matrix-spec-proposals/proposals/0000-proposal-template.md

Example: Proposal to adopt a template for MSCs

Note: Text written in italics represents notes about the section or proposal process. This document serves as an example of what a proposal could look like (in this case, a proposal to have a template) and should be used where possible.

In this first section, be sure to cover your problem and a broad overview of the solution. Covering related details, such as the expected impact, can also be a good idea. The example in this document says that we're missing a template and that things are confusing and goes on to say the solution is a template. There's no major expected impact in this proposal, so it doesn't list one. If your proposal was more invasive (such as proposing a change to how servers discover each other) then that would be a good thing to list here.

If you're having troubles coming up with a description, a good question to ask is "how does this proposal improve Matrix?" - the answer could reveal a small impact, and that is okay.

There can never be enough templates in the world, and MSCs shouldn't be any different. The level of detail expected of proposals can be unclear - this is what this example proposal (which doubles as a template itself) aims to resolve.

Proposal

Here is where you'll reinforce your position from the introduction in more detail, as well as cover the technical points of your proposal. Including rationale for your proposed solution and detailing why parts are important helps reviewers understand the problem at hand. Not including enough detail can result in people guessing, leading to confusing arguments in the comments section. The example here covers why templates are important again, giving a stronger argument as to why we should have a template. Afterwards, it goes on to cover the specifics of what the template could look like.

Having a default template that everyone can use is important. Without a template, proposals would be all over the place and the minimum amount of detail may be left out. Introducing a template to the proposal process helps ensure that some amount of consistency is present across multiple proposals, even if each author decides to abandon the template.

The default template should be a markdown document because the MSC process requires authors to write a proposal in markdown. Using other formats wouldn't make much sense because that would prevent authors from copy/pasting the template.

The template should have the following sections:

• Introduction - This should cover the primary problem and broad description of the solution.
• Proposal - The gory details of the proposal.
• Tradeoffs - Any items of the proposal that are less desirable should be listed here. Alternative solutions to the same problem could also be listed here.
• Potential issues - This is where problems with the proposal would be listed, such as changes that are not backwards compatible.
• Security considerations - Discussion of what steps were taken to avoid security issues in the future and any potential risks in the proposal.
• Conclusion - A repeat of the problem and solution.

Furthermore, the template should not be required to be followed. However it is strongly recommended to maintain some sense of consistency between proposals.

Tradeoffs

This is where alternative solutions could be listed. There's almost always another way to do things and this section gives you the opportunity to highlight why those ways are not as desirable. The argument made in this example is that all of the text provided by the template could be integrated into the proposals introduction, although with some risk of losing clarity.

Instead of adding a template to the repository, the assistance it provides could be integrated into the proposal process itself. There is an argument to be had that the proposal process should be as descriptive as possible, although having even more detail in the proposals introduction could lead to some confusion or lack of understanding. Not to mention if the document is too large then potential authors could be scared off as the process suddenly looks a lot more complicated than it is. For those reasons, this proposal does not consider integrating the template in the proposals introduction a good idea.

Potential issues

Not all proposals are perfect. Sometimes there's a known disadvantage to implementing the proposal, and they should be documented here. There should be some explanation for why the disadvantage is acceptable, however - just like in this example.

Someone is going to have to spend the time to figure out what the template should actually have in it. It could be a document with just a few headers or a supplementary document to the process explanation, however more detail should be included. A template that actually proposes something should be considered because it not only gives an opportunity to show what a basic proposal looks like, it also means that explanations for each section can be described. Spending the time to work out the content of the template is beneficial and not considered a significant problem because it will lead to a document that everyone can follow.

Security considerations

Some proposals may have some security aspect to them that was addressed in the proposed solution. This section is a great place to outline some of the security-sensitive components of your proposal, such as why a particular approach was (or wasn't) taken. The example here is a bit of a stretch and unlikely to actually be worthwhile of including in a proposal, but it is generally a good idea to list these kinds of concerns where possible.

By having a template available, people would know what the desired detail for a proposal is. This is not considered a risk because it is important that people understand the proposal process from start to end.

Conclusion

Repeating the problem and solution in different words helps reviewers understand the problem a bit more. This section should wrap up any loose ends left in the document, as well as cover a brief overview of the content in each section. Note that the example here doesn't touch on the specific implementation details described in the "Proposal" section - just the high-level points made there.

Not having a template for people to follow when making their proposals could lead to large differences between each MSC. This would make it difficult for reviewers, and there's a potential that some information could be left out by accident. A template written in the same format the proposal process requires would give authors the ability to understand how to better explain their own proposal.

A descriptive template would help potential authors comprehend what the proposal process requires by demonstrating what is expected of a proposal. Although this is more effort up front, it would lead to more time saved in the future due to questions about the process.