You cannot select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
520 lines
30 KiB
Markdown
520 lines
30 KiB
Markdown
---
|
|
title: "Spec Change Proposals"
|
|
weight: 60
|
|
type: docs
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
If you are interested in submitting a change to the Matrix
|
|
Specification, please take note of the following guidelines.
|
|
|
|
Most changes to the Specification require a formal proposal. Bug fixes,
|
|
typos, and clarifications to existing behaviour do not need proposals -
|
|
see the [contributing
|
|
guide](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.rst)
|
|
for more information on what does and does not need a proposal.
|
|
|
|
The proposal process involves some technical writing, having it reviewed
|
|
by everyone, having the proposal being accepted, then actually having
|
|
your ideas implemented as committed changes to the [Specification
|
|
repository](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc).
|
|
|
|
Meet the [members of the Core Team](https://matrix.org/foundation), a
|
|
group of individuals tasked with ensuring the spec process is as smooth
|
|
and painless as possible. Members of the Spec Core Team will do their
|
|
best to participate in discussion, summarise when things become
|
|
long-winded, and generally try to act towards the benefit of everyone.
|
|
As a majority, team members have the ability to change the state of a
|
|
proposal, and individually have the final say in proposal discussion.
|
|
|
|
## Guiding Principles
|
|
|
|
Proposals **must** act to the greater benefit of the entire Matrix
|
|
ecosystem, rather than benefiting or privileging any single player or
|
|
subset of players -and must not contain any patent encumbered
|
|
intellectual property. Members of the Core Team pledge to act as a
|
|
neutral custodian for Matrix on behalf of the whole ecosystem.
|
|
|
|
For clarity: the Matrix ecosystem is anyone who uses the Matrix
|
|
protocol. That includes client users, server admins, client developers,
|
|
bot developers, bridge and application service developers, users and
|
|
admins who are indirectly using Matrix via 3rd party networks which
|
|
happen to be bridged, server developers, room moderators and admins,
|
|
companies/projects building products or services on Matrix, spec
|
|
contributors, translators, and those who created it in the first place.
|
|
|
|
"Greater benefit" could include maximising:
|
|
|
|
- the number of end-users reachable on the open Matrix network
|
|
- the number of regular users on the Matrix network (e.g. 30-day
|
|
retained federated users)
|
|
- the number of online servers in the open federation
|
|
- the number of developers building on Matrix
|
|
- the number of independent implementations which use Matrix
|
|
- the number of bridged end-users reachable on the open Matrix network
|
|
- the signal-to-noise ratio of the content on the open Matrix network
|
|
(i.e. minimising spam)
|
|
- the ability for users to discover content on their terms (empowering
|
|
them to select what to see and what not to see)
|
|
- the quality and utility of the Matrix spec (as defined by ease and
|
|
ability with which a developer can implement spec-compliant clients,
|
|
servers, bots, bridges, and other integrations without needing to
|
|
refer to any other external material)
|
|
|
|
In addition, proposal authors are expected to uphold the following
|
|
values in their proposed changes to the Matrix protocol:
|
|
|
|
- Supporting the whole long-term ecosystem rather than individual
|
|
stakeholder gain
|
|
- Openness rather than proprietary lock-in
|
|
- Interoperability rather than fragmentation
|
|
- Cross-platform rather than platform-specific
|
|
- Collaboration rather than competition
|
|
- Accessibility rather than elitism
|
|
- Transparency rather than stealth
|
|
- Empathy rather than contrariness
|
|
- Pragmatism rather than perfection
|
|
- Proof rather than conjecture
|
|
|
|
Please [see
|
|
MSC1779](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/blob/master/proposals/1779-open-governance.md)
|
|
for full details of the project's Guiding Principles.
