Policy & Governance

The FAIR Package Manager project is an open-source initiative of The FAIR Web Foundation, a Linux Foundation project.

The governance structure prioritizes a clear separation of technical and non-technical responsibilities, with strategy, resources, and operations managed distinctly from technical direction and development.

Decision-making relies on open participation and consensus, emphasizing transparency, neutrality, and broad community involvement.

Organizational Structure

The FAIR Web Foundation operates as a directed fund of the Linux Foundation, providing neutral governance and infrastructure for the project.

The FAIR Web Foundation Governing Board (planned)

The Governing Board will manage budgets, membership, and fundraising for the foundation. This body is currently being planned and is not yet active.

Technical Advisory Council (TAC) (planned)

The Technical Advisory Council will provide technical alignment and promote best practices across the project. This body is currently being planned and is not yet active.

Technical Steering Committee (TSC)

The TSC manages the technical direction of the project and is led by three co-chairs. It oversees all technical decisions, contribution processes, and release management. For more details on contributing and the TSC's role, see the TSC contributing guide.

Working Groups (WGs)

Working Groups focus on specific areas of the project and operate under the TSC. They are the primary way contributors collaborate on particular domains. Learn more about Working Groups on GitHub or visit the FAIR Working Groups page.

Decision-Making Process

The project uses a consensus and lazy consensus model for decision-making. Under lazy consensus, a proposal is considered accepted if no one raises an objection within a reasonable timeframe. When consensus cannot be reached, voting serves as a fallback mechanism.

Technical and non-technical decisions are handled separately: the TSC and Working Groups handle technical matters, while the Governing Board (once established) will handle strategic and operational decisions.