Autonomys Improvement Proposal (AIP) Process

The Autonomys Improvement Proposal (AIP) process is designed to foster collaboration and innovation within the Autonomys Network community. It provides a structured way for contributors to propose changes, enhancements, or new features for the network. By engaging the community and utilizing the Substrate governance pallet, AIPs ensure transparency, inclusivity, and consensus-driven decision-making.

1. Purpose of an AIP

An AIP is a formal mechanism to:

• Propose new features or technical enhancements.
• Suggest protocol changes or network upgrades.
• Introduce process improvements or governance adjustments.

All stakeholders, including developers, farmers, and community members, are encouraged to participate in the AIP process.

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2. Lifecycle of an AIP

Step 1: Raise a Forum Post

The process begins with an informal discussion on the Autonomys Forum to gauge interest and solicit feedback.

• Post Requirements:
  • A clear and concise title (e.g., "AIP-1: Proposal to Increase Block Rewards").
  • A summary of the idea or change.
  • Rationale for the proposal and its potential benefits.
  • Considerations or challenges, if applicable.
  • Open questions for community feedback.
• Discussion Goals:
  • Identify potential improvements or concerns.
  • Gather support or suggestions for refinement.
• Tagging: Use the tag AIP to categorize the post.

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Step 2: Draft a Formal AIP

Based on forum discussions, create a formal AIP document. The AIP should follow a standardized template to ensure clarity and consistency. Once ready for submission, a pull request with the formal AIP should be raised in the Subspace Foundation improvement-proposals GitHub repository.

AIP Template:

The AIP template can be found here.

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Step 3: Implementation and Monitoring

• Execution: Once approved, the changes outlined in the AIP will be implemented, either by developers or other relevant stakeholders.
• Follow-up: Monitor the impact of the proposal and address any unforeseen issues.

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Step 4: Submit the Proposal for Governance

Once the AIP draft is finalized and has community support, it should be submitted to the Autonomys on-chain governance system using the Substrate governance pallet.

• Process:
  • Preliminary Steps: Proposers may need to bond tokens to initiate a proposal on-chain.
  • Submission: Submit the AIP as an on-chain proposal.
  • Community Voting: The proposal will undergo a voting period during which token holders can cast their votes.
  • Outcome: If the proposal passes, it will proceed to implementation.

NOTE: While the network is bootstrapping, the initial on-chain governance voting implementation is permissioned to the foundation council members. This restriction will be removed as the Subspace Foundation executes on its plan for progressive decentralization.

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3. Proposal Statuses

An AIP will progress through the following statuses:

1. Draft: Initial stage; under discussion on the forum.
2. Finalized: Ready for submission on-chain.
3. Voting: Under consideration by the governance system.
4. Approved: Passed governance and ready for implementation.
5. Rejected: Did not pass governance.
6. Implemented: Successfully executed.

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4. Guidelines for Contributors

• Be clear and concise.
• Focus on the benefits to the network and community.
• Be open to feedback and collaboration.
• Adhere to the AIP template for formal submissions.

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5. Resources

• Autonomys Forum
• Substrate Governance Documentation
• Autonomys Discord

By embracing this process, the Autonomys Network ensures that all voices are heard and that the network evolves in a transparent, inclusive, and efficient manner.