RFC process

.github/rfc-stakeholders

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+# Who is mentioned when the rfc label goes on a pull request, by the paths it
+# touches. One pattern per line, then the GitHub handles to mention.
+#   *          every change
+#   dir/       anything under dir
+#   path       that exact file
+# The pull request's author is never mentioned.
+

.github/scripts/rfc.cjs

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+'use strict';
+
+// Sets the rfc-moratorium commit status on open pull requests and rewrites
+// the pinned "Open RFCs" issue. Run by .github/workflows/rfc.yml; see RFC.md.
+
+const fs = require('fs');
+const path = require('path');
+
+const LABEL = 'rfc';
+const CONTEXT = 'rfc-moratorium';
+const WINDOW_MS = 7 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+const INDEX_TITLE = 'Open RFCs';
+
+function stamp(ms) {
+    return new Date(ms).toISOString().slice(0, 16).replace('T', ' ') + ' UTC';
+}
+
+// When the rfc label was last applied, from the issue events, or null.
+function labeledAt(events) {
+    let at = null;
+    for (const e of events) {
+        if (e.event !== 'labeled' || !e.label || e.label.name !== LABEL) continue;
+        const t = Date.parse(e.created_at);
+        if (at === null || t > at) at = t;
+    }
+    return at;
+}
+
+function verdict(labels, events, now) {
+    if (!labels.includes(LABEL)) return { state: 'success', description: 'Not an RFC' };
+    const at = labeledAt(events);
+    if (at === null) return { state: 'failure', description: 'Labeled rfc, but no labeled event found' };
+    const notBefore = at + WINDOW_MS;
+    if (now < notBefore) {
+        return { state: 'failure', description: `RFC window open, merge not before ${stamp(notBefore)}`, notBefore };
+    }
+    return { state: 'success', description: `RFC window closed ${stamp(notBefore)}`, notBefore };
+}
+
+function parseStakeholders(text) {
+    const rules = [];
+    for (const raw of text.split('\n')) {
+        const line = raw.replace(/#.*/, '').trim();
+        if (!line) continue;
+        const [pattern, ...handles] = line.split(/\s+/);
+        rules.push({ pattern, handles: handles.map((h) => h.replace(/^@/, '')) });
+    }
+    return rules;
+}
+
+function stakeholders(rules, files, author) {
+    const out = new Set();
+    for (const { pattern, handles } of rules) {
+        const hit = files.some((f) =>
+            pattern === '*' || (pattern.endsWith('/') ? f.startsWith(pattern) : f === pattern));
+        if (hit) handles.forEach((h) => out.add(h));
+    }
+    out.delete(author);
+    return [...out];
+}
+
+function readStakeholders() {
+    return fs.readFileSync(path.join(__dirname, '..', 'rfc-stakeholders'), 'utf8');
+}
+
+function indexBody(owner, repo, rows) {
+    const head = 'Pull requests carrying the `rfc` label and the earliest time each can merge. ' +
+        `The RFC workflow rewrites this issue, see [RFC.md](https://github.com/${owner}/${repo}/blob/main/RFC.md). ` +
+        'Comment on the pull request itself.\n\n';
+    if (rows.length === 0) return head + 'No open RFCs.\n';
+    rows.sort((a, b) => a.notBefore - b.notBefore);
+    return head + '| Pull request | Merge not before |\n|---|---|\n' +
+        rows.map((r) => `| #${r.number} ${r.title.replace(/\|/g, '\\|')} | ${r.notBefore ? stamp(r.notBefore) : 'unknown'} |`).join('\n') + '\n';
+}
+
+async function run({ github, context, core, now = Date.now(), stakeholdersText }) {
+    const { owner, repo } = context.repo;
+    const target = `https://github.com/${owner}/${repo}/blob/main/RFC.md`;
+    const prs = await github.paginate(github.rest.pulls.list, { owner, repo, state: 'open', per_page: 100 });
+    const rows = [];
+
+    for (const pr of prs) {
+        const labels = pr.labels.map((l) => l.name);
+        const events = labels.includes(LABEL)
+            ? await github.paginate(github.rest.issues.listEvents, { owner, repo, issue_number: pr.number, per_page: 100 })
+            : [];
+        const v = verdict(labels, events, now);
+        if (labels.includes(LABEL)) rows.push({ number: pr.number, title: pr.title, notBefore: v.notBefore });
+
+        const { data: current } = await github.rest.repos.listCommitStatusesForRef({
+            owner, repo, ref: pr.head.sha, per_page: 100,
+        });
+        const last = current.find((s) => s.context === CONTEXT);
+        if (last && last.state === v.state && last.description === v.description) continue;
+        await github.rest.repos.createCommitStatus({
+            owner, repo, sha: pr.head.sha, state: v.state, context: CONTEXT, description: v.description, target_url: target,
+        });
+        core.info(`#${pr.number}: ${v.state}, ${v.description}`);
+    }
+
+    const payload = context.payload;
+    if (context.eventName === 'pull_request_target' && payload.action === 'labeled' && payload.label.name === LABEL) {
+        const pr = payload.pull_request;
+        const files = (await github.paginate(github.rest.pulls.listFiles, { owner, repo, pull_number: pr.number, per_page: 100 }))
+            .map((f) => f.filename);
+        const text = stakeholdersText !== undefined ? stakeholdersText : readStakeholders();
+        const who = stakeholders(parseStakeholders(text), files, pr.user.login);
+        const row = rows.find((r) => r.number === pr.number);
+        const body = `This is now an RFC: it cannot merge before ${row && row.notBefore ? stamp(row.notBefore) : 'the window closes'}, ` +
+            'so anyone who depends on what it changes has a week to comment. See [RFC.md](' + target + ').' +
+            (who.length ? '\n\n' + who.map((h) => '@' + h).join(' ') + ', this touches code you depend on.' : '');
+        await github.rest.issues.createComment({ owner, repo, issue_number: pr.number, body });
+    }
+
+    const issues = await github.paginate(github.rest.issues.listForRepo, { owner, repo, state: 'open', per_page: 100 });
+    const index = issues.find((i) => !i.pull_request && i.title === INDEX_TITLE);
+    const body = indexBody(owner, repo, rows);
+    if (!index) {
+        core.warning(`No open issue titled "${INDEX_TITLE}", so no index to update.`);
+    } else if (index.body !== body) {
+        await github.rest.issues.update({ owner, repo, issue_number: index.number, body });
+    }
+}
+
+module.exports = { run, verdict, labeledAt, parseStakeholders, readStakeholders, stakeholders, indexBody, WINDOW_MS };

