Enhance Wagtail: Streamlining Feature Requests For Consensus

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Update feature requests process to encourage consensus before PRs

Hey Wagtail enthusiasts! 👋 Let's chat about making our feature request process even smoother and more collaborative. The goal? To ensure we're all on the same page before diving into those awesome pull requests.

The Lowdown

Currently, our feature request template could use a little tweak to encourage more contributors to confirm there's a general agreement on the value of their proposed enhancements before they start working on a pull request. This helps ensure that everyone's efforts are aligned and that we're building features that the community truly needs and wants. Let's dive into the specifics and see how we can make this happen!

Why is Consensus Important?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the proposed changes, let’s quickly touch on why consensus is so crucial. In open-source projects like Wagtail, ideas can come from anywhere – which is fantastic! However, not every idea might align perfectly with the project’s overall direction or meet the immediate needs of the community. By fostering a culture of discussion and consensus-building, we can:

  • Ensure Alignment: Make sure new features fit well with Wagtail's existing architecture and long-term goals.
  • Prioritize Effectively: Focus on the enhancements that will bring the most value to the most users.
  • Avoid Redundancy: Prevent multiple contributors from working on similar features independently.
  • Improve Collaboration: Encourage contributors to refine their ideas based on community feedback, leading to better solutions.
  • Reduce Wasted Effort: Save time and energy by confirming that a feature is desirable before significant development work begins.

Current Process and Pain Points

Currently, our feature request template might not be as effective as it could be in encouraging this initial consensus-building. Contributors might feel compelled to start coding right away, without first gauging the community's interest or gathering valuable feedback. This can sometimes lead to pull requests that require significant rework or, in some cases, features that ultimately don't get merged.

By updating the template, we can gently guide contributors to take a step back, present their ideas, and engage in a conversation with the community before diving into the code. This not only increases the likelihood of a successful pull request but also fosters a more collaborative and inclusive environment.

Pertinent Wagtail Docs Section

For those who want to take a closer look, here's the relevant section of the Wagtail documentation:

This link will take you directly to the feature request template on GitHub, where you can see the current wording and structure. It's a great starting point for understanding the proposed changes and how they'll impact the contribution process.

Details: Updating the "Working on This" Section

The main change we're proposing is to update the "working on this" section of the feature request template. Currently, it looks like this:

Assigning to @laymonage, this requires core team expertise.

We want to replace it with something that encourages broader community involvement before anyone starts coding. Here’s the proposed new text:

Anyone can contribute to this once consensus has been established. View our [contributing guidelines](https://docs.wagtail.org/en/latest/contributing/index.html), add a comment to the issue once you’re ready to start.

Breakdown of the Proposed Change

Let's break down why this seemingly small change can have a big impact:

  • "Anyone can contribute to this once consensus has been established.": This clearly signals that collaboration and agreement are expected before anyone starts working on the feature. It sets the tone for a community-driven approach.
  • "View our contributing guidelines": This provides a direct link to the contributing guidelines, making it easy for new contributors to understand the process and expectations.
  • "add a comment to the issue once you’re ready to start.": This encourages contributors to communicate their intentions and allows for further discussion and coordination.

By implementing this change, we aim to create a more inclusive and collaborative environment where everyone feels welcome to contribute their ideas and expertise.

Impact and Benefits

So, what are the potential benefits of implementing this change? Let's explore some of the key advantages:

  • Increased Community Engagement: By encouraging discussion and collaboration, we can foster a stronger sense of community and ownership around Wagtail's features.
  • Improved Feature Quality: By gathering feedback and iterating on ideas, we can ensure that new features are well-designed, user-friendly, and aligned with the project's goals.
  • Reduced Development Time: By identifying potential issues and challenges early on, we can avoid costly rework and delays later in the development process.
  • More Sustainable Contributions: By empowering contributors to take ownership of features, we can create a more sustainable model for ongoing development and maintenance.
  • Better Alignment with User Needs: By prioritizing features that address the most pressing needs of the community, we can ensure that Wagtail remains a valuable and relevant tool for web developers and content creators.

How to Establish Consensus

Okay, so we're all on board with the idea of building consensus before diving into code. But how do we actually do that? Here are some practical tips for establishing consensus on a feature request:

  • Clearly Articulate the Problem: Start by clearly explaining the problem you're trying to solve with your proposed feature. Provide context, examples, and use cases to help others understand the need.
  • Propose a Solution: Outline your proposed solution in detail, including the technical approach, user interface considerations, and potential impact on existing features.
  • Solicit Feedback: Actively solicit feedback from the community. Ask questions, encourage discussion, and be open to alternative ideas.
  • Address Concerns: Respond to any concerns or objections raised by the community. Be willing to compromise and adapt your proposal based on feedback.
  • Summarize the Discussion: Periodically summarize the discussion and highlight any areas of agreement or disagreement. This helps ensure that everyone is on the same page and that progress is being made.
  • Look for a Clear Majority: Aim for a clear majority of support for your proposal. While it's not always possible to achieve unanimous agreement, strive for a consensus that represents the views of the majority of stakeholders.

Conclusion: Let's Make Wagtail Even Better!

By updating our feature request template, we can encourage a more collaborative and consensus-driven approach to development. This will lead to better features, a stronger community, and a more sustainable project overall. So, let's work together to make Wagtail even better!

I encourage everyone to share their thoughts and ideas on this proposal. Together, we can make Wagtail an even more amazing CMS! 🎉

Let's get the ball rolling and make Wagtail even more fantastic! 🚀