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Formal Review Process

The Formal Review process determines if a proposed library should be accepted as a Boost library.

The final "accept" or "reject" decision is made by the Review Manager, based on review comments received from boost mailing list members.

Reviews are scheduled so that:

Comments

Boost mailing list members are encouraged to submit Formal Review comments:

Private comments to a library submitter may be helpful to her or him, but won't help the Review Manager reach a decision, so the other forms are preferred.

Preparing review comments

Comments may be brief or lengthy, but basically the Review Manager needs your answers to several questions.  If you identify problems along the way, please note if they are minor, serious, or showstoppers.

Results

At the conclusion of the comment period, the Review Manager will post a message to the mailing list saying if the library has been accepted or rejected.  A rationale should be provided, but its extent is up to the Review Manager.

Notes for Review Managers

Before a library can be scheduled for formal review, an active boost member not connected with the library submission must volunteer to be the "Review Manager" for the library.

The review manager:

In other words, it is the Review Manager's responsibility to make sure the review process stays on track.

Notes for Library Authors

A proposed library should remain stable during the review period; it will just confuse and irritate reviewers if there are numerous changes.  It is, however, useful to upload fixes for serious bugs right away, particularly those which prevent reviewers from fully evaluating the library.  Post a notice of such fixes on the mailing list.

Library improvements suggested by reviewers should be held until after the completion of review period. Such changes can then be incorporated in the final submission file sent to the webmaster for posting.  If the suggested changes might affect reviewer's judgments,  post a notice of the pending change on the mailing list.


Revised 10 November, 2000