Governance · Transparent by default

RFC Tracker

Every significant change to WAF++ starts with a public Request for Comments. This page tracks every RFC — draft through implementation — so decisions are always traceable.

10
Total RFCs
2
Open for review
2
Draft
6
Implemented
0
Rejected
RFC-0001 Initial 7-pillar framework structure
implemented framework

Establishes the core seven-pillar model as the foundational structure of WAF++, covering Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, Cost Optimisation, Operational Excellence, Sustainability, and Developer Experience.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2025-12-05Decided: 2025-12-05Implemented: 2025-12-05PR: #1
RFC-0002 Public 2026 roadmap and milestone planning
implemented governance

Defines the public roadmap for 2026 covering Q1–Q4 milestones, including v1.0 target, pilot programme, and foundation readiness goals.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2025-12-06Decided: 2025-12-06Implemented: 2025-12-06PR: #2
RFC-0003 Pillar descriptions and key questions — all 7 pillars
implemented framework

Adds the initial content definition for each of the 7 pillars: scope, rationale, and key assessment questions. Serves as the baseline for the controls library.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2025-12-07Decided: 2025-12-07Implemented: 2025-12-07PR: #3
RFC-0004 Documentation migration to AsciiDoc / Antora
implemented docs

Migrates all framework documentation from Markdown to AsciiDoc and establishes Antora as the documentation build system with component versioning (v1.0).

Author: t1murl Opened: 2026-02-20Decided: 2026-02-26Implemented: 2026-02-26PR: #4
RFC-0005 Contribution metadata: CONTRIBUTING, CODE_OF_CONDUCT, SECURITY
implemented governance

Adds the standard open-source health files to the framework repository: contribution guidelines, code of conduct (based on Contributor Covenant v2.1), and security policy.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2026-02-06Decided: 2026-02-08Implemented: 2026-02-08PR: #6
RFC-0006 Sovereign pillar (Pillar 7) — initial controls
implemented framework

Introduces the Sovereign pillar as the 7th pillar of WAF++, covering data sovereignty, compliance, and jurisdictional control. Ships with 10 initial controls (WAF-SOV-010 through WAF-SOV-100).

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2026-02-14Decided: 2026-03-04Implemented: 2026-03-04
RFC-0008 Controls schema v1 — machine-readable YAML specification
open tooling

Defines a formal JSON Schema for WAF++ controls YAML files, enabling consistent validation, tooling integration, and third-party consumption of the controls library.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2026-03-10Discussion: GitHub →
RFC-0009 PASS scoring model — formal specification for v1.0
open framework

Formalises the PASS scoring model as a normative specification: tier definitions, calculation rules, aggregation logic, and versioning contract. Required for v1.0 stability guarantee.

Author: t1murl Opened: 2026-03-08Discussion: GitHub →
RFC-0010 Assessment tooling — CLI and scorecard approach
draft tooling

Defines the approach for official WAF++ assessment tooling: a CLI tool and/or web scorecard that consumes the controls library and produces a PASS score report.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2026-03-11
RFC-0011 CI/CD pipeline for framework repository
draft tooling

Introduces automated checks for the framework repository: Antora build validation, controls YAML linting, and link checking on every pull request.

Author: t1murl Opened: 2026-03-11
RFC-0008 Controls schema v1 — machine-readable YAML specification
open tooling

Defines a formal JSON Schema for WAF++ controls YAML files, enabling consistent validation, tooling integration, and third-party consumption of the controls library.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2026-03-10Discussion: GitHub →
RFC-0009 PASS scoring model — formal specification for v1.0
open framework

Formalises the PASS scoring model as a normative specification: tier definitions, calculation rules, aggregation logic, and versioning contract. Required for v1.0 stability guarantee.

Author: t1murl Opened: 2026-03-08Discussion: GitHub →
RFC-0010 Assessment tooling — CLI and scorecard approach
draft tooling

Defines the approach for official WAF++ assessment tooling: a CLI tool and/or web scorecard that consumes the controls library and produces a PASS score report.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2026-03-11
RFC-0011 CI/CD pipeline for framework repository
draft tooling

Introduces automated checks for the framework repository: Antora build validation, controls YAML linting, and link checking on every pull request.

