and other promotional materials, and use any future MapGuide Open Source logo.
4. Sponsor input on project focus and direction will be solicited via a survey.
5. Sponsors will received a degree of priority in processing of bug reports by any maintainer hired with sponsorship funds.
6. Sponsors will receive a detailed report annually on the use of sponsorship funds.

Process

Sponsors can sponsor MapGuide for any amount of money of at least $500 USD. At or above the following levels a sponsor will be designated as being one of the following class:

1. $27000+ USD: Platinum Sponsor
2. $9000+ USD: Gold Sponsor
3. $3000+ USD: Silver Sponsor

Sponsorships last one year, after which they may be continuing with a new payment, or allowed to lapse. OSGeo is planning to be US 501(c)3 charity and sponsorships will be eligible as a charitable contribution for US taxpayers. Appropriate receipts can be issued when needed.

Implications

MapGuide will continue to grow and flourish as an open source project.

Test Plan

Funding/Resources

Supplied by MapGuide sponsors.