Add guidelines for node PR triage (#5436)

* Add guidelines for node PR triage

* Address reviewer feedback

* Address more of Sergey's feedback

* Add 'kind' guide and more label links

* Add note on authors' responsibilities and stale PRs

1 files changed, 215 insertions, 0 deletions

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+# SIG Node Triage Process
+
+Currently, SIG Node is limiting its triage review to pull requests. In the
+near-future, we hope to expand to issues as well.
+
+This is intended to guide developers through the SIG Node triage process. You
+will learn about the roles of authors, reviewers, and approvers, as well as
+what labels are required for each stage of the PR process.
+
+We track most node PRs on the [SIG Node Triage project board]. All test and
+CI-related PRs are tracked on the [CI subproject board].
+
+For help with the commands listed in the document below, review the [bot command documentation].
+
+[SIG Node Triage project board]: https://github.com/orgs/kubernetes/projects/49
+[CI subproject board]: https://github.com/orgs/kubernetes/projects/43
+[bot command documentation]: https://go.k8s.io/bot-commands
+
+## Triage
+
+All new PRs added to the board should begin in the **Triage** column.
+
+When a pull request is made against kubernetes/kubernetes, it will typically
+have the following [labels], applied by the Prow bot:
+
+- needs-ok-to-test (not needed for project members)
+- needs-kind
+- needs-priority
+- needs-triage
+
+In order to be moved out of this column, all of the above labels must be set.
+
+[labels]: https://github.com/kubernetes/test-infra/blob/master/label_sync/labels.md
+
+### needs-ok-to-test
+
+Use your best judgment in determining whether a PR is OK to test. You don't
+have to do a full review: just make sure that the code does not appear to be
+actively malicious, and the PR appears to be doing something useful. Use the
+command `/ok-to-test`.
+
+Only [Kubernetes org members] can add this [label][labels].
+
+If the PR is trivial and doesn't provide much value, feel free to close it
+using the `/close` command and link the author to the [trivial edits policy].
+
+You can use the following message:
+
+    /close
+
+    Thank you for your PR. It seems to only contain trivial edits. Please read our [trivial edits policy](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/contributors/guide/pull-requests.md#trivial-edits). We encourage you to take a look at confirmed issues and bugs or issues marked `help-wanted`.
+
+[Kubernetes org members]: https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/community-membership.md#member
+[trivial edits policy]: https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/contributors/guide/pull-requests.md#trivial-edits
+
+### needs-kind
+
+Most authors will already set this, as it's part of the PR template, but they
+may not set it correctly. A PR may have multiple "kind" labels, so ensure only
+the correct ones are applied.
+
+Anyone can add these [labels].
+
+- **kind/api-change:** API change, that will require special API review
+- **kind/bug:** related to a bug
+- **kind/cleanup:** cleaning up code, process, or technical debt
+- **kind/deprecation:** deprecation, that will require special API review
+- **kind/design:** related to design. not commonly used
+- **kind/documentation:** related to documentation (including code comments)
+- **kind/failing-test:** related to a consistently or frequently failing test
+- **kind/feature:** related to a new feature or enhancement; should have an
+  associated KEP linked
+- **kind/flake:** related to a flaky test
+- **kind/regression:** related to a regression in performance or functionality
+  from a prior release
+- **kind/support:** not applicable to PRs
+
+### needs-priority
+
+You can take a quick look at what the PR is addressing and then apply a
+priority label.
+
+Anyone can add this [label][labels].
+
+- **priority/critical-urgent:** Urgent bug fix, required ASAP. If not
+  addressed, will block a release. These issues should always be discussed in
+  the `#sig-node` channel on Slack.
+- **priority/important-soon:** Needs to be completed this release. Important
+  bug fixes + KEPs targeted for the current milestone.
+- **priority/important-longterm:** Has an attached issue/KEP, but unclear what
+  the specific priority is.
+- **priority/backlog:** Non-urgent changes such as minor performance
+  optimizations, improving error logs, increasing test code coverage, code
+  refactoring, and addressing static code analysis issues.
+
+### needs-triage
+
+There are two more things to check before accepting a PR for triage.
+
+The first is whether the SIG is correct. If the PR does not appear to touch SIG
+Node code or require a SIG Node approver, you should remove the SIG Node label,