|
|
|
|
## Technical notes
|
|
|
|
Proposals **must** develop Matrix as a layered protocol: with new
|
|
features building on layers of shared abstractions rather than
|
|
introducing tight vertical coupling within the stack. This ensures that
|
|
new features can evolve rapidly by building on existing layers and
|
|
swapping out old features without impacting the rest of the stack or
|
|
requiring substantial upgrades to the whole ecosystem. This is critical
|
|
for Matrix to rapidly evolve and compete effectively with centralised
|
|
systems, despite being a federated protocol.
|
|
|
|
For instance, new features should be implemented using the highest layer
|
|
abstractions possible (e.g. new event types, which layer on top of the
|
|
existing room semantics, and so don't even require any API changes).
|
|
Failing that, the next recourse would be backwards-compatible changes to
|
|
the next layer down (e.g. room APIs); failing that, considering changes
|
|
to the format of events or the DAG; etc. It would be a very unusual
|
|
feature which doesn't build on the existing infrastructure provided by
|
|
the spec and instead created new primitives or low level APIs.
|
|
|
|
Backwards compatibility is very important for Matrix, but not at the
|
|
expense of hindering the protocol's evolution. Backwards incompatible
|
|
changes to endpoints are allowed when no other alternative exists, and
|
|
must be versioned under a new major release of the API. Backwards
|
|
incompatible changes to the room algorithm are also allowed when no
|
|
other alternative exists, and must be versioned under a new version of
|
|
the room algorithm.
|
|
|
|
There is sometimes a dilemma over where to include higher level
|
|
features: for instance, should video conferencing be formalised in the
|
|
spec, or should it be implemented via widgets? Should reputation systems
|
|
be specified? Should search engine behaviour be specified?
|
|
|
|
There is no universal answer to this, but the following guidelines
|
|
should be applied:
|
|
|
|
1. If the feature would benefit the whole Matrix ecosystem and is
|
|
aligned with the guiding principles above, then it should be
|
|
supported by the spec.
|
|
2. If the spec already makes the feature possible without changing any
|
|
of the implementations and spec, then it may not need to be added to
|
|
the spec.
|
|
3. However, if the best user experience for a feature does require
|
|
custom implementation behaviour then the behaviour should be defined
|
|
in the spec such that all implementations may implement it.
|
|
4. However, the spec must never add dependencies on
|
|
unspecified/nonstandardised 3rd party behaviour.
|
|
|
|
As a worked example:
|
|
|
|
1. Video conferencing is clearly a feature which would benefit the
|
|
whole ecosystem, and so the spec should find a way to make it
|
|
happen.
|
|
2. Video conferencing can be achieved by widgets without requiring any
|
|
compulsory changes to clients nor servers to work, and so could be
|
|
omitted from the spec.
|
|
3. A better experience could be achieved by embedding Jitsi natively
|
|
into clients rather than using a widget...
|
|
4. ...except that would add a dependency on unspecified/nonstandardised
|
|
3rd party behaviour, so must not be added to the spec.
|
|
|
|
Therefore, our two options in the specific case of video conferencing
|
|
are either to spec SFU conferencing semantics for WebRTC (or refer to an
|
|
existing spec for doing so), or to keep it as a widget-based approach
|
|
(optionally with widget extensions specific for more deeply integrating
|
|
video conferencing use cases).
|
|
|
|
As an alternative example: it's very unlikely that "how to visualise
|
|
Magnetic Resonance Imaging data over Matrix" would ever be added to the
|
|
Matrix spec (other than perhaps a custom event type in a wider
|
|
standardised Matrix event registry) given that the spec's existing
|
|
primitives of file transfer and extensible events (MSC1767) give
|
|
excellent tools for transferring and visualising arbitrary rich data.
|
|
|
|
Supporting public search engines are likely to not require custom spec
|
|
features (other than possibly better bulk access APIs), given they can
|
|
be implemented as clients using the existing CS API. An exception could
|
|
be API features required by decentralised search infrastructure
|
|
(avoiding centralisation of power by a centralised search engine).
