The Technical Committee is established by the Constitution, section 6. It is the body which makes the final decision on technical disputes in the SME Server development.
- Before referring a decision to the Technical Committee, you should try to resolve it yourself. Engage in a constructive discussion and try to understand the other person's point of view. If, after discussion, you've identified a technical question which you can't agree on, you can put it to the committee
- Write up a summary of the disagreement, preferably agreeing it with your opponent, and send it to the bug tracking system. If there is no bug for the dispute yet, file one.
- The committee will discuss your question on the committee mailing list, SME-committee@lists.contribs.org.(for example) We will not CC all of our discussion to the bug report, though we may CC the participants. Anyone else who wishes to do so may subscribe to the SME_committee mailing list and see our deliberations.
- The committee will aim to make a decision as soon as possible. In practice this process is likely to take many weeks, or perhaps longer. If the question is particularly urgent please say so.
- Sometimes, one side or other is convinced, during the committee's deliberations, by the merit of the other side's arguments. This is a good thing! If it happens, the committee need not make a formal decision, and the bug report can be closed, or reassigned, as appropriate.
Some caveats about contacting the committee
- A sound and vigorous debate is important to ensure that all the aspects of an issue are fully explored. When discussing technical questions with other developers you should be ready to be challenged. You should also be prepared to be convinced! There is no shame in seeing the merit of good arguments.
- Please conduct your technical discussions with other maintainers in a calm and civilised way; do not use insults, or question their competence. Instead, address yourself to your opponents' arguments.
- The committee is only empowered to make technical decisions. If you feel that someone has been misbehaving, the committee probably can't help you much. You may wish to talk to the Community Leader, SME-leader@lists.contribs.org (for example)