Hi,
I think we are confused since we are so used to thinking "spec first", while we now should be thinking "code first". 
In the spec-first approach, it makes perfect sense to group the API with the spec. 
But when we turn around to code-first, I think they should/must be separated.
Consider the following scenario for a code-first approach:
Let's say Apache CXF has some cool features that partly overlap with some features of RESTEasy. Jersey may or may not have these features.
The JAX-RS API Project
1. Decides to extract the best parts from the implementations and produce a standard API for them.
2. Release JAX-RS 3.0
3. Propose to the Jakarta EE Specification Committee to standardize through Jakarta EE
    a. A EE4J project (such as JAX-RS API project) would go through the EE4J PMC
    b. A standalone Eclipse Foundation API project would go through their PMC
    c. A project outside the Eclipse Foundation (e.g. Bean Validation) would go through their equivalent to the PMC
The Jakarta EE Specification Committee
1. Approves the suggestion (or suggest changes or decline...)
2. If approved, mandate the Jakarta EE Spec project for JAX-RS to produce the specification
The Jakarta EE JAX-RS Specification Project
1. Produce the specification document which includes:
   a. A human readable description of the API with references to the API JavaDoc
   b. Define what MUST, SHOULD, COULD, SHOULD NOT etc. be implemented in order to comply with the specification
   c. Assertions backing up the MUSTs, SHOULDs, COULDs and SHOULD NOTs on an agreed up format to form the basis by the TCK
The JAX-RS TCK Project
1. Use the assertions from the spec to create/update the JAX-RS TCK
2. Seek approval that the TCK does what it is supposed to from the Jakarta EE Specification Committee
The Implementation projects (may or may not be Eclipse projects)
1. Adjust their implementations to implement the API
2. Test their implementation against the TCK
Whether, or not, JAX-RS 3.0 should be a part of Jakarta EE X is up to the platform project/Specification Committee to decide.
Does it make sense, or am I way off?
Ivar
  
    
  
  
    I'm starting to become concerned/confused about this as well.
    
    I think we were previously expecting that a specification project
    would manage the specification document, the source code for the API
    classes, and the source code for the TCK.  Assuming we need special
    rules for specification projects, do we really want those special
    rules to apply to the API and TCK, which after all are just source
    code projects?
    
    The API classes are hard because they mix specification with
    (varying amounts of) implementation.  But none of the IP issues for
    the spec apply to the TCK, right?  Maybe the TCKs should be in
    separate code projects that follow the normal EDP rules?
    
    
    
Steve Millidge (Payara) wrote on
      05/29/18 02:28 AM:
    
    
      
      
      
      
        I
            share Ivar’s concerns here.
            
         
        I
            am also confused by the definitions and the developing
            special nature of this specification project and how that is
            going to work in practice with the standard Eclipse API and
            TCK projects that will live under the EE4J PMC.  
         
        So
            forgive me if I get this wrong are we saying;
         
        Specification
            Project -> creates Document, Specification
            Implementation, TCK?
        A
            normal EE4J project under the PMC creates just the API?
         
        Or
            are we saying Specification Project just creates the
            Document and must ensure there is a TCK, API and
            Specification Implementation before the Specification can be
            released.
         
        Also
            given the document just essentially describes the API and
            behaviours under the API how is the Specification project
            going to control/influence the work of the API project
            working under usual EDP rules of engagement?
         
        I’m
            afraid I’m a fairly practical person and I am now confused
            about practicalities of who is doing what.
         
        Thanks
        
            Steve
         
        From: jakarta.ee-spec.committee-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxx
            <jakarta.ee-spec.committee-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxx>
            On Behalf Of Ivar Grimstad
            Sent: 25 May 2018 18:02
            To: Jakarta specification committee
            <jakarta.ee-spec.committee@xxxxxxxxxxx>
            Subject: Re: [jakarta.ee-spec.committee] Recent Edits
         
        
          Hi,
          
          
            I think we should tread carefully here
              so we don't become a corporate club where you have to pay
              to play, which is exactly what critical voices in the
              community have warned against. 
           
