doc: add new companion status to governance document

[BridgeAR]

In the recent Node.js discussions around nominations, we also discussed the need to show that someone contributed to the project in a significant way before we are able to nominate someone to become a collaborator.

This governance change should address that need.

The documentation is intentionally kept brief for now. AFAIC we are able to extend this at a later point.

[nodejs-github-bot]

Review requested:

• @nodejs/tsc

[ljharb]

Is there a previous discussion about the naming, or is this the proper place to discuss it?

[BridgeAR]

@ljharb there was no discussion around the name so far. Just about the need for the status as such.

I suggested the name because it felt to me that it reflects that someone acted well towards the project. I am open to suggestions.

[ljharb]

I'm not stoked about the term "companion" - it connotes to me someone who's more along for the ride, rather than someone who's meaningfully contributed in non-code ways to the project.

(I'll try to come up with some alternative suggestions, but i don't have any off the top of my head)

[BethGriggs]

Quoting myself from nodejs/TSC#1702 (comment) 😓

(I also don't think we should create a separate group called 'companion' or something for people doing wider project work - the optics of that are that they're in a lesser role in some way. Non-core code work can be just as critical for the project.)

This alludes to a hierarchical status (being a companion before a collaborator) which still seems to reinforce that non-core work isn't as valued.

[BridgeAR]

@BethGriggs I am somewhat confused by that concern. The status should a) also apply to core contributors and b) make it easier to reach the status that someone gets something back from the project. Right now, someone would have to wait longer to be nominated / do more. This allows to have a intermediate step and that seems to increase the visibility for someone.

[jasnell]

I'm generally -1 on adding a new status label at all, regardless of what it is called. I don't believe there's any actual value in doing so.

[marco-ippolito]

I'm -1 I think collaborator role is enough

[jasnell]

@BridgeAR .. given the -1's on this, this would either need to be escalated to TSC to decide or accepted that it won't land as is. Do you wish to keep this open and pursue it or should we close?

[JakobJingleheimer]

I think we definitely need something. I think people are objecting to the solution, not the existence of the problem?

[jasnell]

Yep, consider this just a prompt for those who feel we need something here to find a solution that everyone can agree with :-)