CDCF — Catholic Digital Commons Foundation

CDCF Project Lifecycle

This document describes the stages through which a technology project passes within the Catholic Digital Commons Foundation (CDCF). The process is designed to ensure mission alignment, technical excellence, and sustainable governance.

1. Proposal Phase

Any community member or institution can propose a project for CDCF consideration.

  • Submission: A project proposal is submitted via a formal request, including a clear statement of purpose and its potential service to the Church.
  • Initial Review: The CDCF board or a designated committee performs an initial screening for mission alignment and canonical scope.

2. Incubation (Gate 1)

A project accepted into incubation becomes an official CDCF candidate.

  • Entrance Criteria: Satisfies Criterion 1 (Mission Alignment) and demonstrates a plan for satisfying Criteria 2-6.
  • Objective: Build toward Graduation by satisfying all Gate 1 and Gate 2 criteria.
  • Mentorship: Incubating projects may be assigned mentors to guide them through the CDCF’s governance and technical standards.

3. Graduation (Gate 2)

A project graduates to active CDCF status when it has demonstrated operational readiness and long-term sustainability.

  • Entrance Criteria: Satisfies all 8 CDCF Project Vetting Criteria.
  • Status: Recognised as a mature, “active” CDCF project. It is considered ready for wide-scale deployment across Catholic institutions.

4. Active Status

Active projects are the core of the CDCF ecosystem.

  • Ongoing Requirements: Must maintain satisfaction of all criteria, including regular security audits, community governance, and adherence to updated standards.
  • Governance: Managed by a Project Management Committee (PMC) or equivalent accountable body.

5. Retirement (The Attic)

A project that is no longer actively maintained or that has been superseded by other technology may be moved to the Attic.

  • Process: Initiated by the PMC or the CDCF board when a project is no longer viable or aligned with current needs.
  • Status: The project remains available for historical reference but is no longer officially supported or endorsed for new deployments.