          
          
            I can understand the reasoning behind
              the wish for a company to being able to replace a
              committer on a project. But at the same time, if a
              corporation is allowed to do that it should probably apply
              to individual committers as well. E.g. someone that wants
              to resign from the project for some reason and give the
              reigns over to someone else. By doing so, we are going
              against the Open Source Rules of Engagement defined by the
              EDP (https://www.eclipse.org/projects/dev_process/development_process.php#2_1_Open_Source_Rules_of_Engagement).
              So be prepared for a storm! This will not be well received
              by our critics...
           
          
          
         
         
        
          
          
            
            
              
                
                  On Fri, May 25, 2018 at 4:02 AM,
                    Mike Milinkovich <mike.milinkovich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
                    wrote:
                  
                    
                      
                        Richard,
                          
                          We (the EMO) are thinking about this, and how
                          we could make it work if we decide it is the
                          right thing to do.
                          
                          
                          Two points:
                        
                          - 
                            I find it surprising that the small-company
                            guy is arguing for the corporate approach. I
                            realize that this is quite typical in
                            standards organizations. Is everyone else on
                            the list comfortable that this explicit
                            corporate presence is desirable?
 
                        
                       
                     
                  
                 
               
             
            
              
                
                  
                    Well, like any other
                      organization that is dedicating resources to the
                      effort of Jakarta EE, we (Tomitribe) want to
                      ensure that we benefit from that investment. When
                      an engineer works on a Jakarta EE specification,
                      it costs the company money in terms of salary, but
                      that's not all. Often the employee will rely on
                      other resources in the company such as people or
                      equipment.  None of this is free.  I am a
                      committer for the EJB Specification project. 
                      Tomitribe is counting on me to make valuable
                      contributions that will result in a stronger
                      specification which means a healthier market for
                      Tomitribe and everyone else.  If I were to leave
                      Tomitribe, they would want to protect that
                      investment in time and energy by replacing me with
                      another qualified individual. My time contributing
                      to specifications is not a sunk cost.
                   
                  
                  
                    When a company's representative
                      is added to a Specification Project its done on
                      merit, just like adding an individual.  It's
                      expected that the company can contribute,
                      regardless of the representative, real value to
                      the definition of the specification.  The company
                      has to have demonstrated expertise in the area
                      concerned.
                   
                 
               
             
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      
                        
                          - 
                            I hope that you are prepared to argue for
                            this when our friends like Markus Karg take
                            us to task for being a bunch of corporate
                            shills ;)
 
                        
                       
                     
                  
                 
               
             
            
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      
                        
                          - 
                             
 
                        
                        
                          
                            
                              On 2018-05-24 10:58 AM, Richard
                              Monson-Haefel wrote:
                           
                         
                       
                      
                        
                          
                            
                              Thanks, Mike.  
                              
                              
                                At this time
                                  committers are defined as
                                  "individuals." I would like to see
                                  that expanded to include
                                  "representatives".  A representative
                                  is the role of committer in a project
                                  that can be occupied by an employee of
                                  the company that is represented.  Not
                                  sure if that makes sense or not.  You
                                  can be nominated and elected as a
                                  committer to a project as either an
                                  individual or as a representative of a
                                  company.  If an elected representative
                                  leaves the company they were elected
                                  to represent, the company has the
                                  option of appointing a new
                                  representative.   If the project
                                  wishes to also keep the original
                                  representative they can be
                                  re-nominated and elected as an
                                  individual or as a representative of a
                                  different company.  A representative
                                  committer is
                                  equal in all other ways to an
                                  individual committer.
                               
                             
                            
                               
                              
                                On Thu, May 24,
                                  2018 at 4:09 AM, Mike Milinkovich <mike.milinkovich@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
                                  wrote:
                                
                                  
                                    
                                      
                                        Please do not worry about how
                                        Wayne and I get the approvals in
                                        place for any necessary process
                                        changes. I'm confident we can
                                        make what we agree to happen.
                                        Let's figure out what the right
                                        solution is, and then the EMO
                                        can figure out how to implement
                                        it.
                                        
                                        
                                        
                                        On 2018-05-24 1:36 AM, Richard
                                        Monson-Haefel wrote:
                                     
                                    
                                      
                                        
                                          
