View source for WTP API Policy

= WTP API Policy =
[[Category:Eclipse Web Tools Platform Project]]
[[Category:Eclipse Web Tools Platform Architecture]]

'''''PROPOSAL'''''

In previous releases WTP did not have enough API to meet our adopter's needs and was causing repeated breakage to adopters as we changed our internal code. This led to the adoption of an internal usage scan policy - if an adopter was willing to supply usage data for WTP, we agreed not to change any of the internal code used by the adopter.

This policy was required at the time to stabilize WTP and encourage widespread adoption. However, continuing this policy indefinitely hampers innovation in WTP and makes it difficult to create API. This document provides a new API policy that will allow us to innovate while still encouraging widespread adoption.


== Declared API ==
Declared API is public API that WTP has committed to supporting for several releases. It should be clean and contain adequate javadoc.

New API must be reviewed and approved by the component or subproject lead. Declared API may evolve in the first few milestones, but it must be frozen by the release API freeze date and will not change throughout the remainder of the release or the corresponding maintenance releases.

Declared API must have at least two clients, at least one of which must be public as part of WTP (or another Eclipse Project). In some cases it's fine if the client is a sample or example instead of full fledged end-user functionality.

In following releases, API may sometimes be deprecated due to the normal evolution of WTP. Deprecations must be approved by the project lead and must contain information on a migration path for existing adopters. Deprecated API may not be removed for at least 2 major releases (and preferably longer), and after notifying the community. Exceptions must be approved by the PMC.


== Provisional API ==
Provisional API is a work in progress towards fully Declared API and can be used when committers want to gather community feedback before declaring API, or when there are known problems with a new API that cannot be addressed by API freeze date. Provisional API status is meant to be a temporary state and API should not remain provisional for an undue length of time.

Due to the risk of stagnation on partial API or being used when not absolutely necessary, Provisional API is discouraged for general use and must have both component or subproject lead approval and approval of the PMC.

Committers should avoid creating Provisional API in any package that would not be appropriate for the final Declared API. This includes package names that use words such as "internal" or "provisional". Labeling existing internal code as provisional is allowed in order to declare a greater degree of support to potential adopters, but committers should exercise care when using this option.

Provisional API should be marked at the class or member level with the following javadoc comment:

: * <b>Provisional API:</b> This class/interface is part of an interim API that is still under development and expected to 
: * change significantly before reaching stability. It is being made available at this early stage to solicit feedback 
: * from pioneering adopters on the understanding that any code that uses this API will almost certainly be broken 
: * (repeatedly) as the API evolves.

Provisional API may evolve during the first milestones but it must be frozen by the regular API freeze date of a release and will not change for the remainder of the release and the corresponding maintenance releases. Exceptions must be approved by the PMC.

Provisional API should not stagnate. It may be declared as API, undergo extensive change, or be removed at any time in following releases. No approval is necessary, but we strongly recommend that committers notify the community of changes.


== Protected Non-API Usage ==
Protected Non-API usage are internal methods that have been reported in adopter usage scans and WTP has agreed to maintain. This may include use of Provisional API, which is covered by this category.

As of Jan 31st, 2008, WTP will no longer accept new internal usage scans. We will continue to respect the latest usage scan from all adopters received before Dec 31st.

During regular development milestones committers must send a note to the mailing list and to the email address listed in any affected adopter scan 2 (two) weeks before making any breaking change to protected internal usage. The note should include information on what is changing, potential migration paths, if there is a deprecation period, etc. If there is no response within the two weeks or all responses are positive, the committer is free to make the change.

If any adopters object to the change, the committer must work with them to find an acceptable solution. Some possibilities are more information about the change, providing a deprecation period, changing the timing, or additional information to help with porting. If the adopters agree after this discussion, the committer can go ahead with the change.

If the committer and adopters cannot find a reasonable compromise, the issue will be brought to the PMC for arbitration. The PMC may decide on any solution it feels balances between supporting the adopter community as a platform and allowing innovation and change in WTP.

Protected Non-API usage may not change after the regular API freeze date of a release and will be treated like declared API for the remainder of the release and the corresponding maintenance releases.

There are several opportunities for code to evolve out of protected Non-API usage:

:*Declare as API or declare an equivalent API.
:*Provide Provisional API.
:*Illegitimate non-API usage - If the code is deemed illegitimate internal use, the adopter will be notified and the use will be removed (unprotected) from the usage scans. In cases where the usage is questionable, a committer may question the adopter on why the internal code is being used. If the use is not acceptable after a reasonable discussion, it may become unprotected.

::The following are some examples of illegitimate internal usage:
::* Use of messages, icons, logging or tracing methods from another plugin.
::* Use of internal methods where equivalent API exists. (In cases where new API is declared, reasonable time should be given for porting)
::* Use of internal utility classes unrelated to the purpose of the plugin.

:*Adopter agreement - If the adopter no longer needs it or code dependencies are minimal, the adopter may agree to remove or reduce the protected internal usage scans.
:*Project graduation - If a WTP project has well defined API and minimal internal usage, it may request 'graduation' from the PMC from the protected internal use policy.

Any code covered in the illegitimate non-API usage, removed by adopter agreement, or project graduation categories will be treated like regular internal use described below.

Any protected non-API use that has not evolved in one of these directions after two releases (WTP '4.0') will default to declared API, and WTP projects will have to follow regular declared API rules (e.g. deprecation) when changing this code. At that time this section of the API policy will be removed.


== Internal Use ==
Internal code is everything else - usually indicated by 'internal' in the package or extension point name, or tagged as 'x-internal' in a manifest file. WTP reserves the right to change internal code at any time.

If adopters require the use of internal code and do not want to be continually broken, they should open bugzilla enhancement requests for API. These bugs will be triaged and will help drive the creation of new declared or provisional API.

Due to the risk that we may break an adopter we will attempt to not to change any internal code that is accessible by adopters (i.e. internal public and protected classes and methods) in maintenance releases. However, as in any internal code we reserve the right to make changes at any time.

Please see [http://wiki.eclipse.org/WTP_Policy_on_Package_Visibility WTP Policy on Package Visibility]