Code of Conduct

Published policy: Version 1.01, dated 14 April 2025. The Code of Conduct on cheri-alliance.org is the current approved text and takes precedence if this page differs.

The CHERI community aims to remain welcoming and respectful as it grows. Everyone taking part is expected to be friendly, patient, welcoming, considerate, respectful, thoughtful about their words, and willing to understand the reasons behind disagreement.

Scope

The policy applies throughout spaces managed by the CHERI Alliance, including chats, mailing lists, issue trackers, workshops, social events, and other Alliance communication forums. It covers speech, email, messages, slides, video, posters, signs, avatars, emoji, clothing, and other conduct within those spaces.

In rare cases, particularly serious conduct outside an Alliance space may affect a person’s ability to participate in Alliance activity.

Expected behaviour

Participants should:

• welcome and support people across backgrounds, identities, circumstances, beliefs, and abilities;
• consider how decisions and contributions affect users and colleagues;
• remember that the community is international and that people may communicate in a language other than their first;
• keep shared material suitable for a professional environment;
• disagree without personal attack, threat, or intimidation;
• stop behaviour when someone asks them to stop;
• focus on resolving problems and learning from mistakes.

Harassment and exclusionary behaviour are not acceptable. Examples include threats, discriminatory language or jokes, sexually explicit or violent material, publishing another person’s identifying information without permission, personal insults, unwanted sexual attention, or encouraging any of these actions.

Reporting a concern

Use the Alliance contact page to reach the Code of Conduct team. Reports are treated confidentially and go to the responsible team rather than a public list.

If someone is in physical danger, contact the appropriate emergency or law-enforcement service first. At an event, an organiser, member of event staff, or venue staff can help locate the responsible contact. In-person reports retain the same expectation of confidentiality.

Information to include

A report can be formal or informal. Where it is safe and comfortable to do so, include:

• your contact details for follow-up;
• the names or identifiers of people involved and any witnesses;
• when and where the incident happened;
• an account of what occurred and a link to any public record;
• relevant context;
• whether the conduct is continuing;
• any other information that may help the team respond.

This policy draws on community codes developed by lowRISC, LLVM, Django, and others. Consult the published policy for its exact wording and the current reporting route.