+1, good stuff... --tim
On Wed, Nov 19, 2014 at 9:02 PM, Joe Witt <joe.w...@gmail.com> wrote: > Hello, > > > I would like to propose NiFi as an Apache Incubator Project. > > In addition to the copy provided below the Wiki version of the > proposal can be found here: > http://wiki.apache.org/incubator/NiFiProposal > > Thanks > > Joe > > > = NiFi Proposal = > > == Abstract == > NiFi is a dataflow system based on the concepts of flow-based programming. > > == Proposal == > NiFi supports powerful and scalable directed graphs of data routing, > transformation, and system mediation logic. Some of the high-level > capabilities and objectives of NiFi include: > * Web-based user interface for seamless experience between design, > control, feedback, and monitoring of data flows > * Highly configurable along several dimensions of quality of service > such as loss tolerant versus guaranteed delivery, low latency versus > high throughput, and priority based queuing > * Fine-grained data provenance for all data received, forked, > joined, cloned, modified, sent, and ultimately dropped as data reaches > its configured end-state > * Component-based extension model along well defined interfaces > enabling rapid development and effective testing > > == Background == > Reliable and effective dataflow between systems can be difficult > whether you're running scripts on a laptop or have a massive > distributed computing system operated by numerous teams and > organizations. As the volume and rate of data grows and as the number > of systems, protocols, and formats increase and evolve so too does the > complexity and need for greater insight and agility. These are the > dataflow challenges that NiFi was built to tackle. > > NiFi is designed in a manner consistent with the core concepts > described in flow-based programming as originally documented by J. > Paul Morrison in the 1970s. This model lends itself well to visual > diagramming, concurrency, componentization, testing, and reuse. In > addition to staying close to the fundamentals of flow-based > programming, NiFi provides integration system specific features such > as: guaranteed delivery; back pressure; ability to gracefully handle > backlogs and data surges; and an operator interface that enables > on-the-fly data flow generation, modification, and observation. > > == Rationale == > NiFi provides a reliable, scalable, manageable and accountable > platform for developers and technical staff to create and evolve > powerful data flows. Such a system is useful in many contexts > including large-scale enterprise integration, interaction with cloud > services and frameworks, business to business, intra-departmental, and > inter-departmental flows. NiFi fits well within the Apache Software > Foundation (ASF) family as it depends on numerous ASF projects and > integrates with several others. We also anticipate developing > extensions for several other ASF projects such as Cassandra, Kafka, > and Storm in the near future. > > == Initial Goals == > * Ensure all dependencies are compliant with Apache License version > 2.0 and all 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. > * Determine and establish a mechanism, possibly including a > sub-project construct, that allows for extensions to the core > application to occur at a pace that differs from the core application > itself. > > == Current Status == > === Meritocracy === > An integration platform is only as good as its ability to integrate > systems in a reliable, timely, and repeatable manner. The same can be > said of its ability to attract talent and a variety of perspectives as > integration systems by their nature are always evolving. We will > actively seek help and encourage promotion of influence in the project > through meritocracy. > > === Community === > Over the past several years, NiFi has developed a strong community of > both developers and operators within the U.S. government. We look > forward to helping grow this to a broader base of industries. > > === Core Developers === > The initial core developers are employed by the National Security > Agency and defense contractors. We will work to grow the community > among a more diverse set of developers and industries. > > === Alignment === > From its inception, NiFi was developed with an open source philosophy > in mind and with the hopes of eventually being truly open sourced. > The Apache way is consistent with the approach we have taken to date. > The ASF clearly provides a mature and effective environment for > successful development as is evident across the spectrum of well-known > projects. Further, NiFi depends on numerous ASF libraries and > projects including; ActiveMQ, Ant, Commons, Lucene, Hadoop, > HttpClient, Jakarta and Maven. We also anticipate extensions and > dependencies with several more ASF projects, including Accumulo, Avro, > Casandra, HBase, JClouds, Storm, Kafka, Thrift, Tika, and others. > This existing alignment with Apache and the desired community makes > the Apache Incubator a good fit for NiFi. > > == Known Risks == > === Orphaned Products === > Risk of orphaning is minimal. The project user and developer base is > substantial, growing, and there is already extensive operational use > of NiFi. > > === Inexperience with Open Source === > The initial committers to NiFi have limited experience with true open > source software development. However, despite the project origins > being from closed source development we have modelled our behavior and > community development on The Apache Way to the greatest extent > possible. This environment includes widely accessible source code > repositories, published artifacts, ticket tracking, and extensive > documentation. We also encourage contributions and frequent debate and > hold regular, collaborative discussions through e-mail, chat rooms, > and in-person meet-ups. 