Closing/Deletion project policy

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Closing/Deletion project policy

This page outlines the policy relevant to the Closing/Deletion project policy of projects. This was taken from Talk:Proposals for new projects. See also the proposal protocol, which sorts out the different types and scales of project and makes sure that opportunities to gain outside resources like Summer of Code 2007 are exploited.

Each project is ideally described on its own page and put in the category Wikipedia closing proposals (if it's about Wikipedia only) or Proposed closing projects" (if it's for mediawiki or other Category:Wikimedia closing projects.

The most updated policy draft is Closing projects policy.

If you want to close/delete a project specifically under the umbrella of the Wikimedia Foundation, you can do it on this page.

Please create an account and a user page on this wiki, so people can address their questions to you. Review the list of all proposals for closing projects to be sure that you are not proposing things that are redundant. It is much easier to pair up with others already doing something than to build up enthusiasm for something that you've defined entirely on your own.

framing a project

If you want to take responsibility for a formal proposal, please post it on proposals for closing projects in the format indicated below. Closed projects. Please try to determine if you can add your feature or idea under one of them on its talk page or as an obviously separate subfeature.

Format of the proposal

Use the format below to add your proposal to Proposals for closing projects (if you can do it) or Talk:proposals for closing projects (if you'll need help). If the project might be part of Summer of Code 2007 then read the list of successful summer of Code proposals that Creative Commons compiled and put most of the information in that format, not this one:

===''Project name for closure''===
;Link to request on mailing list: ''x''
;Naming suggestions: ''xxx''
;Domain name: ''xx'' (state of registration)
;Scope:  ''short explanation''
;Details: ''[[Page where the project is thoroughly explained]]'' 
;Comments: ''[[Talk:Page where the project is thoroughly explained]]''
;Proposer: ''[[User:Name of one contact person]] - email''
;Date: Date of closing
;People interested in closing: 
* ''xx''
* ''xx''
* ''xx''
* ''xx''
* ''xx''

Discussion

Create a page (or a collection of pages) where you describe your plan in detail and list the page on Proposals_for_closing_projects. Add to your proposal a link to the category Category:Closed projects. Time must be allowed for feedback.

Advertise the project on Goings-on as well.

Meta-wiki is not really much frequented, therefore it is recommended that you also send a posting to the Foundation-l mailing-list to announce your proposal. You may decide to post to other lists as well.

Interest poll

After at least one month discussion, a poll to evaluate interest by the community will be set.

The poll must be set on meta. It should be made of a series of options, to collect opinion. This poll will have to be organised by an independant person (neither the contact, nor the interested users).

The poll is meant to reach all wikipedians, project large. It should be advertised on mailing lists and goings on. It should last at least 3 weeks to allow most opinions to be expressed.

Since this is only an opinion poll, there is no aim for a specific percentage of approval or opposition.

Board interaction

Board decision

After the poll is closed, a proposal should be sent to the board, with details of the opinion poll and links to discussion on the proposal. The board shall respond within the next 15 days to state whether the project has been closed or whether more time is needed to address concerns or make software changes first.

The board will make its decision, taking into account community support and opposition, interest of the project and risks associated with it. Generally, though, the board will try to be reasonable and make community opinion a priority.

When the project is closed, the board will announce it (by default, the announcer shall be the chair).

Closing of a project

If there's no or very little editing on the new project for several months, or if the reports stop coming in, or if generally the thing just starts winding down, the wiki goes inactive. We turn off the wiki software, and make the content available in case someone else wants to use it.

In this case, we will use the following procedure

Proposition of closing -> community poll -> board decision

(Note that the accuracy of the above is not clear in light of the proposal to close the 9/11 wiki, which currently has overwhelming support, but has not been acted upon.)