๐ Welcome to ASF Mentor Training
Supporting Projects Using the Apache Way
๐งญ ASF Values & Culture
๐ Releases & Graduation
๐ฅ Community & Oversight
๐งโ๐ซ Mentoring in Practice
๐ฅ Handling Conflict
๐ง Wrap-Up & Resources
๐งญ ASF Values & Culture - What makes ASF different
๐ Releases & Graduation - Processes and pitfalls
๐ฅ Community & Oversight - Building sustainable projects
๐งโ๐ซ Mentoring in Practice - What mentors actually do
๐ฅ Handling Conflict - Resolution and escalation
๐ง Wrap-Up & Resources - Where to go next
๐ ASF Culture: The Foundation of Everything
Understanding the values that make ASF unique
๐ฅ Community over Code
๐ Meritocracy: Earned through contribution
๐ณ๏ธ Consensus-driven decision-making
๐ Transparency in all actions
๐ Distinguishes ASF from vendor-led models
๐ฑ Enables sustainable growth
๐ค Builds trust and inclusion
๐ Private decision-making
๐ช Leadership by title or company role
๐ค Silent or disengaged community
๐ข Over-reliance on one company
๐ฌ Model and reinforce ASF values
๐ Spot and address misalignments
๐ Encourage openness and merit
๐ฅ ASF Board โ Oversees all ASF projects and PMCs
๐ข IPMC โ Manages incubation and mentors podlings
๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ PPMC โ Runs the day-to-day of the podling
๐งโ๐ซ Mentors โ Bridge between the ASF and the podling
๐ Community, Not Just Code
Releases are not just technical, theyโre community milestones
โ Approved by vote (PPMC and IPMC)
๐งพ Legal and license-compliant
๐ Distributed via ASF infrastructure
๐ ๏ธ Prepare artifacts + LICENSE/NOTICE
๐ฃ Call a [VOTE] on PPMC dev@
๐ Get 3+ binding +1 votes
๐ฃ Call a [VOTE] on incubator general@
๐ Get 3+ binding +1 votes
๐งพ Close with [RESULT]
๐ค Announce + distribute
โ ๏ธ Missing or wrong license headers
๐งฉ Bundled compiled code
๐งฉ Non-compatible or unknown-license 3rd party code
๐งพ Incorrect or incomplete LICENSE and NOTICE files
๐ฃ Walk them through the process
๐งผ Review for clarity and correctness
๐ Encourage asking questions early
๐จ Branding isnโt just visual - itโs how the project represents the ASF
๐ Respect ASF branding and naming guidelines
๐ท๏ธ Use โApache Foo (incubating)โ during incubation
๐ซ Avoid project names that are already trademarked
๐ข Donโt use the ASF Name to Promote Vendor Products
๐ ASF project != your product
๐ฃ Marketing must not imply ASF endorsement
โ๏ธ When in doubt, ask trademarks@apache.org
โ Do: Use โApache Foo (incubating)โ, clarify ASF ownership, follow guidelines
๐ซ Donโt: Alter ASF logos, imply ASF endorsement
๐ Review websites, logos, presentations
โ๏ธ Correct misleading language early
๐ข Educate about Apache branding policy
๐ From podling to Top-Level Project
๐ฅ Diverse, active community
๐ฆ ASF releases completed
๐งพ IP clearance finalized
๐ Self-governance (no mentors needed)
๐ท๏ธ Branding understood
๐ฃ๏ธ PPMC discusses readiness
๐ณ๏ธ PPMC votes
๐ฅ IPMC votes
๐๏ธ ASF Board approves
๐งฉ Independence over dependence
๐งโ๐ฌ Meritocracy over control
๐งโ๐พ Growth over code alone
๐๏ธ Project becomes a Top-Level Project
๐ Reports directly to ASF Board
๐ฆ Manages own releases and branding
๐ Drops โ(incubating)โ from its name
๐ฌ Help assess readiness honestly
โ Support discussions about retiring if needed
๐ช Guide the transition to TLP
๐ Disengage and let PMC lead
๐ Podling Community Building
๐งโ๐ป Multiple active contributors
โ๏ธ Public discussions on dev@
๐ฌ Timely responses to newcomers
๐ Regular addition of committers
๐ Diversity across geography and orgs
๐ Decisions not on dev@
๐ข One company dominates
๐ค Silent contributors