+and add other SIG labels as appropriate.
+
+The second is verifying the kind of PR. Most will be bug fixes, cleanups, or
+documentation. Feature PRs should generally have an attached KEP. API changes
+and deprecations require special review; those labels may be mistakenly
+applied, so check over the PR to make sure they're accurate.
+
+Once you've quickly looked over a PR, applied the appropriate labels, and it
+looks ready to proceed to review (i.e. it doesn't have any labels that would
+mean it's waiting on more work from the author), you can mark the PR as triaged
+with `/triage accepted`.
+
+Only [Kubernetes org members] can add this [label][labels].
+
+## Waiting on Author
+
+This column means that the PR is waiting on some action from the author. A
+reviewer may have requested changes, or a PR may have one of the following
+do-not-merge [labels]:
+
+- **do-not-merge/hold:** usually set by a reviewer
+- **do-not-merge/work-in-progress:** usually set by an author
+- **do-not-merge/release-note-needed:** needs a release note to be added by the
+  author, [Kubernetes org members] can override with `/release-note-none` if
+  not required
+- **do-not-merge/contains-merge-commits:** PR needs to be rebased
+- **needs-rebase:** PR needs to be rebased
+
+If [tests are failing] due to an issue with the change (rather than a [flake]), PRs
+should also be assigned to this column.
+
+Authors are encouraged to fix any of the label issues above, resolve or reply
+to all PR feedback, and leave a comment indicating when their PR is ready for
+review.
+
+PRs that do not have any of the above labeled in this column should be
+evaluated occasionally to see if they are ready for review.
+
+If PRs are not updated for a long period (90d), they will be marked as stale.
+After 30d more, they will be marked as rotten, and then closed automatically.
+Reviewers should feel free to close stale PRs (4+ months of no changes) with a
+note that the author can reopen when they are ready to work on it.
+
+[tests are failing]: contributors/devel/sig-testing/testing.md#troubleshooting-a-failure
+[flake]: contributors/devel/sig-testing/flaky-tests.md
+
+## Waiting on Reviewer
+
+This PR needs review! If you're not sure how to review a PR, start by
+familiarizing yourself with the Kubernetes [pull request guidelines] and
+[review guidelines].
+
+PRs in this column must have the following [labels] set:
+
+- triage-accepted
+- priority
+- kind
+
+Only [Kubernetes org members] can add an `/lgtm`.
+
+If you want to become an official Node reviewer, you should read through the
+[reviewer responsibilities and requirements].
+
+As part of code review, you should ensure that:
+
+- the change is needed
+- the metadata on the PR and the release note are accurate
+- the change works the way it is intended to
+- alternative implementations have been explored and this is an appropriate
+  solution
+- the code has been reviewed by everyone it needs to be: it may have an LGTM
+  label already, but still needs feedback from Node reviewers
+
+TODO: Add some node-specific stuff here.
+
+[pull request guidelines]: https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/contributors/guide/pull-requests.md
+[review guidelines]: https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/contributors/guide/review-guidelines.md
+[reviewer responsibilities and requirements]: https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/community-membership.md#reviewer
+
+## Waiting on Approver
+
+These PRs are waiting on an `approved` label that can only be provided by
+approvers. The bot will always tell you whose approval is needed on which
+directories ([example comment]), and will update its comment as approvals are
+provided.
+
+PRs in this column must have the following [labels] set:
+
+- lgtm
+- triage-accepted
+- priority
+- kind
+
+Check for the bot's comment to see which files still need approvers from the
+appropriate OWNERS. If the PR already has an approval for the node components
+(commonly, anything in `./pkg/kubelet/*`), you can mark the PR as Done manually
+while waiting on other approvers.
+
+Only [Kubernetes approvers] can use `/approve` on a PR to address this
+requirement.
+
+[example comment]: https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/pull/97992#issuecomment-759450299
+[Kubernetes approvers]: https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/community-membership.md#approver
+
+## Done
+
+This column has automation to include all closed and merged PRs on the board.
+Huzzah!
+
+It may also include PRs that have LGTMs and approvals, but are not yet merged
+(i.e. requires a non-node approver signoff, API review, or a release team
+cherry-pick approval).
+
+TODO: We should archive this column per release.