                                            I
                                              believe changes to the
                                              Eclipse Development
                                              Process require approval
                                              by the Eclipse Board, so
                                              if a rule change is
                                              necessary it would need to
                                              be proposed to the board. 
                                              Whether or not an
                                              exception can be made for
                                              just the EE4J Working
                                              Group or if the change
                                              would need to apply to all
                                              Working Groups, I do not
                                              know. If the rules germane
                                              to this issue cannot be
                                              changed, than instead of a
                                              rules change it could be
                                              considered a “courtesy”
                                              that is commonly extended
                                              to companies whose whose
                                              employee, elected as a
                                              committer, has ended their
                                              employment with that
                                              company. For example:
                                              Project X has 10
                                              committers with names (A,
                                              B, C ... J).  Committer B
                                              worked for ACME Company
                                              when elected to a
                                              Specification Project.
                                              When Committer B is
                                              nominated they declare
                                              that although they are
                                              individual they also are
                                              an official representative
                                              of ACME Company.  This
                                              proclamation is not
                                              binding in anyway, but is
                                              simply informative part of
                                              the nomination. Committer
                                              B announces that they are
                                              leaving the ACME Company
                                              to become independent but
                                              will sign a new Committers
                                              Agreement as an
                                              Independent (or their new
                                              company will sign one) and
                                              will stay on Project X.
                                                The ACME Company makes a
                                              request that another
                                              employee, Ms. K, me
                                              nominated as a committer
                                              to Project X. The Project
                                              Lead, as a courtesy to the
                                              ACME Company, can choose
                                              to nominate Ms. K. The
                                              vote is taken according to
                                              normal Eclipse Development
                                              Handbook and Ms. K is
                                              either elected a committer
                                              or not.
                                            
                                         
                                       
                                      
                                        
                                          
                                          
                                            
                                              That's
                                                a start, but that makes
                                                it clear we're inventing
                                                new rules for Spec
                                                Projects that are
                                                different than any other
                                                Eclipse project.  Is
                                                there a better way to
                                                "overlay" the Spec
                                                Project rules on top of
                                                the existing Project
                                                rules?
                                              
                                                Richard
                                                  Monson-Haefel wrote on
                                                  05/23/18 02:34 PM:
                                               
                                             
                                            
                                              
                                                
                                                  Good
                                                    point.  Here is a
                                                    counter proposal:
                                                 
                                                
                                                
                                                  In
                                                    addition to
                                                    accepting
                                                    individuals to a
                                                    Specification Group,
                                                    the group lead or
                                                    the group can
                                                    nominate/elect (or
                                                    whatever) a
                                                    representative of an
                                                    organization.  If
                                                    the represenative
                                                    leaves that
                                                    organization, the
                                                    organization can
                                                    nominate a
                                                    replacement
                                                    represenative.  The
                                                    original
                                                    representative can
                                                    remain on the
                                                    Specification Group
                                                    as an individual or
                                                    perhaps representing
                                                    some other company,
                                                    but the company that
                                                    originally invested
                                                    in that
                                                    represenative has
                                                    the right to
                                                    nominate a new
                                                    represenative.  The
                                                    newly nominated
                                                    represenative can be
                                                    subject to a vote by
                                                    the group.  That way
                                                    the organization
                                                    that lost the
                                                    represenative has
                                                    the oppourtunity to
                                                    maintain its place
                                                    at the table but is
                                                    not an automatic
                                                    “pay to play”
                                                    contributor.  
                                                 
                                                
                                                
                                                  I
                                                    think that protects
                                                    the investment made
                                                    by the organization
                                                    when it has payed
                                                    the representative
                                                    salary and gave that
                                                    time to the
                                                    Specification Group
                                                    without making it a
                                                    “pay to play”
                                                    situation.  So there
                                                    can be individual
                                                    group members and
                                                    organizational group
                                                    members. 
                                                 
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                  
                                                    
                                                    
                                                      
                                                        Richard
                                                          Monson-Haefel
                                                          wrote on
                                                          05/23/18 07:28
                                                          AM:
                                                       
                                                      
                                                        
                                                          
                                                          