.github/scripts/rfc.test.cjs

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+'use strict';
+
+// node --test .github/scripts/rfc.test.cjs ; run by .github/workflows/rfc-script.yml.
+
+const test = require('node:test');
+const assert = require('node:assert');
+const rfc = require('./rfc.cjs');
+
+const DAY = 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
+const t0 = Date.parse('2026-09-01T12:00:00Z');
+const on = (at) => ({ event: 'labeled', label: { name: 'rfc' }, created_at: new Date(at).toISOString() });
+const off = (at) => ({ event: 'unlabeled', label: { name: 'rfc' }, created_at: new Date(at).toISOString() });
+
+test('no label passes', () => {
+    assert.strictEqual(rfc.verdict(['bug'], [on(t0)], t0).state, 'success');
+});
+
+test('fails inside the window, passes after it', () => {
+    assert.strictEqual(rfc.verdict(['rfc'], [on(t0)], t0 + 7 * DAY - 1).state, 'failure');
+    assert.strictEqual(rfc.verdict(['rfc'], [on(t0)], t0 + 7 * DAY).state, 'success');
+});
+
+test('re-applying the label restarts the clock', () => {
+    const events = [on(t0), off(t0 + 6 * DAY), on(t0 + 6 * DAY + 1)];
+    const v = rfc.verdict(['rfc'], events, t0 + 8 * DAY);
+    assert.strictEqual(v.state, 'failure');
+    assert.strictEqual(v.notBefore, t0 + 13 * DAY + 1);
+});
+
+test('other labels do not start the clock', () => {
+    const other = { event: 'labeled', label: { name: 'bug' }, created_at: new Date(t0 + 5 * DAY).toISOString() };
+    assert.strictEqual(rfc.verdict(['rfc'], [on(t0), other], t0 + 7 * DAY).state, 'success');
+});
+
+test('label with no event fails', () => {
+    assert.strictEqual(rfc.verdict(['rfc'], [], t0).state, 'failure');
+});
+
+test('description fits a commit status', () => {
+    assert.ok(rfc.verdict(['rfc'], [on(t0)], t0).description.length <= 140);
+});
+
+test('stakeholders by path, author left out', () => {
+    const rules = rfc.parseStakeholders('# c\n*  @a\nmonitor/ @b @a\nopenbios/x.s @c\n');
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(rfc.stakeholders(rules, ['psyqo/x.h'], 'z'), ['a']);
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(rfc.stakeholders(rules, ['monitor/monitor.c'], 'a'), ['b']);
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(rfc.stakeholders(rules, ['openbios/x.s'], 'z').sort(), ['a', 'c']);
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(rfc.stakeholders(rules, ['openbios/x.s.bak'], 'z'), ['a']);
+});
+
+test('the real stakeholders file parses', () => {
+    for (const { pattern, handles } of rfc.parseStakeholders(rfc.readStakeholders())) {
+        assert.ok(pattern.length > 0);
+        assert.ok(handles.length > 0, `${pattern} names nobody`);
+        handles.forEach((h) => assert.match(h, /^[A-Za-z0-9-]+$/));
+    }
+});
+
+test('run sets statuses, comments on labeling, rewrites the index', async () => {
+    const calls = [];
+    const prs = [
+        { number: 37, title: 'monitor: protocol v3', labels: [{ name: 'rfc' }], head: { sha: 'aaa' }, user: { login: 'rixnobis' } },
+        { number: 38, title: 'fix', labels: [], head: { sha: 'bbb' }, user: { login: 'x' } },
+    ];
+    const lists = {
+        pulls: prs,
+        events: [on(t0)],
+        files: [{ filename: 'monitor/monitor.c' }],
+        issues: [{ number: 47, title: 'Open RFCs', body: 'old' }],
+    };
+    const github = {
+        paginate: async (fn, args) => fn(args),
+        rest: {
+            pulls: { list: () => lists.pulls, listFiles: () => lists.files },
+            issues: {
+                listEvents: () => lists.events,
+                listForRepo: () => lists.issues,
+                createComment: async (a) => calls.push(['comment', a]),
+                update: async (a) => calls.push(['update', a]),
+                create: async (a) => calls.push(['create', a]),
+            },
+            repos: {
+                listCommitStatusesForRef: async () => ({ data: [] }),
+                createCommitStatus: async (a) => calls.push(['status', a]),
+            },
+        },
+    };
+    const context = {
+        repo: { owner: 'o', repo: 'r' },
+        eventName: 'pull_request_target',
+        payload: { action: 'labeled', label: { name: 'rfc' }, pull_request: prs[0] },
+    };
+    const core = { info() {}, warning() {} };
+    await rfc.run({ github, context, core, now: t0 + DAY, stakeholdersText: '* @nicolasnoble\nmonitor/ @spicyjpeg\n' });
+
+    const statuses = calls.filter((c) => c[0] === 'status').map((c) => [c[1].sha, c[1].state]);
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(statuses, [['aaa', 'failure'], ['bbb', 'success']]);
+    const comment = calls.find((c) => c[0] === 'comment')[1];
+    assert.match(comment.body, /2026-09-08 12:00 UTC/);
+    assert.match(comment.body, /@nicolasnoble @spicyjpeg/);
+    const update = calls.find((c) => c[0] === 'update')[1];
+    assert.strictEqual(update.issue_number, 47);
+    assert.match(update.body, /\| #37 monitor: protocol v3 \| 2026-09-08 12:00 UTC \|/);
+});

