Proposal: create a triage team to manage the backlog

[mastermatt]

This is an extension of the conversation that began in the "Node.js Issue Backlog" session of the Collab Summit 2020, led by @gireeshpunathil.

Creating a Github team under this organization with "Triage" permission level could have benefits to reduce and organize the backlog of over 1200 issues and PRs while also creating an entry point with a lower barrier for those wanting to help with the project.

My first-hand experience lays with being a member of the relatively-new Triagers team for the Expressjs ecosystem.
And I would volunteer to be a member of a similar team here under Nodejs.

[mastermatt]

ref: Current guide for contributing to issues.

[richardlau]

Just for background, we don’t currently use the triage permission level. Refs: nodejs/TSC#712

[gireeshpunathil]

+1

[mastermatt]

@richardlau thanks for linking nodejs/TSC#712. In the meeting, it wasn't clear if this issue should be opened here in the core repo or in TSC, as it would require TSC discussion/approval either way.

This might be considered a duplicate.

@Trott I'd be curious to know your thoughts on having a triage team now vs a year ago.
Now that the permission setting isn't new or in beta on Github and other communities are picking it up with success, do you still think your comment holds true? ("I think our current situation in the main repo is fine, at least for now.")

[gireeshpunathil]

@mastermatt -

• I meant to ask to open this issue here itself, in the core repo.
• I don't think this is a duplicate:
  • the referenced issue is closed 10 months ago
  • the triage role raises to relevance in the current context (for both backlog & CI)

Labeling this for TSC visibility

[HarshithaKP]

I am interested and willing to triage issues in both core and help repos. I have been putting my hands for sometime, but inability to tag, label and close issues limits my work.

[richardlau]

@mastermatt Sorry if I caused any confusion. I linked to the issue in the TSC repo just for some background information.

As the repository owners the TSC would have to create the team and grant the triage permission to them. FWIW I think it's a good idea especially if we have people interested in joining such a team as it will be a lower barrier of entry to get involved with the project.

We'd probably need some guidelines/onboarding for triage docs created. If I remember correctly from the collab session on Monday Express has such docs -- @gireeshpunathil / @mastermatt could you link to them for reference?

[gireeshpunathil]

here is the doc I compiled for express: https://github.com/expressjs/express/blob/master/Triager-Guide.md

[Trott]

@Trott I'd be curious to know your thoughts on having a triage team now vs a year ago.

I am cautiously optimistic.