Author: t1murl Opened: 2026-03-11
RFC-0001 Initial 7-pillar framework structure
implemented framework

Establishes the core seven-pillar model as the foundational structure of WAF++, covering Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, Cost Optimisation, Operational Excellence, Sustainability, and Developer Experience.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2025-12-05Decided: 2025-12-05Implemented: 2025-12-05PR: #1
RFC-0002 Public 2026 roadmap and milestone planning
implemented governance

Defines the public roadmap for 2026 covering Q1–Q4 milestones, including v1.0 target, pilot programme, and foundation readiness goals.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2025-12-06Decided: 2025-12-06Implemented: 2025-12-06PR: #2
RFC-0003 Pillar descriptions and key questions — all 7 pillars
implemented framework

Adds the initial content definition for each of the 7 pillars: scope, rationale, and key assessment questions. Serves as the baseline for the controls library.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2025-12-07Decided: 2025-12-07Implemented: 2025-12-07PR: #3
RFC-0004 Documentation migration to AsciiDoc / Antora
implemented docs

Migrates all framework documentation from Markdown to AsciiDoc and establishes Antora as the documentation build system with component versioning (v1.0).

Author: t1murl Opened: 2026-02-20Decided: 2026-02-26Implemented: 2026-02-26PR: #4
RFC-0005 Contribution metadata: CONTRIBUTING, CODE_OF_CONDUCT, SECURITY
implemented governance

Adds the standard open-source health files to the framework repository: contribution guidelines, code of conduct (based on Contributor Covenant v2.1), and security policy.

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2026-02-06Decided: 2026-02-08Implemented: 2026-02-08PR: #6
RFC-0006 Sovereign pillar (Pillar 7) — initial controls
implemented framework

Introduces the Sovereign pillar as the 7th pillar of WAF++, covering data sovereignty, compliance, and jurisdictional control. Ships with 10 initial controls (WAF-SOV-010 through WAF-SOV-100).

Author: sascha-lewandowski Opened: 2026-02-14Decided: 2026-03-04Implemented: 2026-03-04

Want to propose a change?

Open a GitHub Discussion using the RFC template. The community reviews it, maintainers decide — everything is documented and traceable.

Open RFC → RFC process guide →
PROCESS

What qualifies as an RFC?

Not every change needs an RFC — only significant ones. Use the table below to decide.

Change type RFC needed? Process
New pillar or removal of a pillar Yes RFC → TSC vote → PR
Scoring model changes (PASS tiers, weights) Yes RFC → TSC vote → PR
Breaking change to controls schema or IDs Yes RFC → TSC vote → PR
New Working Group proposal Yes RFC → lazy consensus → charter published
Governance or role changes Yes RFC → TSC supermajority
New control (non-breaking, additive) Recommended PR with discussion link · lazy consensus
Docs wording, typo fixes, translations No PR only
Website content, blog posts No PR only
LIFECYCLE

RFC status flow

Every RFC follows the same documented path — from first draft to closed decision.

draft
Author writes the proposal in GitHub Discussions
open
Minimum 5 business days open for community comment
accepted
TSC vote or lazy consensus — documented publicly
implemented
PR merged, changelog entry added, RFC closed
Alternative outcomes: rejected (not accepted after review)  ·  withdrawn (pulled by author). Both are documented with reasons.
WRITING AN RFC

How to write a good RFC

Three things that make the difference between an RFC that moves fast and one that stalls.

State the problem, not the solution

Start with what is broken or missing — not with what you want to build. Reviewers need to agree that the problem is real before they can evaluate your proposed solution. Frame the "why" before the "what".

Document trade-offs explicitly

Every decision has costs. Name them. What gets worse? What are the alternatives you considered? An RFC that acknowledges trade-offs earns trust faster than one that only sells the upside.

Link to evidence

Point to real examples — issues, incidents, prior discussions, or production patterns. Evidence turns opinions into traceable facts and dramatically shortens the review cycle.

READY TO CONTRIBUTE?

Start an RFC today.

Open a discussion on GitHub, follow the template, and let the process do the rest. No prior approval needed — just a clear problem statement.

COMING SOON · 12 MAY 2026
WAF++ 1.0
incl. WAFPass 1.0

The first stable release of the WAF++ Framework and WAFPass CLI.

Launching on the pre-eve of Cloud Native Conference DE12 May 2026 · 20:00 CEST