#acl +All:read,write
# Allow everyone to write for now, remove this in a few weeks when proposal is complete

XMLBeans (Reboot) Proposal

A proposal to the Apache Software Foundation Incubator PMC to reboot the Apache XMLBeans Project through the Incubator

Abstract

XMLBeans is a technology for accessing XML by binding it to Java types. It was a long standing Apache project

Background

XMLBeans provides several ways to get at XML from Java, including:

• Through XML schema that has been compiled to generate Java types that represent schema types. In this way, you can access instances of the schema through JavaBeans-style accessors after the fashion of "getFoo" and "setFoo".
• The XMLBeans API also allows you to reflect into the XML schema itself through an XML Schema Object model.
• A cursor model through which you can traverse the full XML infoset.
• Support for XML DOM.
  

XMLBeans became a PMC in June 2004. The PMC was disbanded in June 2013, after a period of decreasing PMC activity and some missed board reports.

At the time of the board meeting to disband the PMC, there was an uptick in interest from community members not on the PMC to keep the project going. This has continued, and has led to this reboot proposal.

Initial Goals

• Rebuild the community
• Reboot the project
  

Current Status

Meritocracy

The project formerly ran in a meritocratic way. There is every intention that the new project will do the same. The initial group of committers is drawn from the wider XMLBeans community, based on their interest to see the project thrive once again, which is hoped to prove a good starting point for a meritocratic project.

Community

The former PMC is no longer around, but the community remains. Everyone involved in this proposal has been involved in the XMLBeans community for some time. Some have only been users, many have been submitting the odd bug report or answering questions on the mailing list.

Alignment

XMLBeans is used by a number of ASF projects, along with a much larger number of external ones.

Known Risks

Orphaned products

This is a very real risk for the rebooted project, since it has already happened once. However, there does seem to be a lot of fresh energy, which may help overcome this problem in the near future at least.

Inexperience with Open Source

Some community members have plenty of experiene with contributing to Apache projects, while others are much newer to the process. Everyone involved is at least aware of the basics, as they are drawn from the existing project community. Work will be needed to help the newer members adjust to the Apache Way.

Homogenous Developers

Not a risk - the proposed committer base is very diverse

Reliance on Salaried Developers

Not a risk - there is a large range of people involved with many interests, no single organisation is driving or sponsoring development

Relationships with Other Apache Products

Not a risk - many Apache projects currently use XMLBeans

A Excessive Fascination with the Apache Brand

Not a risk - it's already an Apache Brand!

Documentation

All documentation is on the current XMLBeans website and wiki

It's not perfect though, so work on it should certainly be part of the work of the new project!

Initial Source

https://svn.apache.org/repos/asf/xmlbeans/trunk/

Source and Intellectual Property Submission Plan

N/A - Already an Apache project

External Dependencies

N/A - Already an Apache project

Required Resources

Control of existing project website, project wiki, and project mailing lists. It is not suggested to change any of these to the incubator namespace

The existing website would need updating to clarify that the project is back in the Incubator

Initial Committers

If you wish to join the initial committers list for the rebooted project, and you are already part of the existing XMLBeans community, please list yourself above. We need to know your name, your email address (or Apache ID if you're already a committer elsewhere), who you work for, and if you already have a CLA on file with the ASF.

Sponsors

Champion

• Nick Burch - nick

Nominated Mentors

• Tammo van Lessen - vanto
• Dave Fisher - wave
  

Sponsoring Entity

• Apache Incubator PMC