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Boost Formal Review Process

Introduction
What to include in Review Comments
Results
Notes for Review Managers
Notes for Library Submitters
Review Wizard

Introduction

Proposed libraries are accepted into Boost only after undergoing a formal review, where Boost mailing list members comment on their evaluation of the library.

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

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.

What to include in Review Comments

Your comments may be brief or lengthy, but basically the Review Manager needs your evaluation of the library.  If you identify problems along the way, please note if they are minor, serious, or showstoppers.

Here are some questions you might want to answer in your review:

And finally, every review should answer this question:

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 is also helpful, but its extent is up to the Review Manager. If there are suggestions, or conditions that must be met before final inclusion, they should be stated.

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 works smoothly.

Notes for Library Submitters

See Submission Process for a description of the steps a library developer goes through to get a library accepted by Boost.

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 normally be held until after the completion of review period.  If the suggested changes might affect reviewer's judgments, post a notice of the pending change on the mailing list.

Review Wizard

The Review Wizard coordinates the formal review schedule:

The role of Boost Review Wizard is currently played by Thomas Witt.

Revised 18 November, 2002