Signet Working Group conference call
January 18, 2008

*Attendees*
Mike Olive, Stanford U. (chair)
Lynn McRae, Stanford U.
Dave Donnelly, Stanford U.
Steve Olshansky, Internet2
Renee Frost, Internet2
Jessica Bibbee, Internet2 (scribe)
 
New *Action Items*
[AI] {Dave and Mike} will address the status and location of outstanding Bugzilla entries.
[AI] {Mike} will contact {Michael Gettes} about potential CoManage requirements to drive Signet functionality.
[AI] {Mike} will contact {Tom Barton} about centralizing a Signet and Grouper [combined] roadmap, perhaps in the I2-MI-Common space.
 
*Agenda*
 
1. Development Related Topics
    - Current workeffort status
      * General XML import/export
      * Metadata update utilities (need partner input for prioritization)
    - Tentative date for next release

2. Project Documentation
    - Review roadmap (just for my own edification and understanding)
      * Web Services/facades
    - Bug review

*Discussion*

{Lynn} introduced {Mike} as the new chair of the Signet WG, effective as of Jan-2008. {Lynn} will continue to provide transitional support for the working group during the next few months, and he plans to continue participation as time allows.

-Development Related Topics-
{Dave} provided an update on the current work status. The majority of effort has gone into finalizing the XML import/export.

-Upcoming Signet Release v1.3.0-
{Dave} shared a targeted [beta] release date of 1-Feb for the Signet v1.3.0 release candidate. The community will have one week to download the tarball, do testing, and provide feedback. The next stage will be to either fix bugs found and release a v1.3.0 RC2 ; if no bugs or issues are raised, then the official release will be issued. {Jessica and Dave} will work to create a set of Release Notes that appropriately capture the contents of the release.

While bugs are now reported to JIRA, there are several outstanding bugs remaining from the previously used Bugzilla. [AI] {Dave and Mike} will address the status and location of outstanding Bugzilla entries.

-Signet Roadmap & Bug Review-
{Mike} discussed the issue of a web services façade in hopes of distinguishing between feature requests and items that will provide substantial value to the project. The 'façade' topic was a result of discussion around a business requirement that would span multiple projects, i.e., Ldappc, SubjectAPI, etc., as opposed to an API that simply addresses Grouper or Signet functionality. The [super]API would be published transparently to a both Signet and Grouper. The Group agreed that {Tom Barton's} input on 'façades' is needed to expand discussion. Another question is how authorization will be handled for web services.

{Mike} raised a few ideas around a metadata update utility. There are many possible utilities and the Group hopes to have user-driven requirements towards design of the utility. On what should development first focus? [AI] {Mike} will contact {Michael Gettes} about potential COmanage requirements to drive Signet functionality. Others are encouraged to share their interest, requirements, and priorities.

The Group briefly visited the intersection of EDDY and Signet, deciding that, at most, it pertains to the audit capabilities, as it is a diagnostics tool.

The Signet Roadmap was last visited in Oct-2007. Generally, the Group revisits the roadmap during face-to-face time at the Internet2 Member Meetings. The roadmap should, however, be considered a living document, updated as necessary. {Lynn} started discussion with {Tom} regarding a single version for Signet and Grouper, showing overlaps and commonality. Further discussion is needed on where to house this document; the I2MI-Common [wiki] space may be an appropriate venue.

The next Signet Working Group call is scheduled for Friday, February 1, 2008 at 11am EST.