Welcome Committers

  • You now have write access to the project repository

  • Recognition of your sustained contributions

  • Trust comes with responsibility

The Apache Way

  • Transparency

  • Meritocracy

  • Consensus

  • Community over Code

ICLA Requirement

  • An Individual Contributor License Agreement (ICLA) must be on file

  • Required before commit access is granted

  • Ensures legal clarity for contributions

Your Role

  • Contribute code, docs, tests

  • Review pull requests and patches

  • Help new contributors

  • Follow project norms

Commit-Then-Review vs. Review-Then-Commit

  • Some projects allow direct commits

  • Others require review before commit

  • Always follow your project’s chosen practice

Responsibilities

  • Keep the codebase healthy

  • Write clear commit messages

  • Respect licenses and IP

  • Coordinate on bigger changes

Releases & Your Role

  • Committers do not cast binding votes

  • But you can test and review releases

  • Feedback helps ensure quality

Security Awareness

  • Follow ASF security policy

  • Do not commit fixes to public repos before disclosure

  • Ask the PPMC if in doubt

ASF Infrastructure Basics

  • Use the project issue tracker

  • Follow project GitHub rules

  • Project websites are on ASF infra

What Committers Do Not Do

  • No binding votes on releases

  • Do not set project direction

  • Do not speak on behalf of the ASF

Code of Conduct

  • Be respectful and constructive

  • Assume good faith

  • No personal attacks

  • Everyone deserves a safe community

Working with the PPMC

  • Committers are part of the community

  • PPMC provides project oversight

  • Both roles are essential

Communication

  • Discuss on dev@

  • Summarize any off-list progress to the list

  • Be respectful and constructive

Diversity & Growth

  • Welcome new contributors

  • Encourage diverse participation

  • Help the community grow

Next Steps

  • Make your first commit

  • Join and participate in mailing list discussions

  • Review and help with pull requests

  • Grow into a community leader

Where to Get Help

  • Ask on dev@ first

  • PPMC members can guide you

  • ASF documentation & Infra resources

  • It’s always OK to ask questions

Looking Ahead

  • Committer is a starting point

  • Continued participation builds trust

  • Active committers may be invited to PPMC

  • Leadership grows from contribution

Final Thoughts

  • Respect and collaboration build trust

  • Stewardship matters as much as code

  • Strong communities create great software