MACE-Dir-Groups Conference Call
September 7, 2005
 
*Participants*
Tom Barton, U. Chicago (chair)
Blair Christensen, U. Chicago
John Ballem, Brown U.
Steve Barrett, U. Cornell
Gary Brown, U. Bristol
Brendan Bellina, USC
Ann West, EDUCAUSE/Internet2
Renee Frost, Internet2
Steve Olshansky, Internet2
Jessica Bibbee, Internet2 (scribe)
 
New *Action Items*
[AI] {Gary} will notify the {grouper-dev} list regarding the final freeze of the UI code for Grouper v0.6.
 
[AI] {Gary} and {Blair} will work offline to determine an agreeable solution for housing libraries within Grouper.
 
[AI] {Tom} will develop a list of how to point to different backend databases.
 
[AI] {Gary} will include "searching within the subject API" in the Grouper documentation.
 
Carry-over *Action Items*
[AI] {Group} will review documentation on the links that {Gary} sent out (23/24-Aug), and provide feedback before the next MACE-Dir-Groups call. (24-Aug-05)
 
[AI] {Tom} will work on a brief question/answer introduction page for Grouper. (10-Aug-05)
 
[AI] {Minh} will prepare initial documentation for the Subject API. (10-Aug-05)
 
[AI] {Minh} will initiate discussion on the {grouper-dev} list regarding packaging options for the Grouper UI. (27-Jul-05)
 
*Discussion*
The Group discussed final preparations for Grouper v0.6. {Blair} stated that the API has been frozen, with minimal code-clean up remaining.
 
{Gary} expects to put a freeze on the UI by Friday, 16-Sep. [AI] {Gary} will notify the {grouper-dev} list regarding the final freeze of the UI code for Grouper v0.6. He has also made some changes to the QuickStart documentation. In terms of searching, the current capabilities will simply need to be clearly stated in the documentation. [AI] {Gary} will include "searching within the subject API" in the Grouper documentation. Any caveats in documents should be addressed before the v0.6 release. Subject API documentation will be a good starting point for users.
 
The goal for v0.6 is still to offer an up-and-running prototype version of Grouper, while not immediately fulfilling a full-featured expectation, which is anticipated to be covered by a following production version, possibly v1.0.
 
There was discussion of whether or not there was a naming conflict for the Grouper JAR files.   However, it was pointed out that there is a Grouper.jar and Grouper-lib.jar. {Tom} suggested that these be billed from CVS in order to end up with the same structure.
 
Exact packaging (CVS, etc) will need to be settled upon, including how to path to QuickStart. While the QuickStart is basically a pre-built version, there is some room to change the configuration and property files. But primarily, users will be looking for something they can 'drop and deploy' onto their application server.
{John} suggested that it might be useful to include transition instructions into the documentation, which would detail how to move between the QuickStart and eventual Grouper version. {Steve Barrett} offered support and feedback from Cornell for any debugging issues.
 
 [AI] {Tom} will develop a list of how to point to different backend databases.
 
Another point of discussion was where to house the various third-party libraries. Should there be a common library, or should they be kept in a directory within CVS? [AI] {Gary} and {Blair} will work offline to determine an agreeable solution for housing libraries within Grouper.
 
The Group agreed upon 16-Sep-05 as a target date for Grouper v0.6 to be packaged and ready for the initial release.
 
Due to the Fall 2005 Internet2 Member meeting in Philadelphia, PA over 19/22-Sep, the next regular call will be canceled. Therefore, the next scheduled MACE-Dir-Groups conference call will be Wednesday, October 5, 2005 at 12pm ET.