|
|
|
|
Features such as reactions, threaded messages, editable messages,
|
|
spam/abuse/content filtering (and reputation systems), are all features
|
|
which would clearly benefit the whole Matrix ecosystem, and cannot be
|
|
implemented in an interoperable way using the current spec; so they
|
|
necessitate a spec change.
|
|
|
|
## Process
|
|
|
|
The process for submitting a Matrix Spec Change (MSC) Proposal in detail
|
|
is as follows:
|
|
|
|
- Create a first draft of your proposal using [GitHub-flavored
|
|
Markdown](https://help.github.com/articles/basic-writing-and-formatting-syntax/)
|
|
- In the document, clearly state the problem being solved, and the
|
|
possible solutions being proposed for solving it and their
|
|
respective trade-offs.
|
|
- Proposal documents are intended to be as lightweight and
|
|
flexible as the author desires; there is no formal template; the
|
|
intention is to iterate as quickly as possible to get to a good
|
|
design.
|
|
- However, a [template with suggested
|
|
headers](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/blob/master/proposals/0000-proposal-template.md)
|
|
is available to get you started if necessary.
|
|
- Take care in creating your proposal. Specify your intended
|
|
changes, and give reasoning to back them up. Changes without
|
|
justification will likely be poorly received by the community.
|
|
- Fork and make a PR to the
|
|
[matrix-doc](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc) repository.
|
|
The ID of your PR will become the MSC ID for the lifetime of your
|
|
proposal.
|
|
- The proposal must live in the `proposals/` directory with a
|
|
filename that follows the format `1234-my-new-proposal.md` where
|
|
`1234` is the MSC ID.
|
|
- Your PR description must include a link to the rendered Markdown
|
|
document and a summary of the proposal.
|
|
- It is often very helpful to link any related MSCs or [matrix-doc
|
|
issues](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues) to give
|
|
context for the proposal.
|
|
- Additionally, please be sure to sign off your proposal PR as per
|
|
the guidelines listed on
|
|
[CONTRIBUTING.rst](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.rst).
|
|
- Gather feedback as widely as possible.
|
|
- The aim is to get maximum consensus towards an optimal solution.
|
|
Sometimes trade-offs are required to meet this goal. Decisions
|
|
should be made to the benefit of all major use cases.
|
|
- A good place to ask for feedback on a specific proposal is
|
|
[\#matrix-spec:matrix.org](https://matrix.to/#/#matrix-spec:matrix.org).
|
|
If preferred, an alternative room can be created and advertised
|
|
in \#matrix-spec:matrix.org. Please also link to the room in
|
|
your PR description.
|
|
- For additional discussion areas, know that
|
|
\#matrix-dev:matrix.org is for developers using existing Matrix
|
|
APIs, \#matrix:matrix.org is for users trying to run Matrix apps
|
|
(clients & servers) and \#matrix-architecture:matrix.org is for
|
|
cross-cutting discussion of Matrix's architectural design.
|
|
- The point of the spec proposal process is to be collaborative
|
|
rather than competitive, and to try to solve the problem in
|
|
question with the optimal set of trade-offs. The author should
|
|
neutrally gather the various viewpoints and get consensus, but
|
|
this can sometimes be time-consuming (or the author may be
|
|
biased), in which case an impartial 'shepherd' can be assigned
|
|
to help guide the proposal through this process instead. A
|
|
shepherd is typically a neutral party from the Spec Core Team or
|
|
an experienced member of the community. There is no formal
|
|
process for assignment. Simply ask for a shepherd to help get
|
|
your proposal through and one will be assigned based on
|
|
availability. Having a shepherd is not a requirement for
|
|
proposal acceptance.
|
|
- Members of the Spec Core Team and community will review and discuss
|
|
the PR in the comments and in relevant rooms on Matrix. Discussion
|
|
outside of GitHub should be summarised in a comment on the PR.
