Donate project to "Cloud Native Computing Foundation" (CNCF) or similar for longevity

[nitrocode]

Community Note

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• I'd be willing to implement this feature (contributing guide)

Describe the user story

I'd like to create this issue to propose donation to CNCF to

• add more contributors to atlantis
• help remove the notion that corporate interests hold back this project
• keep this project going as long as possible

This is for open source and for all of these companies that currently use atlantis. This is also for all the companies that cannot afford a SaaS or simply want to self-host.

Describe the solution you'd like

This project should be donated to an organization such as CNCF. Once it's incubating in CNCF, more contributors will join the efforts to keep this project alive. We get more benefits once it has incubated and finally graduated. The first step is to get approval from HashiCorp to submit this project to CNCF or better yet have HashiCorp submit it. 😄

NOTE: DD is Due Diligence

There are so many examples of successful projects in CNCF such as kubernetes, argocd, helm, flux, etcd, prometheus, etc. Let's make atlantis part of that list!

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The current license for atlantis is Apache Licence 2.0 and there is no CLA for this repo.

https://github.com/runatlantis/atlantis/blob/main/LICENSE

References

• https://www.cncf.io/projects/
• https://github.com/cncf/toc/blob/main/process/project_proposals.md
• https://github.com/cncf/toc/blob/main/process/sandbox.md
• https://enrollment.lfx.linuxfoundation.org/?project=cncf
• https://www.reddit.com/r/kubernetes/comments/tqhdr2/reasons_not_to_donate_an_opensource_project_to/

[nitrocode]

cc @lkysow please add comments here for visibility. It would be absolutely amazing to enter cncf.

cc @jamengual @GenPage @acastle @chenrui333 (et al) please add your thoughts too

[GenPage]

I would love to see the project in CNCF to ensure the continuity of the project. This would ensure businesses that already use this tool internally can contribute and rely on the project long-term.

[nitrocode]

Thanks @GenPage for weighing in. Ideally, we could just do an org transfer, domain transfer, etc and keep everything the same. Have you heard from Luke?

It seems like cncf may not require permission from the current owner. The steps to submit may just be:

• new organization
• fork the runatlantis org repos (atlantis, helm-charts, etc)
• submit to cncf with new organization
• invite maintainers to new org
• new license like official AL or MPL

Then

• new domain name?
• new slack community?
• initial release

[GenPage]

@nitrocode I have not, I would tread lightly with suggesting a fork. We do not want to split the community. While I support the CNCF idea as being ideal, we have to think what is best for the community in the short-term as well.

[jamengual]

I do like this idea but I think forking might not be the best way to go, it will fracture the community and could be detrimental to both projects.

@nitrocode I don't agree with doing this without owner approval, and I do not believe you can do that with active projects.

[lkysow]

HashiCorp is supportive of donating Atlantis to the CNCF if that's what the maintainers agree on. On a personal note, this will be the end of the road for me with Atlantis. I leave it in your hands!

[bschaatsbergen]

I'm glad to see that Atlantis is on its way to being donated to CNCF. By now I've rolled out Atlantis at so many clients, as @GenPage said; this step would provide assurance to companies currently utilizing Atlantis to both contribute to and rely upon the project over the long haul.

[chenrui333]

cc @lkysow please add comments here for visibility. It would be absolutely amazing to enter cncf.

cc @jamengual @GenPage @acastle @chenrui333 (et al) please add your thoughts too

Sounds like we are well positioned to donate it to CNCF, I would be for it for the project's longevity.

[bryantbiggs]

It would be amazing to have this under the CNCF - thank you to all of the Atlantis maintainers !!!

[lazzurs]

I would love to see Atlantis in the CNCF. I think this is the right move.

[lordz-ei]

It's been amazing getting to meet @lkysow in person, and using Atlantis. Would be amazing see it evolve under CNCF

[nitrocode]

@lkysow thank you!!! This is wonderful news!

What are the next steps? Can we keep runatlantis.io and the runatlantis org or to take to cncf do we need to create a new org and fork? The former would be much more preferred 😄

[GenPage]

The maintainer team is in discussions on next steps and will keep everyone update here on our progress.

[hungran]

Cannot wait this 🚀

[GenPage]

We have officially submitted our application to join CNCF. It is linked above.