diff --git a/project-reports/2023/2023-Q3-Hyperledger-Fabric.md b/project-reports/2023/2023-Q3-Hyperledger-Fabric.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..8f97ab75 --- /dev/null +++ b/project-reports/2023/2023-Q3-Hyperledger-Fabric.md @@ -0,0 +1,88 @@ +--- +layout: default +title: 2023 Q3 Hyperledger Fabric +parent: 2023 +grand_parent: Project Updates +has_children: false +has_toc: false +--- + +# 2023 Q3 Hyperledger Fabric + +# Project Health + +Hyperledger Fabric is fairly mature and stable with a v2.5 Long-term support (LTS) release. +There is less churn and fewer commits than in years past, with continued focus on quality and support. +New features get proposed, approved, and implemented based on a community RFC process. +Mailing list activity is down a bit compared to prior years. +PRs and mailing list questions are generally turned around quickly. +There is significant Discord activity. + +# Questions/Issues for the TOC + +None. + +# Releases + +LTS releases: +- v2.5 is the current LTS release with patch releases approximately quarterly. +- v2.2 is the prior LTS releases, critical fixes will be backported through 2023. + +The Fabric [v2.5 announcement](https://lists.hyperledger.org/g/fabric/message/11754) encouraged users to upgrade to v2.5 so that they can keep getting fixes and updates that will eventually be targeted for v2.5.x releases only. +The announcement also indicated that the legacy Fabric SDKs (known as Fabric SDK for Node v2.2, Fabric SDK for Java v2.2, Fabric SDK for Go v1.0) are deprecated. +Users of the legacy SDKs are encouraged to evaluate the Fabric Gateway client API as a replacement. +The Fabric Gateway client API is the recommended SDK for client applications when using Fabric v2.4 or v2.5, and is available in Go, Node, and Java programming languages. + +[Releases](https://github.com/hyperledger/fabric/releases) past quarter: + +- Fabric v2.2.11 - April 21, 2023 +- Fabric v2.2.12 - June 2, 2023 +- Fabric v2.5.1 - May 1, 2023 +- Fabric v2.5.2 - June 2, 2023 +- Fabric v2.5.3 - June 14, 2023 + +# Overall Activity in the Past Quarter + +The project delivered fixes to the Fabric v2.2 (prior LTS) and v2.5 (current LTS) releases. See [release notes](https://github.com/hyperledger/fabric/releases) for details. + +SmartBFT consensus algorithm has been integrated into the Fabric ordering service (main branch). Samples and documentation are being prepared for a Fabric v3.0 preview release. + +An initial v0.0.0 of Go [fabric-admin-sdk](https://github.com/hyperledger/fabric-admin-sdk) has been released to help with programatic channel and chaincode management. +The project is evaluating the use of this admin SDK in a new and improved [fabric-cli](https://github.com/hyperledger/fabric-cli) that may eventually replace the original peer CLI commands. + +Project members are helping to draft exam questions for the upcoming Hyperledger Fabric Certified Practitioner exam. + +# Current Plans + +The project expects to maintain and support v2.5 for an extended time period +and encourages all users to upgrade to v2.5 so that they can keep getting fixes that will eventually be targeted for v2.5 only. + +The project intends to release a `v3.0.0-preview` release so that users can try out the initial SmartBFT feature, this will be Fabric's first Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus algorithm. +The plan is to get feedback on the SmartBFT feature, and also refactor the ordering service +so that there will be one orderer binary per consensus algorithm, which will be much more +extensible than the current approach of having one orderer binary that supports N consensus algorithms. +The project intends to refactor other code as well in an eventual v3.0 release, +and also remove some of the heritage features that have already been announced as deprecated in the [v2.x release notes](https://github.com/hyperledger/fabric/releases/tag/v2.5.0). +The refactoring work will take significant time, therefore most users are encouraged to use v2.5 which will be maintained and supported for an extended time period. + +# Maintainer Diversity + +7 of 8 [maintainers](https://github.com/hyperledger/fabric/blob/main/MAINTAINERS.md) from IBM. + +The project maintainers are working with the Hyperledger staff to identify and mentor new contributors and maintainers to increase diversity. + +# Contributor Diversity + +Year to year comparison, by commit: + +- Q2 2022 - 474 commits. 59% from IBM. +- Q2 2023 - 272 commits. 64% from IBM. + +Year to year comparison, by contributor: + +- Q2 2022 - 68 contributors. 28% from IBM. +- Q2 2023 - 46 contributors. 24% from IBM. + +# Additional Information + +[Insights dashboard link](https://insights.lfx.linuxfoundation.org/projects/hyperledger%2Ffabric/dashboard;subTab=technical?time=%7B%22from%22:%222023-04-01T04:00:00.000Z%22,%22type%22:%22absolute%22,%22to%22:%222023-07-01T05:00:00.000Z%22%7D)