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 NiFi 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 NiFi development to continue on salaried time and through > volunteer time. The 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, NiFi 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 laudable Apache brand and that is certainly a factor in > the decision to propose NiFi for the Apache Incubator. We intend to > provide a great deal of energy and capability to the ASF through this > project. We will be sensitive to and respectful of any overuse of the > Apache brand and ensure our focus remains on how we benefit the Apache > community. > > === Documentation === > At this time there is no NiFi documentation on the web. However, we > have extensive documentation included within the application that > details usage of the many functions. We will be rapidly expanding the > available documentation to cover things like installation, developer > guide, frequently asked questions, best practices, and more. This > documentation will be posted to the NiFi wiki at apache.org. > > == Initial Source == > NiFi has been in active development since late 2006 with contributions > from dozens of developers and feedback from hundreds of users and > developers. The core codebase is written in Java and includes > detailed Javadocs and feature documentation. > > == Source and Intellectual Property Submission == > Previously referred to as Niagarafiles, the NiFi code and > documentation materials will be submitted by the National Security > Agency. NiFi has been developed by a mix of government employees and > private companies under government contract. Material developed by > the government employees is in the public domain and no U.S. copyright > exists in works of the federal government. For the contractor > developed material in the initial submission, the U.S. Government has > sufficient authority to open source per DFARS 252.227-7014. NSA has > submitted the Software Grant Agreement and Corporate Contributor > License Agreement to the Apache Software Foundation. > > == External Dependencies == > We have at least one dependency on an LGPL library which we will > promptly address. Otherwise, we believe all current dependencies are > compatible with the ASF guidelines. Our dependency licenses come from > the following license styles: Apache v 2.0, BSD, Public Domain, > Eclipse Public v1, MIT, CDDL v1. > > == Cryptography == > Consistent with http://www.apache.org/licenses/exports/ we believe > NiFi is classified as ECCN 5D002. NiFi doesn't implement any > cryptographic algorithms but is designed to use algorithms provided by > Oracle Java Cryptographic Extensions, BouncyCastle, and JCraft, Inc. > These cryptographic algorithm providers are used to support SSL, > SSH/SFTP, and the encryption and decryption of sensitive properties. > 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 === > * u...@nifi.incubator.apache.org > * d...@nifi.incubator.apache.org > * priv...@nifi.incubator.apache.org > * comm...@nifi.incubator.apache.org > > === Source Control === > NiFi requests use of Git for source control > (git://git.apache.org/nifi.git). We request a writeable Git repo for > NiFi with mirroring to be setup to Github through INFRA. We request > sponsor Benson Margulies (bimargulies) to assist with creating the > INFRA ticket for this. > > === Issue Tracking === > JIRA NiFi (NIFI) > > === Initial Committers === > * Brandon Devries <brandon.devries at gmail dot com> > * Matt Gilman <matt.c.gilman at gmail dot com> > * Tony Kurc <trkurc at gmail dot com> > * Mark Payne <markap14 at hotmail dot com> > * Adam Taft <adam at adamtaft dot com> > * Joseph Witt <joewitt at gmail dot com> > > === Affiliations === > * Brandon Devries (Requitest, Inc.) > * Matt Gilman (Raytheon) > * Tony Kurc (National Security Agency) > * Mark Payne (Sotera Defense Solutions, Inc.) > * Adam Taft (Requitest, Inc.) > * Joseph Witt (National Security Agency) > > == Sponsors == > === Champion === > * Benson Margulies (Basis Technology) <bimargulies at apache dot org> > > === Nominated Mentors === > * Drew Farris (Booz Allen Hamilton) <drew at apache dot org> > * Brock Noland (Cloudera) <brock at apache dot org> > * Billie Rinaldi (Hortonworks) <billie at apache dot org> > > === Sponsoring Entity === > We request the Apache Incubator to sponsor this project. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: general-unsubscr...@incubator.apache.org For additional commands, e-mail: general-h...@incubator.apache.org
