Tracking Boards and Issue Management

Tracking Boards and Issue Management

The Data.gov team uses separate boards to track harvest source requests and broader technical implementation work.

DCAT-US GitHub Issues

Issue Tracker: https://github.com/GSA/dcat-us/issues

The DCAT-US GitHub Issues page is used to request or discuss changes to the DCAT-US metadata standard itself.

This issue tracker is different from the Data.gov Team Board and the Harvest Source Management Board. It is intended for issues, questions, or proposed changes related to the DCAT-US standard, rather than agency-specific harvest source requests or Data.gov product implementation work.

Examples of items that may be appropriate for the DCAT-US GitHub Issues page include:

• Requesting a change to the DCAT-US metadata standard
• Proposing updates to DCAT-US fields, definitions, usage notes, or requirements
• Raising questions about the structure or interpretation of the standard
• Identifying inconsistencies, ambiguities, or gaps in the standard
• Discussing standard-level metadata modeling considerations
• Suggesting improvements to DCAT-US documentation or guidance

Harvest Source Management Board: https://github.com/orgs/GSA/projects/431

Use this board to track:

• Requests submitted through the Harvest Source Change Request Form
• New DCAT-US 3 harvest source requests
• Changes to existing harvest sources
• Agency communications
• Notes received from agencies
• Internal notes
• Current stage or status of each request
• Follow-up actions
• Troubleshooting items

Data.gov Team Board https://github.com/orgs/GSA/projects/11/views/1

Use this board to track technical implementation issues, enhancements, and defects across Data.gov products, including:

• Harvester
• Catalog
• Inventory.data.gov
• Related Data.gov services

Examples of work tracked here:

• Technical implementation issues
• Product enhancements
• Defects or bugs
• Harvester-related development work
• Catalog-related development work
• Inventory.data.gov updates
• Metadata workflow improvements
• Cross-product dependencies

Difference Between the Tracking Locations

Each tracking location serves a distinct purpose.

Tracking Location	Purpose	Use When
Harvest Source Management Board	Tracks agency harvest source requests and request status	An agency has submitted a request for a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source or a change to an existing harvest source
Data.gov Team Board	Tracks technical implementation issues, enhancements, and defects across Data.gov products	Work is needed for Harvester, Catalog, Inventory.data.gov, or another Data.gov product
DCAT-US GitHub Issues	Tracks issues or requested changes related to the DCAT-US metadata standard itself	Someone wants to request a change to the DCAT-US standard or raise a standard-level issue

Where Should an Issue or Request Go?

Use the following guidance to determine where an item should be submitted or tracked.

Submit a Harvest Source Change Request when:

An agency needs to:

• Request a new DCAT-US 3 harvest source
• Change an existing harvest source
• Update a harvest source URL
• Transition a harvest source from DCAT-US 1.1 to DCAT-US 3
• Correct harvest source configuration information

Form:
https://touchpoints.app.cloud.gov/touchpoints/ffb7e9d0

Requests submitted through this form are tracked on the Harvest Source Management Board.

Use the Data.gov Team Board when:

The item is related to technical implementation work for a Data.gov product, such as:

• Harvester
• Catalog
• Inventory.data.gov
• Data.gov display
• Metadata workflow functionality
• Product defects or bugs
• Product enhancements

Board:
https://github.com/orgs/GSA/projects/11/views/1

Use DCAT-US GitHub Issues when:

The item is related to the DCAT-US metadata standard itself, such as:

• Requesting a change to the standard
• Proposing a new field or requirement
• Clarifying field definitions or usage
• Identifying ambiguity in the standard
• Raising a standards-level issue

Issue Tracker:
https://github.com/GSA/dcat-us/issues