|
|
- When a member of the Spec Core Team believes that no new discussion
|
|
points are being made, and the proposal has suitable evidence of
|
|
working (see [implementing a proposal](#implementing-a-proposal)
|
|
below), they will propose a motion for a final comment period (FCP),
|
|
along with a *disposition* of either merge, close or postpone. This
|
|
FCP is provided to allow a short period of time for any invested
|
|
party to provide a final objection before a major decision is made.
|
|
If sufficient reasoning is given, an FCP can be cancelled. It is
|
|
often preceded by a comment summarising the current state of the
|
|
discussion, along with reasoning for its occurrence.
|
|
- A concern can be raised by a Spec Core Team member at any time,
|
|
which will block an FCP from beginning. An FCP will only begin when
|
|
75% of the members of the Spec Core Team agree on its outcome, and
|
|
all existing concerns have been resolved.
|
|
- The FCP will then begin and last for 5 days, giving anyone else some
|
|
time to speak up before it concludes. On its conclusion, the
|
|
disposition of the FCP will be carried out. If sufficient reasoning
|
|
against the disposition is raised, the FCP can be cancelled and the
|
|
MSC will continue to evolve accordingly.
|
|
- Once the proposal has been accepted and merged, it is time to submit
|
|
the actual change to the Specification that your proposal reasoned
|
|
about. This is known as a spec PR. However in order for the spec PR
|
|
to be accepted, an implementation **must** be shown to prove that it
|
|
works well in practice. A link to the implementation should be
|
|
included in the PR description. In addition, any significant
|
|
unforeseen changes to the original idea found during this process
|
|
will warrant another MSC. Any minor, non-fundamental changes are
|
|
allowed but **must** be documented in the original proposal
|
|
document. This ensures that someone reading a proposal in the future
|
|
doesn't assume old information wasn't merged into the spec.
|
|
- Similar to the proposal PR, please sign off the spec PR as per
|
|
the guidelines on
|
|
[CONTRIBUTING.rst](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.rst).
|
|
- Your PR will then be reviewed and hopefully merged on the grounds it
|
|
is implemented sufficiently. If so, then give yourself a pat on the
|
|
back knowing you've contributed to the Matrix protocol for the
|
|
benefit of users and developers alike :)
|
|
|
|
The process for handling proposals is shown visually in the following
|
|
diagram. Note that the lifetime of a proposal is tracked through the
|
|
corresponding labels for each stage on the
|
|
[matrix-doc](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc) issue and pull
|
|
request trackers.
