Strawperson Stage in the Graph Improvement Proposal (GIP) Process
The
Strawperson stage is the initial step in The Graph Improvement Proposal (GIP) process. It serves as a space where anyone in the community—regardless of technical or non-technical background—can present an idea or outline a problem that they believe should be addressed. At this phase, there is no requirement to provide a fully drafted solution or technical specifics. Instead, proposers are encouraged to submit a rough draft or informal suggestion for open discussion, typically via
The Graph Forum or Discord channels.
Key Points about the Strawperson Stage
- Purpose: To describe the idea or the problem statement the proposal aims to solve, without prescribing detailed solutions.
- Community Involvement: Proposals at this stage are meant to spark community discussion and gather initial feedback. Anyone can participate, and forum polls can be added to gauge rough consensus or support for the idea.
- Proposal Types: This stage applies to three proposal types:
- Graph Improvement Proposal (GIP): Suggestions to improve the protocol’s rules, interfaces, or processes.
- Graph Request for Comment (GRC): Community standards for building on The Graph.
- Graph Request for Proposal (GRP): Calls for proposals to address specific problems or opportunities.
- Outcomes: Not all Strawperson proposals advance—GRCs may remain as drafts for future reference. GRPs can either stay as open problems or evolve into full GIPs if concrete solutions are formulated.
Summary Table: GIP Process Stages
The Strawperson stage embodies an open, collaborative ethos, enabling The Graph's diverse ecosystem to initiate governance improvements and protocol upgrades in a transparent manner.