Process of proposing (new) specifications may not sufficiently clearly explained

[pradyunsg]

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From https://discuss.python.org/t/adding-a-default-extra-require-environment/4898/48?u=pradyunsg

I found this: https://www.pypa.io/en/latest/specifications/#proposing-new-specifications but honestly it’s quite confusing and not really helpful.

I try to understand:

• How to obtain a PEP number ?
• Where should I go to open the PEP ?
• Is the PR to " Python Packaging User Guide repository" the PEP itself ? Or it’s a completely different process and shall be done once we have reached consensus in the PEP ?
• Is there a template I can follow ?

I feel that these are all legitimate questions about the process that we don't clarify well enough, and we should possibly clarify each of these points in/near the "Proposing new specifications" section.

[pradyunsg]

https://github.com/pypa/packaging-problems/issues/367#issuecomment-678671934

Another instance of this. :)

[hugovk]

Are some of these are answered in PEP 1?

For example, "Once approved [not the same as accepted], they [the PEP editors] will assign your PEP a number".

• https://www.python.org/dev/peps/pep-0001/

If so, PEP 1 may need updating for packaging PEPs.