|
|
|
|
```
|
|
+ +
|
|
Proposals | Spec PRs | Additional States
|
|
+-------+ | +------+ | +---------------+
|
|
| |
|
|
+----------------------+ | +---------+ | +-----------+
|
|
| | | | | | | |
|
|
| Proposal | | +------= Spec PR | | | Postponed |
|
|
| Drafting and Initial | | | | Missing | | | |
|
|
| Feedback Gathering | | | | | | +-----------+
|
|
| | | | +----+----+ |
|
|
+----------+-----------+ | | | | +----------+
|
|
| | | v | | |
|
|
v | | +-----------------+ | | Closed |
|
|
+-------------------+ | | | | | | |
|
|
| | | | | Spec PR Created | | +----------+
|
|
| Proposal PR | | | | and In Review | |
|
|
| In Review | | | | | |
|
|
| | | | +--------+--------+ |
|
|
+---------+---------+ | | | |
|
|
| | | v |
|
|
v | | +-----------+ |
|
|
+----------------------+ | | | | |
|
|
| | | | | Spec PR | |
|
|
| Proposed Final | | | | Merged! | |
|
|
| Comment Period | | | | | |
|
|
| | | | +-----------+ |
|
|
+----------+-----------+ | | |
|
|
| | | |
|
|
v | | |
|
|
+----------------------+ | | |
|
|
| | | | |
|
|
| Final Comment Period | | | |
|
|
| | | | |
|
|
+----------+-----------+ | | |
|
|
| | | |
|
|
v | | |
|
|
+----------------------+ | | |
|
|
| | | | |
|
|
| Final Comment Period | | | |
|
|
| Complete | | | |
|
|
| | | | |
|
|
+----------+-----------+ | | |
|
|
| | | |
|
|
+-----------------+ |
|
|
| |
|
|
+ +
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
## Lifetime States
|
|
|
|
**Note:** All labels are to be placed on the proposal PR.
|
|
|
|
| Name | GitHub Label | Description |
|
|
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|
|
| Proposal Drafting and Feedback | [No label](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+-label%3Aabandoned+-label%3Afinal-comment-period+-label%3Afinished-final-comment-period+-label%3Amerged+-label%3Aobsolete+-label%3Aproposal-postponed+-label%3Aproposed-final-comment-period+-label%3Aproposal-in-review+-label%3Aspec-pr-in-review+-label%3Aspec-pr-missing) | A proposal document which is still work-in-progress but is being shared to incorporate feedback. Please prefix your proposal's title with `[WIP]` to make it easier for reviewers to skim their notifications list. |
|
|
| Proposal In Review | [proposal-in-review](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Aproposal-in-review) | A proposal document which is now ready and waiting for review by the Spec Core Team and community |
|
|
| Proposed Final Comment Period | [proposed-final-comment-period](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Aproposed-final-comment-period+) | Currently awaiting signoff of a 75% majority of team members in order to enter the final comment period |
|
|
| Final Comment Period | [final-comment-period](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Afinal-comment-period+) | A proposal document which has reached final comment period either for merge, closure or postponement |
|
|
| Final Comment Period Complete | [finished-final-comment-period](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Afinished-final-comment-period+) | The final comment period has been completed. Waiting for a demonstration implementation |
|
|
| Spec PR Missing | [spec-pr-missing](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Aspec-pr-missing) | The proposal has been agreed, and proven with a demonstration implementation. Waiting for a PR against the Spec |
|
|
| Spec PR In Review | [spec-pr-in-review](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Aspec-pr-in-review+) | The spec PR has been written, and is currently under review |
|
|
| Spec PR Merged | [merged](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Amerged) | A proposal with a sufficient working implementation and whose Spec PR has been merged! |
|
|
| Postponed | [proposal-postponed](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Aproposal-postponed+) | A proposal that is temporarily blocked or a feature that may not be useful currently but perhaps sometime in the future |
|
|
| Abandoned | [abandoned](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Aabandoned) | A proposal where the author/shepherd is not responsive |
|
|
| Obsolete | [obsolete](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/issues?q=label%3Aproposal+label%3Aobsolete+) | A proposal which has been made obsolete by another proposal or decision elsewhere. |
|
|
|
|
## Categories
|
|
|
|
We use category labels on MSCs to place them into a track of work. The
|
|
Spec Core Team decides which of the tracks they are focusing on for the
|
|
next while and generally makes an effort to pull MSCs out of that
|
|
category when possible.
|
|
|
|
The current categories are:
|
|
|
|
| Name | GitHub Label | Description |
|
|
|-------------|------------------|---------------------------------------|
|
|
| Core | kind:core | Important for the protocol's success. |
|
|
| Feature | kind:feature | Nice to have additions to the spec. |
|
|
| Maintenance | kind:maintenance | Fixes or clarifies existing spec. |
|
|
|
|
Some examples of core MSCs would be aggregations, cross-signing, and
|
|
groups/communities. These are the sorts of things that if not
|
|
implemented could cause the protocol to fail or become second-class.
|
|
Features would be areas like enhanced media APIs, new transports, and
|
|
bookmarks in comparison. Finally, maintenance MSCs would include
|
|
improving error codes, clarifying what is required of an API, and adding
|
|
properties to an API which makes it easier to use.
|
|
|
|
The Spec Core Team assigns a category to each MSC based on the
|
|
descriptions above. This can mean that new MSCs get categorized into an
|
|
area the team isn't focused on, though that can always change as
|
|
priorities evolve. We still encourage that MSCs be opened, even if not
|
|
the focus for the time being, as they can still make progress and even
|
|
be merged without the Spec Core Team focusing on them specifically.
