DBWG Process (draft)
How database and WHOIS items move from a mailing-list message to a deployed change.
The final decision on implementation details is reserved for AFRINIC staff. Comments and suggestions are handled as time permits. Operational incidents and urgent bugs should also be reported through AFRINIC’s operational channels, not only the list.
Lifecycle of a work item
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1. Raised | A member or staff raises a request, bug report, proposal or question on the dbwg@ mailing list (or at a DBWG session). |
| 2. Discussed | The community and staff discuss the item on the list. Comments and suggestions are welcome from anyone. |
| 3. Consensus | For proposals (changes to the database/WHOIS), the group works towards rough consensus on whether and how to proceed. |
| 4. Decision | The final decision on implementation details is reserved for AFRINIC staff, informed by the discussion. |
| 5. Implementation | Accepted changes and bug fixes are developed, tested and deployed to production by AFRINIC. |
| 6. Recorded | The outcome is recorded in the DBWG issue tracker and the WHOIS DB changelog; deployed items are announced on the list. |
How items are coded
Items formally tracked by AFRINIC are given a short code in the DBWG issue tracker:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
DBWG-n |
A proposal to change or add functionality to the WHOIS / database (e.g. object templates, attributes, validation). |
BugReport-n |
A defect or data-quality issue in the database or WHOIS service to be corrected. |
Status values
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Under discussion | Being debated on the list; consensus not yet reached. |
| Consensus | Rough consensus reached; awaiting or in implementation. |
| Work in progress | Accepted and being developed/tested. |
| Deployed / Done | Implemented and live in production. |
| Open (no outcome recorded) | Raised but no resolution, decision or deployment is recorded. |
Where items are tracked
- Work Items register — every request/issue/proposal from the list, open & resolved: Work Items.
- WHOIS DB changelog — deployed database/WHOIS features: WHOIS DB changelog.
- Meeting minutes & work-item timelines — github.com/afrinic-dbwg/meetings.
Note: the Work Items register is compiled from the public mailing-list archive; statuses are reconciled with the official DBWG issue tracker and the WHOIS changelog where those confirm a deployment or decision.