๐ค Burnout or loss of contributors
๐ Encourage dev@ activity
๐งญ Guide on onboarding and docs
๐ฃ Promote merit-based recognition
๐ Watch for imbalance or stagnation
๐ฌ Discuss adding committers/PPMC
๐ช Show growth over time
โ๏ธ Make decisions without mentors
๐ Be open and welcoming
๐ณ๏ธ Voting isnโt just procedure, itโs consensus
๐ณ๏ธ Votes enable consensus
๐ฌ dev@ is the central place for decisions
๐ค Consensus > control
๐ Documented > assumed
๐ฆ Releases
๐ค Adding committers/PMC
๐ Graduation/resolutions
๐๏ธ Formal policy changes
โ +1 = Approve
โ 0 = No opinion
โ -1 = Block (with explanation)
Binding = IPMC member
๐ No objections in 72h โ proceed
๐ข Use [DISCUSS]
๐งผ Great for routine changes
๐งโ๐ซ Mentors should model this early on
๐ฌ Explain expectations
๐ Watch for rushed decisions
๐งญ Encourage discussion first
๐ช Help shift to self-management
๐ข Independence isnโt just ideal - itโs essential to ASF governance
๐ผ All committers from one company
๐ Decisions from internal meetings
๐งต Little dev@ activity
๐ค Dismissive or unwelcoming to outside contributors
๐ Watch for dominance
๐ Encourage diverse voices
๐ค Broaden participation
๐ข Raise concerns if imbalance persists
๐ Reporting isnโt just paperwork - itโs how we ensure accountability and support
๐ Keeps ASF informed
๐ Identifies risks
๐ข Builds transparency
๐ ๏ธ Enables mentor/IPMC support ๐ฎ Due quarterly โ add to wiki
๐ Progress since last report
๐ฅ Community activity
๐ฆ Release activity
๐ Issues or concerns
๐ช Steps toward graduation
๐ง Shared work, not one person
๐ฌ dev@ activity beyond GitHub
โฑ Timely releases
๐ Evidence of self-governance
๐งญ Alignment with ASF values
๐ Declining community activity
๐ Private decisions
๐ข One-company dominance
๐ซ Missed or unclear reports
๐ฏ Repeated release or IP issues
โ๏ธ Help with early reports
โ๏ธ Be honest, donโt sugarcoat
๐ Raise issues if needed
๐ฃ Advocate for podling
๐ช Step back as PPMC takes over
๐ง Mentoring isnโt about control - itโs about enabling independence
โ Guide process
๐ฆ Assist releases
๐ Help with graduation
๐งญ Reinforce ASF values
๐ ๏ธ Early: proactive
๐งโ๐ Mid: let them lead
๐ง Late: intervene only if needed
Goal: success without you
๐ซ Not project managers
๐ซ Not release approvers
๐ซ Not the boss
๐ซ Not responsible for doing the work
๐ป Absent mentor
๐งฎ Micromanaging
๐ผ Corporate bias
๐ค Silent observer
๐จ๏ธ Join dev@ and private@
๐ Point to ASF docs
๐ Listen more
๐ Encourage merit
๐จ Raise issues early
๐งญ Orientation โ ๐งโ๐ป Advising โ ๐ Observing โ ๐ Letting go
๐ Graduation = exit
๐ค Collaborate with co-mentors
๐ Share responsibility
โ ๏ธ Watch for burnout
๐ฃ Reach out for help
๐ฅ Conflict isnโt failure - itโs a chance to reinforce community values
๐ง Technical debates
๐ฃ๏ธ Interpersonal friction
๐ข Company-driven tension
๐ถ Silence or passive resistance
๐ก Heated arguments
๐ Decisions without discussion
๐ค Newcomers ignored
๐ Declining dev@ engagement
๐ง One person doing all work
๐ง De-escalate
๐จ๏ธ Focus on facts
๐ฌ Move to dev@
๐งโ๐ผ Mediate neutrally
๐ Return to ASF values
๐ Listen first
๐งพ Keep conversations on dev@
๐ Find root causes
๐ Intervene early
๐ข Know when to escalate
๐ค Resolve on dev@ first
๐ง Contact private@incubator.apache.org
โ๏ธ Escalate to IPMC
๐ ๏ธLegal/misconduct โ ASF Board
๐ฑ Mentoring at ASF means growing communities, not just guiding projects
๐ฑ Model ASF culture
๐ฅ Support diversity
๐ฆ Releases show readiness
๐ Graduation = independence
๐ฉ Spot red flags early
๐งญ Guide, donโt control
๐ Incubator Policy
๐ฌ Join: general@ & private@
๐งโ๐ซ Mentor Guide
โ๏ธ Contact IPMC for help