|
|
|
|
## Implementing a proposal
|
|
|
|
As part of the proposal process the spec core team will require evidence
|
|
of the MSC working in order for it to move into FCP. This can usually be
|
|
a branch/pull request to whichever implementation of choice that proves
|
|
the MSC works in practice, though in some cases the MSC itself will be
|
|
small enough to be considered proven. Where it's unclear if an MSC will
|
|
require an implementation proof, ask in
|
|
[\#matrix-spec:matrix.org](https://matrix.to/#/#matrix-spec:matrix.org).
|
|
|
|
### Early release of an MSC/idea
|
|
|
|
To help facilitate early releases of software dependent on a spec
|
|
release, implementations are required to use the following process to
|
|
ensure that the official Matrix namespace is not cluttered with
|
|
development or testing data.
|
|
|
|
Note
|
|
|
|
Unreleased implementations (including proofs-of-concept demonstrating
|
|
that a particular MSC works) do not have to follow this process.
|
|
|
|
1. Have an idea for a feature.
|
|
2. Implement the feature using unstable endpoints, vendor prefixes, and
|
|
unstable feature flags as appropriate.
|
|
- When using unstable endpoints, they MUST include a vendor
|
|
prefix. For example:
|
|
`/_matrix/client/unstable/com.example/login`. Vendor prefixes
|
|
throughout Matrix always use the Java package naming convention.
|
|
The MSC for the feature should identify which preferred vendor
|
|
prefix is to be used by early adopters.
|
|
- Note that unstable namespaces do not automatically inherit
|
|
endpoints from stable namespaces: for example, the fact that
|
|
`/_matrix/client/r0/sync` exists does not imply that
|
|
`/_matrix/client/unstable/com.example/sync` exists.
|
|
- If the client needs to be sure the server supports the feature,
|
|
an unstable feature flag that MUST be vendor prefixed is to be
|
|
used. This kind of flag shows up in the `unstable_features`
|
|
section of `/versions` as, for example, `com.example.new_login`.
|
|
The MSC for the feature should identify which preferred feature
|
|
flag is to be used by early adopters.
|
|
- When using this approach correctly, the implementation can
|
|
ship/release the feature at any time, so long as the
|
|
implementation is able to accept the technical debt that results
|
|
from needing to provide adequate backwards and forwards
|
|
compatibility. The implementation MUST support the flag (and
|
|
server-side implementation) disappearing and be generally safe
|
|
for users. Note that implementations early in the MSC review
|
|
process may also be required to provide backwards compatibility
|
|
with earlier editions of the proposal.
|
|
- If the implementation cannot support the technical debt (or if
|
|
it's impossible to provide forwards/backwards compatibility -
|
|
e.g. a user authentication change which can't be safely rolled
|
|
back), the implementation should not attempt to implement the
|
|
feature and should instead wait for a spec release.
|
|
- If at any point after early release, the idea changes in a
|
|
backwards-incompatible way, the feature flag should also change
|
|
so that implementations can adapt as needed.
|
|
3. In parallel, or ahead of implementation, open an MSC and solicit
|
|
review per above.
|
|
4. Before FCP can be called, the Spec Core Team will require evidence
|
|
of the MSC working as proposed. A typical example of this is an
|
|
implementation of the MSC, though the implementation does not need
|
|
to be shipped anywhere and can therefore avoid the
|
|
forwards/backwards compatibility concerns mentioned here.
|
|
5. The FCP process is completed, and assuming nothing is flagged the
|
|
MSC lands.
|
|
6. A spec PR is written to incorporate the changes into Matrix.
|
|
7. A spec release happens.
|
|
8. Implementations switch to using stable prefixes (e.g.: `/r0`) if the
|
|
server supports the specification version released. If the server
|
|
doesn't advertise the specification version, but does have the
|
|
feature flag, unstable prefixes should still be used.
