Section 1 ‐ Introduction to the Aperture Operating Manual (AOM) - ApertureViewer/Aperture-Opertations-Manual GitHub Wiki

1.1 Purpose and Scope of the AOM

This Aperture Operating Manual (AOM) serves as the definitive and comprehensive guiding document for the Aperture Viewer project. Its fundamental purpose is to articulate, define, and communicate the foundational principles, overarching vision, specific mission, detailed governance structures, prescribed operational procedures, established development workflows, community engagement strategies, and all pertinent policies that direct and govern every facet of the project.

The scope of this manual is intentionally broad and all-encompassing, designed to cover all aspects related to the Aperture Viewer project. This includes, but is not limited to, its core ethos and aspirational vision, the practical day-to-day activities and responsibilities of its team members, the guidelines for external contributors, and the project's relationship with the wider virtual world community and other stakeholders. The AOM is intended to provide unwavering clarity, ensure operational consistency across all project endeavors, and establish a robust framework for sustainable growth, innovation, and responsible open-source stewardship. It is the single source of truth for how the Aperture Viewer project is managed and developed.

1.2 Intended Audience

This manual is meticulously crafted for, and intended to be a primary resource for, a diverse range of individuals and groups involved with or interested in the Aperture Viewer project:

  • Core Project Team Members: To provide an exhaustive and unambiguous understanding of their designated roles, specific responsibilities, expected standards of conduct, and the precise processes and policies they are expected to adhere to in all project-related activities.
  • Contributors (Code, Documentation, Testing, Translation, etc.): To offer detailed guidelines on how they can most effectively and constructively contribute to the project, outlining the standards, formats, and procedures required for their valuable contributions to be integrated smoothly.
  • Advisory Board Members: To furnish them with comprehensive context on project governance, strategic direction, operational principles, and the framework within which their advisory input is sought and valued.
  • Linden Lab & Other External Stakeholders (e.g., other TPV projects, potential collaborators): To offer a high degree of transparency into Aperture Viewer's operational framework, its unwavering commitment to open-source principles, its ethical stances, and its professional standards of development and community management.
  • The Broader User Community: To provide profound insight into the values that drive the project, the mission it seeks to accomplish, the vision it strives for, and the development philosophy that underpins the creation of Aperture Viewer.

While certain sections will naturally hold greater relevance for specific audiences, the Aperture Operating Manual as a whole is conceived as an exhaustive and authoritative resource. It aims to answer questions, provide guidance, and ensure all stakeholders have a clear understanding of the Aperture Viewer project.

1.3 How to Use This Manual

This manual is structured into logical, hierarchical parts and sections, each addressing specific aspects of the Aperture Viewer project. Users should utilize the detailed Table of Contents to navigate to topics of particular interest or relevance.

The AOM is expressly designed as a living document. It is not static; as the Aperture Viewer project evolves, innovates, and adapts to new challenges and opportunities, this manual will be diligently updated to reflect all significant changes in policies, procedures, team structures, or strategic direction. Team members are unequivocally expected to familiarize themselves thoroughly with all sections of this manual, with particular attention to those directly pertinent to their roles and responsibilities. Adherence to the guidelines, protocols, and policies outlined herein is mandatory for all team members and contributors. For external contributors, specific and detailed contribution guidelines are provided in the relevant sections (e.g., Part 4 for code contributions, and specific Wiki pages for documentation or translation contributions).

1.4 Version Control and Updates to the AOM

This Aperture Operating Manual (AOM) is a formally versioned document and is managed with a level of rigor analogous to software code.

  • Versioning: The AOM will adhere to a Semantic Versioning scheme (e.g., 1.0.0, 1.0.1, 1.1.0).
    • Major Version (X.y.z): Incremented for significant structural changes to the AOM, fundamental shifts in project governance or core policy that have wide-ranging impact.
    • Minor Version (x.Y.z): Incremented for substantial additions of new sections, significant revisions to existing policies or procedures, or changes that expand the scope of the manual without fundamentally altering its core structure.
    • Patch Version (x.y.Z): Incremented for minor corrections, clarifications, typographical error fixes, or small updates that do not alter the intent or application of existing policies.
  • Change Logging: All changes made to the AOM, regardless of magnitude, will be meticulously documented in the "Version History" section located at the beginning of this document. Each entry will include the new version number, the date the update was finalized, and a comprehensive summary of all modifications, additions, or deletions made.
  • Approval of Updates: All proposed updates, revisions, or additions to this Aperture Operating Manual, regardless of their origin, must be submitted to, thoroughly reviewed by, and receive explicit approval from the Project Lead (William Weaver) before they are incorporated into the official version of the AOM. Suggestions for changes or updates can be proposed by any team member through appropriate internal channels, for consideration by the Project Lead.