+1 (binding) On Jun 14, 2016 4:10 PM, "Billie Rinaldi" <bil...@apache.org> wrote:
> Since discussion has died down and we have gotten a couple of additional > mentor volunteers, I would like to call a VOTE on accepting Pirk into the > Apache Incubator. > > Proposal: https://wiki.apache.org/incubator/PirkProposal > > [ ] +1 Accept Pirk into the Apache Incubator > [ ] +0 Abstain. > [ ] -1 Do not accept Pirk into the Apache Incubator because… > > This vote will be open for at least 72 hours. > > Here is my +1 (binding). > > Billie > ------ > > Pirk Proposal > > Abstract > > Pirk is a framework for scalable Private Information Retrieval (PIR). > > Proposal > > Pirk is a software framework for scalable Private Information Retrieval and > is meant to provide a landing place for robust, scalable, and practical > implementations of PIR algorithms. The initial scalable PIR algorithms of > Pirk were developed at the National Security Agency. > > Background > > Private Information Retrieval (PIR) is an area of computer science and > mathematics that enables a user/entity to privately and securely obtain > information from a dataset, to which they have been granted access, without > revealing, to the dataset owner or to an observer, any information > regarding the questions asked or the results obtained. Employing > homomorphic encryption techniques, PIR enables datasets to remain resident > in their native locations while giving the ability to query the datasets > with sensitive terms. > > Rationale > > Although PIR has been in existence for over twenty years, it has largely > remained an academic discipline with very little robust or scalable > implementation. Pirk not only provides implementations of novel scalable > PIR algorithms, but it provides a framework into which robust, scalable, > and practical PIR may be developed. > > Pirk fits well within the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) family as it > depends on numerous ASF projects and integrates with several others such as > Hadoop and Spark. We also anticipate developing extensions/adaptors for > several other ASF projects such as Kafka, Storm, HBase, and Accumulo in the > near future. > > Initial Goals > > Ensure all dependencies are compliant with Apache License version 2.0 > and that all code and documentation artifacts have the correct Apache > licensing markings and notice. > Establish a formal release process and schedule, allowing for > dependable release cycles in a manner consistent with the Apache > development process. > Establish a process which allows different release cycles for the core > framework, extensions/adaptors, and additional algorithms. > Grow the community to establish diversity of background and expertise. > > Current Status > > Meritocracy > > We will actively seek help and encourage promotion of influence in the > project through meritocracy. We will discuss the requirements in an open > forum. We will encourage and monitor community participation so that > privileges can be extended to those that contribute. > > Community > > Pirk currently has a community of developers within the U.S. government. In > open sourcing Pirk we plan to grow the community to a broader base of > industries and will work to align the interaction of our existing > community. > > Core Developers > > The initial core developers are employed by the US Government. We will work > to grow the community among a more diverse set of developers and > industries. > > Alignment > > Pirk was developed with an open source philosophy in mind and the Apache > way is consistent with the approach we have taken to date. Further, Pirk > depends on numerous ASF libraries and projects including Hadoop, Spark, > Commons, and Maven. We also anticipate extensions and dependencies with > several more ASF projects, including Accumulo, Avro, HBase, Storm, Kafka, > and others. This existing alignment with Apache and the desired community > makes the Apache Incubator a good fit for Pirk. > > Known Risks > > Orphaned Products > > Risk of orphaning is limited though it is important to grow the community. > The project user and developer base is growing and there is already > operational use of Pirk. > > Inexperience with Open Source > > The initial committers to Pirk have limited experience with true open > source software development. However, despite the project origins being > from closed source development we have modeled our behavior and community > development on The Apache Way to the greatest extent possible. We are > committed to the ideals of open source software and will eagerly seek out > mentors and sponsors who can help us quickly come up to speed. > > Homogenous Developers > > The initial committers of Pirk come from a limited set of entities though > we are committed to recruiting and developing additional committers from a > broad spectrum of industries and backgrounds. > > Reliance on Salaried Developers > > We expect Pirk development to continue on salaried time and through > volunteer time. The majority of initial committers are paid by their > employers to contribute to this project. We are committed to developing and > recruiting participation from developers both salaried and non-salaried. > > Relationship with other Apache Projects > > As described in the alignment section, Pirk is already heavily dependent on > other ASF projects and we anticipate further dependence and integration > with new and emerging projects in the Apache family. > > An Excessive Fascination with the Apache Brand > > We respect the Apache brand and desire to adopt its community building > principles. Our desire is to build and foster an open source community > around scalable, robust PIR which aligns with the Apache tenets. Further, > Apache is a natural home for Pirk given our existing dependencies and > alignment with ASF projects. > > Documentation > > At this time there is no Pirk documentation on the web. However, we have > documentation included within the application that details usage. Using > incubator infrastructure we will be rapidly expanding the available > documentation to cover things like installation, developer guide, > frequently asked questions, best practices, and more. > > Initial Source > > The core codebase is written in Java and includes detailed Javadocs and > feature documentation. > > Source and Intellectual Property Submission > > The Pirk code and documentation materials will be submitted by the National > Security Agency. Pirk has been developed by government employees. Material > developed by the government employees is in the public domain and no U.S. > copyright exists in works of the federal government. NSA has submitted > Corporate Contributor License Agreement to the Apache Software Foundation; > the Software Grant Agreement is forth coming. > > External Dependencies > > We believe all current dependencies are compatible with the ASF guidelines. > Our dependency licenses come from the Apache v 2.0 and Eclipse Public v1. > > Cryptography > > Consistent with http://www.apache.org/licenses/exports/ we believe Pirk is > classified as ECCN 5D002. In the event that it becomes necessary we will > engage with appropriate Apache members to ensure we file any necessary > paperwork or clarified any cryptographic export license concerns. > > Required Resources > > Mailing Lists > > d...@pirk.incubator.apache.org > > priv...@pirk.incubator.apache.org > > comm...@pirk.incubator.apache.org > > Source Control > > Pirk requests use of Git for source control (git://git.apache.org/pirk.git > ). > We request a writeable Git repo for Pirk with mirroring to be setup to > Github through INFRA. > > Issue Tracking > > JIRA Pirk (PIRK) > > Initial Committers > > Tracy Brown <tbrownpirk at gmail dot com>, CLA submitted > > Christopher Harris <Chris.Harris010 at gmail dot com>, CLA submitted > > Walter Ray-Dulaney <raydulany at gmail dot com>, CLA submitted > > Jacob Wilder <jacobwilder.opensource at gmail dot com>, CLA submitted > > Ellison Anne Williams <eawilliamsPirk at gmail dot com>, CLA confirmed > > Joe Witt <joewitt at apache dot org>, CLA confirmed > > Sponsors > > Champion > > Billie Rinaldi <billie at apache dot org>, IPMC Member > > Nominated Mentors > > Billie Rinaldi <billie at apache dot org>, IPMC Member > > Joe Witt <joewitt at apache dot org>, IPMC Member > > Josh Elser <elserj at apache dot org>, IPMC Member > > Suneel Marthi <smarthi at apache dot org>, IPMC Member > > Tim Ellison <tellison at apache dot org>, Apache Member > > Sponsoring Entity > > We request the Apache Incubator to sponsor this project. >