.github/workflows/rfc-script.yml

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+name: RFC script
+
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    paths:
+      - '.github/scripts/rfc*'
+      - '.github/rfc-stakeholders'
+
+jobs:
+  test:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - run: node --test .github/scripts/rfc.test.cjs

.github/workflows/rfc.yml

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+name: RFC
+
+# Keeps the rfc-moratorium status and the pinned Open RFCs issue current. See
+# RFC.md. The hourly run is what turns the status green once a window closes.
+
+on:
+  pull_request_target:
+    types: [opened, reopened, synchronize, labeled, unlabeled, closed]
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '17 * * * *'
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+  issues: write
+  pull-requests: write
+  statuses: write
+
+concurrency:
+  group: rfc
+  cancel-in-progress: false
+
+jobs:
+  moratorium:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      # This checks out the base branch. The job holds a write token, so it
+      # must never check out or run anything from the pull request.
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          sparse-checkout: .github
+
+      - uses: actions/github-script@v7
+        with:
+          script: |
+            await require('./.github/scripts/rfc.cjs').run({ github, context, core });

RFC.md

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+# RFCs
+
+People put this tool in their build and asset pipelines, so some changes break them. A pull
+request that changes the TIM files it writes, the image files it accepts, or removes a feature, gets the `rfc` label and cannot merge for
+seven days, so the people who depend on it can comment first.
+
+Bugfixes that make the output match what the tool already promises, UI changes that leave the
+output alone, and new features do not need one. Who opens the pull request makes no difference.
+
+## The window
+
+While the label is on, the `rfc-moratorium` check fails until seven days after the label was
+last applied, and `main` requires that check. The check's description gives the time the
+window closes. If the proposal changes during the window, remove and re-apply the label and say
+what changed in a comment; the seven days start over.
+
+Open RFCs are the
+[open pull requests with the label](https://github.com/ps1dev/timweb/pulls?q=is%3Apr+is%3Aopen+label%3Arfc).
+
+## Commenting
+
+Comment on the pull request. An objection helps most with a use case attached: what you do
+today that the change would break.