Announcing a New Working Group for OpenZeppelin Governor

Announcing a New Working Group for OpenZeppelin Governor

We are excited to announce a new collaborative initiative involving Tally, OpenZeppelin, Agora and ScopeLift: the formation of a common working group focused on advancing the OpenZeppelin Governor framework. This group will focus on sharing roadmaps,developing in-demand features, and aligning on standards for extensions.  The goal is to create a unified and robust governance framework that adapts to the evolving needs of DAOs.

Background of the OpenZeppelin Governor Framework

The OpenZeppelin Governor has established itself over the past four years as the most trusted governance framework in the blockchain ecosystem. From its inception as "Governor Alpha" by Compound in 2020, it has continuously evolved to offer increased flexibility and customizability. This collaboration will enhance the modularity of the Governor framework by creating a community-driven space for innovation and standardization. 

Using the Governor Dune Dashboard by OpenZeppelin, we can see that over $32 billion in value is secured using the Governor framework as either Treasury funds or protocol TVL. Additionally, more than 5,600 Governor contracts have been deployed over a dozen different networks.

While earlier versions like Governor Alpha and Bravo were more monolithic, OpenZeppelin's Governor has shifted towards a more generalizable approach, allowing for customization through extensions. This adaptability has encouraged contributions from development firms like ScopeLift, who have developed popular features such as "Vote With Params" and Flexible Voting. With the formation of this working group, we aim to further streamline the process of making feature requests, proposing code contributions, and sharing updates across the community.

The Working Group's Mission

This new working group will serve as a collaborative forum where OpenZeppelin, Tally, Agora, ScopeLift, and other stakeholders can share their roadmaps and coordinate on the development of commonly requested features. By aligning on standards for extensions and core functionalities, the group will ensure that the Governor framework remains modular, extensible, and compatible with existing DAO tooling.

The working group will also focus on developing a unified roadmap for the Governor framework, identifying and prioritizing the most critical needs of the ecosystem. By creating a shared space for discussion and collaboration, we aim to foster a culture of openness, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Why This Matters

Creating a common working group dedicated to the Governor framework is a crucial step in simplifying DAO deployment and customization. By aligning on a shared vision and roadmap, we can ensure that the framework remains adaptable, easy to extend, and able to meet the diverse needs of the blockchain community. This collaboration will empower organizations and developers to focus on governance and innovation, minimizing the technical hurdles traditionally associated with DAO deployment and management.

We invite all interested parties to join us in this exciting journey as we work together to advance the OpenZeppelin Governor framework as a standard for decentralized governance.

Next Steps

As we embark on this collaborative journey to enhance the OpenZeppelin Governor framework, we have outlined several key steps to ensure transparency, engagement, and meaningful progress:

1. Publishing a Common Roadmap:

   Our first priority is to develop and publish a common roadmap that outlines the future direction of the Governor framework. This roadmap will be a living document, continuously updated to reflect community input, technological advancements, and emerging needs within the decentralized governance space. It will highlight planned enhancements, feature releases, and areas where community contributions are most needed.

2. Collaborating on New Feature Releases:

   The working group will coordinate on the development and release of new features that address the most pressing needs of DAO operators and developers. We will focus on building and refining commonly requested extensions, improving modularity, and ensuring seamless integration with existing DAO tooling. By leveraging the expertise of all contributors, we aim to deliver impactful updates that enhance the flexibility and functionality of the Governor framework.

3. Hosting Open Forums for Community Feedback:

   We are committed to fostering an inclusive and transparent development process. To this end, we will host regular open forums and community calls where anyone interested can provide feedback, propose new ideas, and discuss ongoing developments. These forums will be an opportunity to engage directly with the working group, share experiences, and help shape the future direction of the Governor framework.

An Open Invitation to Participate

 The strength of this initiative lies in the diversity and breadth of its contributors. We warmly invite developers, DAO operators, researchers, and anyone passionate about decentralized governance to join us. Your insights, ideas, and expertise will be invaluable in shaping the future of the Governor framework.

Whether you are interested in contributing code, suggesting new features, or participating in discussions to refine the roadmap, there is a place for you in this working group. Together, we can build a more robust, flexible, and widely adopted standard for decentralized governance.

To get involved, please reach out to us through our community channels or apply to our interest form to be kept up to date on next steps and opportunities for collaboration: Interest Form Link