Re: PostgreSQL Contributor levels - Mailing list pgsql-www

Dear all,

As part of the ongoing discussion on recognizing PostgreSQL contributors, I’d like to propose a structured framework that reflects both the field and the extent of contributions.

And as Bruce already mentioned: PostgreSQL’s success depends on a broad range of contributors. It includes working on infrastructure, documentation, testing, events, and community growth and a lot more. 

I would first suggest defining fields of contributions (as you somehow already have listed here: https://www.postgresql.org/about/policies/contributors/). And then define sub-levels of achievements (e.g. Bronze, Silver, Gold) based on the intensity or amount of contributions in this category. 

Recognizing contributors based on the nature and level of their work would ensure fair and meaningful appreciation across the ecosystem.

Proposed Recognition Framework (examples ...) 

1. Code Contributions
Recognition per major version release (PG18 Code Contributor, PG19 Code Contributor,, ...)

Categories by volume or impact (example):
* Bronze: 1–4 commits or patches accepted
* Silver: 5–14 commits or patches accepted
* Gold: 15+ commits, or major feature lead / reviewer

2. Infrastructure and Operations
Measured by active maintenance periods or completed initiatives.
* Bronze: contributed to 1 project (e.g. CI job, website update)
* Silver: ongoing work for 6+ months
* Gold: long-term or leadership role in infrastructure operations

3. Documentation and Translation
Based on number or size of contributions:
* Bronze: 1–2 pages / translations / updates
* Silver: 3–5 substantial updates or sections
* Gold: primary authorship or large documentation refactor

4. Community and Events
For conference organization, volunteer roles, or community moderation.
* Bronze: contributed to 1 event

* Silver: part of 2–3 events or continuous local engagement
* Gold: lead organizer, multi-event coordination, or cross-region involvement

5. Marketing and Outreach
Recognizing those who expand PostgreSQL’s visibility and reach.
* Bronze: 1 campaign or article
* Silver: 3+ campaigns, regular promotional efforts
* Gold: sustained leadership or strategic impact in community visibility

6. Testing and Quality Assurance
Based on frequency and impact of testing contributions.
* Bronze: 1 round of participation (bug reports, test feedback)
* Silver: regular testing over multiple versions
* Gold: maintaining or coordinating test infrastructure / major QA lead

Contributors can collect multiple badges across different categories, showcasing the breadth of their involvement and celebrating their growing impact within the PostgreSQL ecosystem. Which also adds a light gamification aspect to recognition, inspiring contributors to explore multiple areas of PostgreSQL — from code and testing to marketing, documentation, and community engagement. 

When it comes to displaying the level and type of contributions: we are anyway working on digital badges which could now reflect the different levels (bronze, silver, gold). 

Further, I’d like to bring another aspect into the discussion about contributor recognition — acknowledging company-level (commercial) contributions to PostgreSQL.
Many companies make a significant impact by increasing PostgreSQL’s visibility and awareness, which ultimately helps the entire ecosystem thrive. Recognizing these efforts would highlight the essential role that commercial contributors play in supporting the community’s growth and sustainability.

A possible framework would be the following (as an example) 

* Bronze Partner: consistent but limited contribution (e.g., 1–2 engineers involved or support for one community initiative)
* Silver Partner: moderate involvement (e.g., multiple engineers, event sponsorships, or regular contributions in two categories)
* Gold Partner: significant, ongoing contribution (e.g., sustained technical work + infrastructure or community sponsorship over multiple years).

Kind regards,
Cornelia 

Biacsics