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EnglishWhat Apache Incubator Mentors Do for a Podling
Updated
Apache Incubator mentors are the assigned liaisons between a podling (an incoming project) and the rest of the Apache Software Foundation. Each podling gets mentors whose job is to help it operate inside ASF structures — connecting it with teams such as the Incubator PMC and Infrastructure — and to guide its community as it grows toward becoming a top-level project (TLP). If you are joining or evaluating a podling, treat mentors as your first point of contact for process and infrastructure questions, not as a substitute for reading the Incubation Policy.
The mentor role in one view
| Dimension | What mentors do |
|---|---|
| Assignment | The Incubator delegates mentors to each podling. |
| Liaison function | Act as the link between the podling and ASF teams, including the Incubator PMC and the Infrastructure team. |
| Operational support | Facilitate the podling's operations so it can function within ASF norms. |
| Community growth | Guide the podling's ongoing community growth in line with the Apache Way. |
| Oversight context | The Incubator reports monthly to the ASF Board on podling progress and recommends podlings for graduation. |
Why the liaison role matters
A new podling has to work with several parts of the ASF at once: the Incubator PMC for policy and reporting, Infrastructure for the tools a project runs on, and the broader foundation for legal and release matters. Mentors reduce the friction of finding the right channel. For example, if a podling needs to understand how its website, source control, or release distribution should be handled, the mentor is the person who can point it to the relevant ASF team and guidance rather than leaving the podling to guess.
What mentors do not replace
Mentors guide; they do not run the podling for you. The Incubator's published material expects podlings to read the cookbook and the Incubation Policy themselves, and to submit a proposal to join. Community building, release management, and graduation preparation remain podling work — the mentor's value is in direction, introductions, and keeping the podling aligned with Apache governance and the Apache Way.
How to use mentors effectively
- Before proposing: read the cookbook to confirm the ASF is a good fit, and review the Incubation Policy so you know the rules of participation.
- At proposal time: submit your project proposal to join the Incubator; mentors are assigned to the podling once it is accepted.
- During incubation: route questions about ASF teams and processes through your mentors, and use their guidance when preparing for graduation or, if needed, retirement.
- Check progress signals: the Incubator reports monthly to the Board, so keep your podling's status and community activity visible and current.
Where to go next
The Incubator site's Useful Resources section collects presentations on applying to and graduating from the Incubator, and the podling guides cover community building, branding, code import, IP clearance, websites, source control, and release management. Start with the cookbook and Incubation Policy, then use your mentors to navigate the rest.