Enhancements to the GIP Process

The goal of GIP-0061 is to simplify and clarify the steps required to propose, implement, and deploy a GIP (Graph Improvement Proposal). These updates aim to make the process more intuitive, transparent, and aligned with current practices, ensuring smoother collaboration across the community.

Key Updates:

1. Simplified Process Stages:
 • The GRP (Graph Request for Proposal) has been removed, and a more intuitive set of stages for GIPs has been introduced:
 • Happy Path: Draft → Candidate → Approved → Implemented (or Living)
 • Unhappy Path: Deferred → Withdrawn

2. Restructured GIP-0001:
 • GIP-0001 has been updated to reflect the real-world process that has been followed when proposing changes to the protocol. This ensures the documentation matches actual workflows, reducing confusion for contributors.

3. Modernized Details:
 • Minor but important updates include replacing mentions of Radicle with the GitHub repository and revising the list of Editors to reflect the current state.

4. Smart Form for Contributor Support:
 • A new smart form has been introduced, streamlining how contributors request support. Use cases of the smart form include:
 • Being added to the agenda for indexer office hours.
 • Scheduling a time slot to present to the council.
 • Requesting support for auditing code updates.
 • The form automates the creation of a ticket in GitHub and notifies the requester with a link to the ticket, enabling easy tracking and follow-up.

If approved, this vote will ratify the proposed process updates, establishing them as the standard for GIP submissions. As a living document, the process will remain open to community feedback and iterative improvements to ensure it evolves alongside the needs of The Graph ecosystem.