add k8gb governance review

Signed-off-by: Josh Gavant <joshgavant@gmail.com>

Author: joshgav

projects/k8gb/governance-review/2026-01-21.md

@@ -0,0 +1,255 @@
+# k8gb - Governance Review - 2026-01-21
+
+What follows is a governance review and assessment for the k8gb project. The
+review was executed as part of due diligence when k8gb submitted to move to
+Incubation level at CNCF in <https://github.com/cncf/toc/issues/1472>.
+
+- Project: <https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb>
+- Site: <https://www.k8gb.io/>
+- Matriculation issue: <https://github.com/cncf/toc/issues/1472>
+- Governance review issue: <https://github.com/cncf/toc/issues/1963>
+
+This review is based on the template at
+<https://github.com/cncf/toc/blob/main/toc_subprojects/project-reviews-subproject/governance-review-template.md>
+
+## Summary and Assessment
+
+**Status:** Satisfactory
+
+### Must-Fix Items
+
+**The following issues have been identified that need to be resolved before
+[project milestone or other requirement]:**
+
+- The process for choosing the project lead should be described.
+- Who the project lead is should be indicated somewhere.
+- In the future, a GitHub issue should be created for election of each new maintainer.
+
+### Points of Excellence
+
+**The following aspects of governance are exemplary, and can be referenced as
+examples for other projects to copy:**
+
+- Meeting notes are conveniently discoverable in GitHub at
+  [Project-Meeting-Notes.md](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/Project-Meeting-Notes.md),
+  and recordings are quickly published to YouTube.
+
+### Areas for Improvement
+
+**Over the next year, the project should work on the following issues to improve
+its governance, these are considered non-blocking:**
+
+- If there are people who make significant code contributions but not at the
+  level of maintainers, consider an official "Contributor" role and listing to
+  recognize and reward their contribution.
+
+---
+
+## Governance Summary
+
+**The following review primarily consists of an audit on the project's
+self-assessment in their matriculation application.**
+
+### Governance Evolution
+
+**Governance has continuously been iterated upon by the project as a result of
+their experience applying it, with the governance history demonstrating
+evolution of maturity alongside the project's maturity evolution.**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Suggested
+
+There has been little change to
+[GOVERNANCE](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/GOVERNANCE.md) since it
+was written several years ago. [CODEOWNERS
+history](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/commits/master/CODEOWNERS) shows
+onboarding and offboarding of maintainers.
+
+### Discoverability
+
+**Clear and discoverable project governance documentation.**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Required
+
+The project is all in one repo and that repo includes a
+[GOVERNANCE.md](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/GOVERNANCE.md)
+document.
+
+### Accuracy and Clarity
+
+**Governance is up to date with actual project activities, including any
+meetings, elections, leadership, or approval processes.**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Maintainers are listed in the repo's
+[CODEOWNERS](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/CODEOWNERS) doc, and
+that document is actively updated when there are changes.
+
+There is no record of an election accompanying the change.
+
+Project meetings are held every other Wednesday as documented in
+[Project-Meeting-Notes.md](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/Project-Meeting-Notes.md)
+and recordings and notes are published and linked there.
+
+**Governance clearly documents [vendor-neutrality] of project direction.**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Vendor neutrality is listed as a core principle of the project in
+[GOVERNANCE.md](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/GOVERNANCE.md). The
+project does not appear to be packaged and/or supported by major vendors. It was
+originally created by [ABSA](https://www.absa.co.za/), a South African bank.
+
+The project plans to move to a vendor-neutral API group in the future instead of
+`k8gb.absa.oss`, see <https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/issues/2180>.
+
+
+### Decisions and Role Assignments
+
+**Document how the project makes decisions on leadership roles, contribution
+acceptance, requests to the CNCF, and changes to governance or project goals.**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Required
+
+The GOVERNANCE document states that all these decisions are made by a
+supermajority of maintainers, who are those listed in CODEOWNERS.
+
+**Document how role, function-based members, or sub-teams are assigned,
+onboarded, and removed for specific teams (example: Security Response
+Committee).**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Required
+
+There is only one group of project leaders, the maintainers listed in
+CODEOWNERS. According to the GOVERNANCE doc maintainers are added and removed by
+an election of a supermajority of current maintainers, but there is no record of
+previous elections.
