From 36f952123db6d01863db38e400033f2135841a21 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jack Ye Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:39:42 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 1/6] docs(governance): introduce incubator project concept --- docs/src/community/index.md | 45 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--------- 1 file changed, 35 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/src/community/index.md b/docs/src/community/index.md index a52b33d277c..f5440d871b4 100644 --- a/docs/src/community/index.md +++ b/docs/src/community/index.md @@ -63,10 +63,13 @@ Here is the list of current core projects: Subprojects are initiatives or repositories that extend Lance's functionality. They must align with Lance's overall mission and technical direction. -New subprojects can be created with PMC approval. +New subprojects are created by graduating from incubator projects through a PMC vote. -Subprojects have relaxed requirements for contribution, -where contributors may receive write access even if not maintainers. +Subprojects have relaxed requirements compared to core projects: + +- Contributors may receive write access even if not maintainers +- Merges may be allowed without review at maintainer discretion +- Release processes may be simplified compared to core projects Here is the list of current subprojects: @@ -79,16 +82,38 @@ Here is the list of current subprojects: | lance-trino | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-trino | Trino connector for Lance | | pglance | https://github.com/lance-format/pglance | PostgreSQL extension for Lance | -### Graduating a Subproject +### Incubator Projects + +Incubator projects are experimental or early-stage repositories in the Lance ecosystem. +Any PMC member can create an incubator project without a formal vote. +These projects provide a space for new ideas to develop before committing to full subproject standards. + +Incubator projects have the most relaxed requirements: + +- Anyone can be added as a committer by the project creator or existing committers +- Merges without review are allowed +- No formal release process is required + +**Important**: All incubator projects must include a prominent notice in their README indicating their incubating status, for example: -The PMC can vote to promote a subproject to a core project once the subproject has demonstrated aspects including: +> ⚠️ **Incubating Project**: This project is in incubation and is not yet an official Lance subproject. +> APIs and functionality may change without notice. -- Proper repository setup including CI, issue tracking, contributing guide, etc. -- Proper code standard enforcement including lint, testing, etc. -- Automated release mechanism -- Established production use cases +Any repository in the [lance-format](https://github.com/lance-format) organization that is not listed +as a core project or subproject above is considered an incubator project. + +### Graduating from Incubator to Subproject + +The PMC can vote to promote an incubator project to a subproject once the project has demonstrated: + +- Proper repository setup including CI, issue tracking, and contributing guide +- Proper code standard enforcement including lint and testing +- Established use cases - Community adoption outside the primary contributor -- Consistent contributions from the community to add new features and fix bugs +- At least one Lance maintainer actively maintaining the project + +**Note**: Upon graduation, committers who are not Lance maintainers will lose their commit privileges. +They are encouraged to become Lance maintainers through their contributions. ### Project License From b3c3342311d1d75ff1b51b9ace426cd4ae15f3ce Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jack Ye Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:47:56 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 2/6] commit --- docs/src/community/index.md | 69 +++++++++++++++++++------------------ 1 file changed, 35 insertions(+), 34 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/src/community/index.md b/docs/src/community/index.md index f5440d871b4..89a5360ec6a 100644 --- a/docs/src/community/index.md +++ b/docs/src/community/index.md @@ -43,27 +43,20 @@ Maintainer and PMC rosters information follow these guidelines: This section details the projects maintained in the Lance community. -### Core Projects +### Core Project -Core projects are the foundational repositories maintained by the Lance community with strict quality and release standards. -[Contributing Guidelines](./contributing.md), [Community Voting Process](./voting.md) and [Release Guidelines](./release.md) -are all applicable to these projects. +The core project is [lance](https://github.com/lance-format/lance), which contains the Lance file and table format specification, +Rust SDK (including Namespace Integration SDK), Python SDK, Java SDK, and Website. -Here is the list of current core projects: - -| Project Name | Repository | Contents | -|-------------------|------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| -| lance | https://github.com/lance-format/lance | Lance file and table format specification, Rust SDK (including Namespace Integration SDK), Python SDK, Java SDK, Website | -| lance-namespace | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-namespace | Lance namespace format specification, Rust/Python/Java Codegen SDKs, Java/Python Integration SDK | -| lance-python-docs | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-python-docs | Lance Python SDK generated docs and integration hook with readthedocs | -| lance-ray | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-ray | Ray integration for Lance | -| lance-spark | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-spark | Apache Spark connector for Lance | +The core project is maintained by the Lance community with strict quality and release standards. +[Contributing Guidelines](./contributing.md), [Community Voting Process](./voting.md) and [Release Guidelines](./release.md) +are all applicable to the core project. ### Subprojects Subprojects are initiatives or repositories that extend Lance's functionality. They must align with Lance's overall mission and technical direction. -New subprojects are created by graduating from incubator projects through a PMC vote. +New subprojects are created by graduating from incubating subprojects through a PMC vote. Subprojects have relaxed requirements compared to core projects: @@ -73,38 +66,46 @@ Subprojects have relaxed requirements compared to core projects: Here is the list of current subprojects: -| Project Name | Repository | Contents | -|-------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| -| lance-data-viewer | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-data-viewer | Read-only web interface