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CNCF Technical Community Groups (TCGs)

Technical Community Groups (TCGs) are lightweight, topic or domain-focused groups that serve as rallying points for community members to discuss, share knowledge, and coordinate potential future initiatives. TCGs are part of the broader CNCF Community Groups Program.

Overview​

TCGs provide a structured yet flexible environment for community-driven exploration and collaboration on specific topics within the cloud native ecosystem. They complement Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) by serving as incubators for ideas and initiatives that may eventually evolve into more formal structures.

TCG Purpose

Technical Community Groups enable the community to:

  • Discuss and Explore: Share knowledge and perspectives on emerging topics
  • Build Consensus: Identify common needs and opportunities
  • Coordinate Work: Shepherd initiatives with specific deliverables
  • Foster Innovation: Experiment with new approaches and solutions
  • Grow Leaders: Develop future TAG and subproject leadership

Current TCGs​

The CNCF currently has three active Technical Community Groups:

Artificial Intelligence​

Focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning in cloud native environments, including AI/ML workloads, frameworks, and infrastructure requirements.

Topics: AI/ML infrastructure, model serving, training at scale, MLOps, AI governance

Platform Engineering​

Dedicated to platform engineering practices, tools, and patterns that enable development teams to self-service their infrastructure needs while maintaining consistency and governance.

Topics: Internal developer platforms, golden paths, self-service portals, platform as a product

Software Supply Chain Security​

Addressing the security of the software supply chain, from source code to production deployment, including build processes, artifact signing, and provenance tracking.

Topics: SBOM, artifact signing, provenance, build security, vulnerability management, supply chain attestation

How TCGs Work​

Structure​

TCGs have minimal governance requirements compared to TAGs:

  • Organizers: Domain experts who facilitate meetings and coordinate activities (2-year terms)
  • Open Participation: Anyone can join and participate in discussions
  • Initiative-Driven: Work is organized through lightweight initiatives with clear deliverables
  • Community-Focused: Success measured by community engagement and value delivered

Meetings​

  • TCGs typically hold regular public meetings
  • Meetings are recorded and made available to the community
  • No registration required - simply join and participate
  • Scheduling is flexible based on community needs

Communication​

TCGs leverage the CNCF Community Groups infrastructure:

  • Bevy Platform: Community group pages on community.cncf.io
  • Slack Channels: Dedicated channels on CNCF Slack
  • Mailing Lists: For announcements and asynchronous discussion
  • GitHub: For tracking initiatives and deliverables

TCG vs TAG: What's the Difference?​

AspectTechnical Community Group (TCG)Technical Advisory Group (TAG)
PurposeDiscussion, exploration, knowledge sharingGovernance, project oversight, deliverables
StructureLightweight, flexibleFormal with chairs and tech leads
ScopeTopic/domain focusedIndustry problem domain or horizontal function
GovernanceMinimal requirementsComprehensive governance framework
MeetingsAs needed by communityRequired monthly public meetings
DeliverablesOptional initiativesRequired white papers, reviews, assessments
ReportingInformal to TOCRegular status updates to TOC
LifecycleCan be formed/dissolved easilyLong-lived, requires TOC approval

Evolution Path​

TCGs can evolve into more formal structures:

graph LR
    A[Community Discussion] --> B[Form TCG]
    B --> C[Deliver Initiatives]
    C --> D{Sustained Value?}
    D -->|Yes| E[Propose TAG/Subproject]
    D -->|No| F[Continue as TCG]
    E --> G[TOC Approval]
    G --> H[Become TAG/Subproject]

A TCG may apply to become a TAG or subproject if:

  • It has completed numerous initiatives that fill a gap in the current structure
  • It has documented collaboration history with existing groups
  • It receives TOC approval
  • Leadership is established through TAG/subproject processes

Forming a New TCG​

To propose a new Technical Community Group:

1. Identify Need​

  • Is there a clear topic or domain not covered by existing groups?
  • Is there community interest and potential participation?
  • Are there specific problems or opportunities to explore?

2. Draft Proposal​

Create a proposal that includes:

  • Topic description and scope
  • Initial organizers (minimum 2)
  • Expected activities and potential deliverables
  • Communication plan (meetings, Slack, mailing list)

3. Submit for Approval​

4. Launch and Build​

  • Announce the group to the community
  • Hold inaugural meeting
  • Start building engagement and delivering value

Getting Involved with TCGs​

TCGs welcome broad participation:

Join Discussions​

  • Visit community.cncf.io to find TCG pages
  • Join TCG Slack channels for real-time discussion
  • Subscribe to mailing lists for updates

Attend Meetings​

  • Check TCG pages for meeting schedules
  • No registration required - simply join
  • Bring your questions, ideas, and experiences

Contribute to Initiatives​

  • Volunteer for specific deliverables or tasks
  • Share expertise and domain knowledge
  • Help with research, documentation, or outreach

Become an Organizer​

  • Actively participate in TCG activities
  • Demonstrate domain expertise and leadership
  • Express interest to current organizers
  • Serve 2-year terms with potential renewal

TCG Requirements​

All TCGs must meet basic requirements:

Core Requirements
  • Organizers: Minimum of 2 organizers who facilitate activities
  • Public Meetings: Hold meetings open to all community members
  • Communication Channels: Maintain active Slack channel and/or mailing list
  • Code of Conduct: Adhere to CNCF Code of Conduct
  • Regular Activity: Demonstrate ongoing community engagement and value
  • Technical Leadership Principles: Follow CNCF technical leadership principles

Resources and Support​

CNCF Community Groups Program​

Governance​

Contact​