                                                        
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          
                                                          Depending
                                                          on the
                                                          membership
                                                          level, an
                                                          organization
                                                          should
                                                          automatically
                                                          get a seat on
                                                          any
                                                          specification
                                                          project they
                                                          want but
                                                          should
                                                          excercise
                                                          self-restraint
                                                          to focus on
                                                          those
                                                          specifications
                                                          germane to
                                                          their
                                                          products. 
                                                          Why, for
                                                          example,
                                                          should a
                                                          company become
                                                          a strategic
                                                          member if it
                                                          cannot have a
                                                          seat at the
                                                          table?
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                           
                                                        
                                                       
                                                      
                                                        So,
                                                          if you pay
                                                          then you can
                                                          play?
                                                          
                                                          What about the
                                                          people who
                                                          don't pay?
                                                          
                                                          At the JCP,
                                                          the Spec Lead
                                                          would decide
                                                          whether an
                                                          expert was
                                                          qualified to
                                                          be on the
                                                          expert group. 
                                                          We ran into
                                                          quite a few
                                                          people who
                                                          clearly only
                                                          wanted to be
                                                          on an expert
                                                          group so that
                                                          they could add
                                                          that to their
                                                          resume.  We
                                                          rejected many
                                                          of those
                                                          people.
                                                          
                                                          If "expert
                                                          group members"
                                                          are Committers
                                                          on a Spec
                                                          Project, who
                                                          qualifies the
                                                          Committers? 
                                                          After the
                                                          Project is
                                                          created, I
                                                          assume it
                                                          would be the
                                                          Project Lead. 
                                                          Before the
                                                          Project is
                                                          created, is it
                                                          just the
                                                          person who
                                                          proposes the
                                                          project?  And
                                                          you're
                                                          suggesting
                                                          that the
                                                          Project Lead
                                                          would have no
                                                          choice but to
                                                          accept any
                                                          Committer
                                                          proposed by a
                                                          paying Member?
                                                       
                                                    
                                                   
                                                 
                                              
                                             
                                          
                                         
                                       
                                    
                                     
                                   
                                  
_______________________________________________
                                    jakarta.ee-spec.committee mailing
                                    list
                                    jakarta.ee-spec.committee@xxxxxxxxxxx
                                    To change your delivery options,
                                    retrieve your password, or
                                    unsubscribe from this list, visit
                                    https://dev.eclipse.org/mailman/listinfo/jakarta.ee-spec.committee
                                
                               
                               
                             
                             
                            _______________________________________________
                            jakarta.ee-spec.committee mailing list
                            jakarta.ee-spec.committee@xxxxxxxxxxx
                            To change your delivery options, retrieve your password, or unsubscribe from this list, visit
                            https://dev.eclipse.org/mailman/listinfo/jakarta.ee-spec.committee
                          
                           
                         
                       
                      
                     
                    
                      _______________________________________________
                      jakarta.ee-spec.committee mailing list
                      jakarta.ee-spec.committee@xxxxxxxxxxx
                      To change your delivery options, retrieve your
                      password, or unsubscribe from this list, visit
                      https://dev.eclipse.org/mailman/listinfo/jakarta.ee-spec.committee
                  
                 
               
             
            _______________________________________________
              jakarta.ee-spec.committee mailing list
              jakarta.ee-spec.committee@xxxxxxxxxxx
              To change your delivery options, retrieve your password,
              or unsubscribe from this list, visit
              https://dev.eclipse.org/mailman/listinfo/jakarta.ee-spec.committee
          
         
        -- 
        
          
            Java Champion, JCP EC/EG Member, EE4J PMC, JUG Leader
           
         
       
      
      
      
      _______________________________________________
jakarta.ee-spec.committee mailing list
jakarta.ee-spec.committee@xxxxxxxxxxx
To change your delivery options, retrieve your password, or unsubscribe from this list, visit
https://dev.eclipse.org/mailman/listinfo/jakarta.ee-spec.committee
    
    
   
_______________________________________________
jakarta.ee-spec.committee mailing list
jakarta.ee-spec.committee@xxxxxxxxxxx
To change your delivery options, retrieve your password, or unsubscribe from this list, visit
https://dev.eclipse.org/mailman/listinfo/jakarta.ee-spec.committee