+
+There is no defined "contributor" role (other than maintainers), but all are
+welcomed to submit Pull Requests through GitHub.
+
+There are no additional teams other than the maintainers.
+
+### Maintainers and Maintainer Lifecycle
+
+**Document a complete maintainer lifecycle process (including roles, onboarding,
+offboarding, and emeritus status).**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Maintainers are added to CODEOWNERS following a period of contributions to the
+project. They are removed voluntarily or per a supermajority vote of
+maintainers.
+
+**Demonstrate usage of the maintainer lifecycle with outcomes, either through
+the addition or replacement of maintainers as project events have required.**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Examples of maintainers being onboarded and offboarded in the following commits:
+
+- https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/commit/1ecee28519f3a70ad4fe24ef5f47a6c93f2734d2
+- https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/commit/9ab4528bfc103bbd4fbf580510491fd3386aed90
+- https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/commit/c5ea88b4be8ee20a9698717f2f6204af86a45c2e
+- https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/commit/5b35c35f5bfc643ffd180b82bfde6067b2fcaa79
+
+**Document complete list of current maintainers, including names, contact
+information, domain of responsibility, and affiliation.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+The project has no sub-projects.
+
+**A number of active maintainers which is appropriate to the size and scope of
+the project.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+There are 7 maintainers for the repo.
+
+**Project maintainers from at least 2 organizations that demonstrates
+survivability.**
+**Incubating:** N/A | **Graduated:** Required
+
+The maintainers work for 5 different organizations.
+
+### Ownership
+
+**Code and Doc ownership in Github and elsewhere matches documented governance
+roles.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Yes, governed by [CODEOWNERS](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/CODEOWNERS).
+
+### Code of Conduct
+
+**Document adoption and adherence to the CNCF Code of Conduct or the project's
+CoC which is based off the CNCF CoC and not in conflict with it.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+GOVERNANCE and
+[CODE_OF_CONDUCT](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md)
+documents refer to CNCF code of conduct.
+
+**CNCF Code of Conduct is cross-linked from other governance documents.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+GOVERNANCE and
+[CODE_OF_CONDUCT](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md)
+documents refer to CNCF code of conduct.
+
+### Subprojects
+
+**All subprojects, if any, are listed.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+No subprojects.
+
+**If the project has subprojects: subproject leadership, contribution, maturity
+status documented, including add/remove process.**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Not applicable.
+
+### Contributors and Community
+
+**Contributor ladder with multiple roles for contributors.**
+**Incubating:** Suggested | **Graduated:** Suggested
+
+No contributor ladder; only status available is full maintainer.
+
+**Clearly defined and discoverable process to submit issues or changes.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Process follows typical GitHub workflow and is documented in
+[CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md)
+
+**Project must have, and document, at least one public communications channel
+for users and/or contributors.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Yes, see following question.
+
+**List and document all project communication channels, including subprojects
+(mail list/slack/etc.). List any non-public communications channels and what
+their special purpose is.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Project has several public communications channels:
+- CNCF Slack: [#k8gb](https://cloud-native.slack.com/archives/C021P656HGB)
+- LinkedIn: <https://www.linkedin.com/company/k8gb/>
+- X: <https://x.com/k8gb_io>
+- Community meetings: <https://zoom-lfx.platform.linuxfoundation.org/meetings/k8gb>
+- Web site & blog: <http://k8gb.io/>
+
+**Up-to-date public meeting schedulers and/or integration with CNCF calendar.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Biweekly public open community meetings are listed at
+<https://zoom-lfx.platform.linuxfoundation.org/meetings/k8gb>
+
+**Documentation of how to contribute, with increasing detail as the project
+matures.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+Project includes a
+[CONTRIBUTING.md](https://github.com/k8gb-io/k8gb/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md)
+doc with this info.
+
+**Demonstrate contributor activity and recruitment.**
+**Incubating:** Required | **Graduated:** Required
+
+See <https://insights.linuxfoundation.org/project/k8gb/contributors>
+
+[project milestone or other requirement]: https://github.com/cncf/toc/tree/main/process#how-to-apply-to-move-levels
+[vendor-neutrality]: https://contribute.cncf.io/maintainers/community/vendor-neutrality/