ASF Project Roles
SpamAssassin, as an Apache top-level project, follows the Apache development model which [http://www.apache.org/foundation/how-it-works.html#roles defines the various roles] in the project:
- users: someone that uses our software
[http://www.apache.org/dev/contributors.html contributors]: anyone can provide feedback, submit bug reports, or submit patches (WeLoveVolunteers)
[http://www.apache.org/dev/committers.html committers]: a committer is simply an individual who was given write access to the codebase
[http://www.apache.org/dev/pmc.html PMC members]: the PMC is responsible for managing a project
SpamAssassin specifics
The SpamAssassin PMC, like most other PMCs, is responsible for:
- adding new committers (and potentially removing)
- creating and destroying subprojects
- setting project direction
- handling public relations
- setting policy and procedures
In addition, there are some actions that are purely development-related, so they do not fall under the PMC mantle. Of course, people who happen to be on the PMC tend to do these, but committers could as well. Then again, a committer who was this active and responsible for the project would frequently end up being a PMC member.
- proposing and cutting releases
- scheduling
Advancement
Developers and contributors who contribute too much good code and not enough bad code usually become committers.
Committers with a long history of significant involvement in the advancement of the project and project development (ideally in more than one way), a strong ability to work with others in the ASF way, and who are not jerkwads are generally nominated to be on the PMC. After the PMC has voted to add a new PMC member, the ASF board has to approve new PMC members.
There are no hard criteria for either of these roles: not lines of code nor number of patches. If you're interested, you can always send a message to the PMC to ask where you are on the radar.
Current roles
See the [http://cvs.apache.org/viewcvs.cgi/spamassassin/trunk/CREDITS?root=Apache-SVN&view=markup CREDITS page].