So you want to know how someone becomes a peer? Surprisingly the answer is pretty unclear. There is no formal process for peer status, at least for Firefox and Toolkit. I haven’t spotted one for other modules either. What has generally happened in the past is that from time to time someone will come along and say, “Oh hey, shouldn’t X be a peer by now?” to which I will say “Uhhh maybe! Let me go talk to some of the other peers that they have worked with”. After that magic happens and I go and update the stupid wiki pages, write a blog post and mail the new peers to congratulate them.
I’d like to formalise this a little bit and have an actual process that new peers can see and follow along to understand where they are. I’d like feedback on this idea, it’s just a straw-man at this point. With that I give you … THE ROAD TO PEERSHIP (cue dramatic music).
- Intro patch author. You write basic patches, request review and get them landed. You might have level 1 commit access, probably not level 3 yet though.
- Senior patch author. You are writing really good patches now. Not just simple stuff. Patches that touch multiple files maybe even multiple areas of the product. Chances are you have level 3 commit access. Reviewers rarely find significant issues with your work (though it can still happen). Attention to details like maintainability and efficiency are important. If your patches are routinely getting backed out or failing tests then you’re not here yet.
- Intro reviewer. Before being made a full peer you should start reviewing simple patches. Either by being the sole reviewer for a patch written by a peer or doing an initial review before a peer does a final sign-off. Again paying attention to maintainability and efficiency are important. As is being clear and polite in your instructions to the patch author as well as being open to discussion where disagreements happen.
- Full peer. You, your manager or a peer reach out to me showing me cases where you’ve completed the previous levels. I double-check with a couple of peers you’ve work with. Congratulations, you made it! Follow-up on review requests promptly. Be courteous. Re-direct reviews that are outside your area of expertise.
Does this sound like a reasonable path? What criteria am I missing? I’m not yet sure what length of time we would expect each step to take but I am imagine that more senior contributors could skip straight to step 2.
Feedback welcome here or in private by email.
I’d suggest to drop the manager as voucher. If you’re in need for your manager to make your case, I doubt you’re ready to be a peer.
I was thinking of that person as less of a voucher and more a proposer. My experience has been that folks rarely propose themselves and it is usually other peers and managers poking me about making people peers.