for browsing Lance datasets | -| lance-duckdb | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-duckdb | DuckDB extension for Lance | -| lance-flink | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-flink | Apache Flink connector for Lance | -| lance-graph | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-graph | Cypher-capable graph query engine on top of Lance | -| lance-trino | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-trino | Trino connector for Lance | -| pglance | https://github.com/lance-format/pglance | PostgreSQL extension for Lance | +| Project Name | Repository | Contents | +|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| +| lance-duckdb | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-duckdb | DuckDB extension for Lance | +| lance-huggingface | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-huggingface | Hugging Face integration for Lance | +| lance-namespace | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-namespace | Lance namespace format specification, Rust/Python/Java Codegen SDKs | +| lance-python-docs | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-python-docs | Lance Python SDK generated docs and integration hook with readthedocs | +| lance-ray | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-ray | Ray integration for Lance | +| lance-spark | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-spark | Apache Spark connector for Lance | -### Incubator Projects +### Incubating Subprojects -Incubator projects are experimental or early-stage repositories in the Lance ecosystem. -Any PMC member can create an incubator project without a formal vote. +Incubating subprojects are experimental or early-stage repositories in the Lance ecosystem. +Any PMC member can create an incubating subproject without a formal vote. These projects provide a space for new ideas to develop before committing to full subproject standards. -Incubator projects have the most relaxed requirements: +Incubating subprojects have the most relaxed requirements: -- Anyone can be added as a committer by the project creator or existing committers +- Anyone can be added as a committer by the project creator or existing PMC members - Merges without review are allowed - No formal release process is required -**Important**: All incubator projects must include a prominent notice in their README indicating their incubating status, for example: +**Important**: All incubating subprojects must include a prominent notice in their README with the following exact notice: -> ⚠️ **Incubating Project**: This project is in incubation and is not yet an official Lance subproject. -> APIs and functionality may change without notice. +> ⚠️ **Incubating Subproject**: This project is in incubation and is not yet an official Lance subproject. +> APIs and functionality may change without notice. Use it in production at your own risk. -Any repository in the [lance-format](https://github.com/lance-format) organization that is not listed -as a core project or subproject above is considered an incubator project. +Here is the list of current incubating subprojects: + +| Project Name | Repository | Contents | +|-------------------|---------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------| +| lance-context | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-context | Manage Multimodal Agentic Context Lifecycle with Lance | +| lance-data-viewer | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-data-viewer | Read-only web interface for browsing Lance datasets | +| lance-flink | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-flink | Apache Flink connector for Lance | +| lance-graph | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-graph | Cypher-capable graph query engine on top of Lance | +| lance-trino | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-trino | Trino connector for Lance | +| pglance | https://github.com/lance-format/pglance | PostgreSQL extension for Lance | -### Graduating from Incubator to Subproject +### Graduating from Incubating to Subproject -The PMC can vote to promote an incubator project to a subproject once the project has demonstrated: +The PMC can vote to promote an incubating subproject to a subproject once the project has demonstrated: - Proper repository setup including CI, issue tracking, and contributing guide - Proper code standard enforcement including lint and testing From 90e03157e2b2e7a7768233a165129bad5fbc8fb4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jack Ye Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2026 21:53:08 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 3/6] commit --- docs/src/community/index.md | 4 ++-- docs/src/community/voting.md | 12 ++++++------ 2 files changed, 8 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/src/community/index.md b/docs/src/community/index.md index 89a5360ec6a..d104f9e4c51 100644 --- a/docs/src/community/index.md +++ b/docs/src/community/index.md @@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ This section details the projects maintained in the Lance community. ### Core Project -The core project is [lance](https://github.com/lance-format/lance), which contains the Lance file and table format specification, -Rust SDK (including Namespace Integration SDK), Python SDK, Java SDK, and Website. +[lance](https://github.com/lance-format/lance) is the core project of the lance-format GitHub Organization, +which hosts most of the development on the table and file format, Rust SDK, Python and Java binding SDKs, documentation and discussions. The core project is maintained by the Lance community with strict quality and release standards. [Contributing Guidelines](./contributing.md), [Community Voting Process](./voting.md) and [Release Guidelines](./release.md) diff --git a/docs/src/community/voting.md b/docs/src/community/voting.md index 577642dd01a..89b63a0fde9 100644 --- a/docs/src/community/voting.md +++ b/docs/src/community/voting.md @@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ A **-1** binding vote is considered a veto for all decision types. Vetoes: |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------|----------------| | Governance process and structure modifications | 3 | PMC | Private Mailing List | 1 week | | Changes in maintainers and PMC rosters | 3 (excluding the people proposed for change) | PMC | Private Mailing List | 1 week | -| Subproject creation and management | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 3 days | -| Subproject graduation to core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 1 week | -| Release a new stable major version of core projects | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 1 week | -| Release a new stable minor version of core projects | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 3 days | -| Release a new stable