|
|
9. A transition period of about 2 months starts immediately after the
|
|
spec release, before implementations start to encourage other
|
|
implementations to switch to stable endpoints. For example, a server
|
|
implementation should start asking client implementations to support
|
|
the stable endpoints 2 months after the spec release, if they
|
|
haven't already. The same applies in the reverse: if clients cannot
|
|
switch to stable prefixes because server implementations haven't
|
|
started supporting the new spec release, some noise should be raised
|
|
in the general direction of the implementation.
|
|
|
|
{{% boxes/note %}}
|
|
MSCs MUST still describe what the stable endpoints/feature looks like
|
|
with a note towards the bottom for what the unstable feature
|
|
flag/prefixes are. For example, an MSC would propose `/_matrix/client/r0/new/endpoint`, not `/_matrix/client/unstable/
|
|
com.example/new/endpoint`.
|
|
{{% /boxes/note %}}
|
|
|
|
In summary:
|
|
|
|
- Implementations MUST NOT use stable endpoints before the MSC is in
|
|
the spec. This includes NOT using stable endpoints in the period
|
|
between completion of FCP and release of the spec. passed.
|
|
- Implementations are able to ship features that are exposed to users
|
|
by default before an MSC has been merged to the spec, provided they
|
|
follow the process above.
|
|
- Implementations SHOULD be wary of the technical debt they are
|
|
incurring by moving faster than the spec.
|
|
- The vendor prefix is chosen by the developer of the feature, using
|
|
the Java package naming convention. The foundation's preferred
|
|
vendor prefix is `org.matrix`.
|
|
- The vendor prefixes, unstable feature flags, and unstable endpoints
|
|
should be included in the MSC, though the MSC MUST be written in a
|
|
way that proposes new stable endpoints. Typically this is solved by
|
|
a small table at the bottom mapping the various values from stable
|
|
to unstable.
|
|
|
|
## Proposal Tracking
|
|
|
|
This is a living document generated from the list of proposals on the
|
|
issue and pull request trackers of the
|
|
[matrix-doc](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc) repo.
|
|
|
|
We use labels and some metadata in MSC PR descriptions to generate this
|
|
page. Labels are assigned by the Spec Core Team whilst triaging the
|
|
proposals based on those which exist in the
|
|
[matrix-doc](https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc) repo already.
|
|
|
|
It is worth mentioning that a previous version of the MSC process used a
|
|
mixture of GitHub issues and PRs, leading to some MSC numbers deriving
|
|
from GitHub issue IDs instead. A useful feature of GitHub is that it
|
|
does automatically resolve to an issue, if an issue ID is placed in a
|
|
pull URL. This means that
|
|
<https://github.com/matrix-org/matrix-doc/pull/$MSCID> will correctly
|
|
resolve to the desired MSC, whether it started as an issue or a PR.
|
|
|
|
Other metadata:
|
|
|
|
- The MSC number is taken from the GitHub Pull Request ID. This is
|
|
carried for the lifetime of the proposal. These IDs do not necessary
|
|
represent a chronological order.
|
|
- The GitHub PR title will act as the MSC's title.
|
|
- Please link to the spec PR (if any) by adding a "PRs: \#1234" line
|
|
in the issue description.
|
|
- The creation date is taken from the GitHub PR, but can be overridden
|
|
by adding a "Date: yyyy-mm-dd" line in the PR description.
|
|
- Updated Date is taken from GitHub.
|
|
- Author is the creator of the MSC PR, but can be overridden by adding
|
|
a "Author: @username" line in the body of the issue description.
|
|
Please make sure @username is a GitHub user (include the @!)
|
|
- A shepherd can be assigned by adding a "Shepherd: @username" line in
|
|
the issue description. Again, make sure this is a real GitHub user.
|
|
|
|
{{% proposal-tables %}}
|