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ietf-tools
Date when WGLC ends
Description
Would be nice if there would be a field where chairs could enter the end date of WGLC if they move a document into "in WGLC" state. This would make it easier for everybody to understand how much time there is left for a WGLC review without having to search the email archives.
Code of Conduct
- [X] I agree to follow the IETF's Code of Conduct
The state change dialog currently allows entering how long the document is expected to stay in that state, but the end date that could be derived is not displayed anywhere. (There was an RFC that defined requirements for this behavior, but I'm not finding it with a quick search).
That said, there are working groups that start a working group last call, provide a deadline for initial comments, but keep the call open until the comments are addressed (or have a documented plan for addressing them) - different groups work differently, and forcing an apparent end-date could be unintentional normalization.
Perhaps the UI should say "Please provide comments by" and stop showing that when the date has passed?
Usually the chairs put a date in the email and that's the data that I'm looking for. If the date is passed and the document is still in "WGLC" state that's no problem for me (however, I guess we could also consider to move to a new state like "WGLC pending edits" or something...). Anyway I think providing a date should be optional and chairs can decide if they usually can enter a data or not.
I was about to open a new feature request, but then found this.
I also think that having an indication of when the WGLC ends would be really helpful. I think that when chairs start WGLC and include a "Number of weeks", the DT Document list could say: 'In WG Last Call, ends: 2023-01-18'. Even if the WG hasn't declared consensus, or wants to keep it in this state, I think that the WGLC has still ended, and having the date is useful. If WGs don't want to declare when a WGLC ends, they could always just not populate the "Number of weeks", or similar.
As mirjak says, often the only communication of this is buried in some email -- having participants be able to look at the WG DT page and see that there are only a few days left to submit comments seems useful, and should help increase review and feedback (also, there have been quite a few instances where the WGLC has ended and no-one has noticed, so the doc just sits there, mouldering... )
acknowledged, but:
here have been quite a few instances where the WGLC has ended and no-one has noticed,
Is that not what shepherds and chairs are supposed to stay on top of?
I think this extra bit of gui will actually bring more pain than relieve it (because it will be wrong and people will want it to be fixed in cases like I describe above), but we can try it and gather data.
As Warren says, I wouldn't want to change the state automatically but just take the date that is usually in the mail and also add and display it in the datatracker. I don't think this would change anything process-wise but only make sure the date is easier to find.