patch version of core projects | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | +| Incubating subproject graduation to subproject | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 3 days | +| Subproject management | 1 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | +| Release a new stable major version of core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 1 week | +| Release a new stable minor version of core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 3 days | +| Release a new stable patch version of core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | | Lance Format Specification modifications | 3 (excluding proposer) | PMC | GitHub Discussions (with a GitHub PR) | 1 week | -| Code modifications in core projects (except changes to format specifications) | 1 (excluding proposer) | Maintainers with write access | GitHub PR | N/A | +| Code modifications in core project (except changes to format specifications) | 1 (excluding proposer) | Maintainers with write access | GitHub PR | N/A | | Release a new stable version of subprojects | 1 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | | Code modifications in subprojects | 1 (excluding proposer) | Contributors with write access | GitHub PR | N/A | From 1f36d057cea06a36f0666b6245a59f34b90f2a28 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jack Ye Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:06:02 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 4/6] commit --- docs/src/community/index.md | 4 ++-- 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 2 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/src/community/index.md b/docs/src/community/index.md index d104f9e4c51..4bf1ca30842 100644 --- a/docs/src/community/index.md +++ b/docs/src/community/index.md @@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ Here is the list of current subprojects: | lance-duckdb | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-duckdb | DuckDB extension for Lance | | lance-huggingface | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-huggingface | Hugging Face integration for Lance | | lance-namespace | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-namespace | Lance namespace format specification, Rust/Python/Java Codegen SDKs | +| lance-namespace-impls | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-namespace-impls | Lance Namespace Implementations - Apache Hive, Apache Polaris, Apache Gravitino, Unity Catalog, AWS Glue and more | | lance-python-docs | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-python-docs | Lance Python SDK generated docs and integration hook with readthedocs | | lance-ray | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-ray | Ray integration for Lance | | lance-spark | https://github.com/lance-format/lance-spark | Apache Spark connector for Lance | @@ -113,8 +114,7 @@ The PMC can vote to promote an incubating subproject to a subproject once the pr - Community adoption outside the primary contributor - At least one Lance maintainer actively maintaining the project -**Note**: Upon graduation, committers who are not Lance maintainers will lose their commit privileges. -They are encouraged to become Lance maintainers through their contributions. +Contributors with write access will retain their access after graduation to subproject. ### Project License From 662e5689ce3062357ee4a0a247162127613cff5b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jack Ye Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:14:27 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 5/6] Update docs/src/community/voting.md Co-authored-by: Weston Pace --- docs/src/community/voting.md | 2 +- 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/docs/src/community/voting.md b/docs/src/community/voting.md index 89b63a0fde9..8a33fb1e4c3 100644 --- a/docs/src/community/voting.md +++ b/docs/src/community/voting.md @@ -48,6 +48,6 @@ A **-1** binding vote is considered a veto for all decision types. Vetoes: | Release a new stable minor version of core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 3 days | | Release a new stable patch version of core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | | Lance Format Specification modifications | 3 (excluding proposer) | PMC | GitHub Discussions (with a GitHub PR) | 1 week | -| Code modifications in core project (except changes to format specifications) | 1 (excluding proposer) | Maintainers with write access | GitHub PR | N/A | +| Code modifications in the core project (except changes to format specifications) | 1 (excluding proposer) | Maintainers with write access | GitHub PR | N/A | | Release a new stable version of subprojects | 1 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | | Code modifications in subprojects | 1 (excluding proposer) | Contributors with write access | GitHub PR | N/A | From 5ae8673cb9a562701554e2b1df2e1ec2f3824395 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Jack Ye Date: Wed, 11 Feb 2026 12:14:38 -0800 Subject: [PATCH 6/6] Update docs/src/community/voting.md Co-authored-by: Weston Pace --- docs/src/community/voting.md | 6 +++--- 1 file changed, 3 insertions(+), 3 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/src/community/voting.md b/docs/src/community/voting.md index 8a33fb1e4c3..d124c0db1b3 100644 --- a/docs/src/community/voting.md +++ b/docs/src/community/voting.md @@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ A **-1** binding vote is considered a veto for all decision types. Vetoes: | Changes in maintainers and PMC rosters | 3 (excluding the people proposed for change) | PMC | Private Mailing List | 1 week | | Incubating subproject graduation to subproject | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 3 days | | Subproject management | 1 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | -| Release a new stable major version of core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 1 week | -| Release a new stable minor version of core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 3 days | -| Release a new stable patch version of core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | +| Release a new stable major version of the core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 1 week | +| Release a new stable minor version of the core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | 3 days | +| Release a new stable patch version of the core project | 3 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A | | Lance Format Specification modifications | 3 (excluding proposer) | PMC | GitHub Discussions (with a GitHub PR) | 1 week | | Code modifications in the core project (except changes to format specifications) | 1 (excluding proposer) | Maintainers with write access | GitHub PR | N/A | | Release a new stable version of subprojects | 1 | PMC | GitHub Discussions | N/A |