We as members, contributors, and leaders pledge to make participation in Universal Extension Format a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of age, body size, visible or invisible disability, ethnicity, sex characteristics, gender identity and expression, level of experience, education, socio-economic status, nationality, personal appearance, race, caste, colour, religion, or sexual identity and orientation.
We pledge to act and interact in ways that contribute to an open, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, and healthy community.
We recognise that a thriving open source community requires psychological safety -- an environment where people can contribute, ask questions, make mistakes, and learn without fear of ridicule or retaliation.
The following behaviours contribute to a positive environment:
Communication
- Using welcoming and inclusive language
- Being respectful of differing viewpoints and experiences
- Giving and gracefully accepting constructive feedback
- Assuming good intent while addressing impact
- Communicating clearly and patiently, especially with newcomers
Collaboration
- Focusing on what is best for the community
- Showing empathy and kindness toward other community members
- Being collaborative rather than competitive
- Mentoring and supporting less experienced contributors
- Celebrating others' contributions and successes
Professionalism
- Accepting responsibility and apologising to those affected by our mistakes
- Learning from the experience and avoiding repetition
- Respecting others' time and attention
- Staying on topic in project spaces
- Following project guidelines and conventions
Accessibility
- Using plain language and avoiding unnecessary jargon
- Providing alt text for images and transcripts for audio/video
- Being patient with those using assistive technologies
- Accommodating different communication styles and needs
- Recognising that not everyone communicates the same way
The following behaviours are considered harassment and are unacceptable:
Harassment
- The use of sexualised language or imagery, and sexual attention or advances of any kind
- Trolling, insulting or derogatory comments, and personal or political attacks
- Public or private harassment
- Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following (online or in-person)
- Unwelcome physical contact or simulated physical contact (e.g., emoji)
- Sustained disruption of talks, events, or online discussions
Discrimination
- Discriminatory jokes and language
- Posting or threatening to post others' personally identifying information ("doxing")
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour
- Microaggressions -- subtle, often unintentional, discriminatory comments or actions
Professional Misconduct
- Publishing others' private information without explicit permission
- Misrepresenting affiliation or contributions
- Plagiarism or claiming credit for others' work
- Retaliating against anyone who reports a Code of Conduct violation
- Other conduct which could reasonably be considered inappropriate in a professional setting
This Code of Conduct applies within all community spaces, including:
Online Spaces
- Repository discussions, issues, and pull/merge requests
- Project chat channels (Matrix, Discord, Slack, IRC)
- Mailing lists and forums
- Social media when representing the project
- Video calls and virtual meetings
In-Person Spaces
- Conferences, meetups, and events
- Workshops and training sessions
- Any gathering where you represent the project
If you experience or witness unacceptable behaviour, or have any other concerns, please report it as soon as possible.
How to Report
| Method | Details | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| j.d.a.jewell@open.ac.uk | Detailed reports, sensitive matters | |
| Private Message | Contact any maintainer directly | Quick questions, minor issues |
What Happens Next
- You will receive acknowledgment within 48 hours
- The maintainer team will review the report
- We may ask for additional information
- We will determine appropriate action
- We will inform you of the outcome (respecting others' privacy)
All reports will be handled with discretion:
- Reporter identity is protected by default
- Details are shared only with those who need to know
- We will ask before naming you in any communication
- Anonymous reports are accepted and investigated
The maintainer team will follow these guidelines in determining consequences:
Community Impact: Use of inappropriate language or other behaviour deemed unprofessional or unwelcome.
Consequence: A private, written warning providing clarity around the nature of the violation and an explanation of why the behaviour was inappropriate. A public apology may be requested.
Community Impact: A violation through a single incident or series of actions.
Consequence: A warning with consequences for continued behaviour. No interaction with the people involved for a specified period.
Community Impact: A serious violation of community standards, including sustained inappropriate behaviour.
Consequence: A temporary ban from any sort of interaction or public communication with the community for a specified period.
Community Impact: Demonstrating a pattern of violation of community standards, including sustained inappropriate behaviour, harassment of an individual, or aggression toward or disparagement of classes of individuals.
Consequence: A permanent ban from any sort of public interaction within the community.
This Code of Conduct is adapted from:
- Contributor Covenant, version 2.1
- Django Code of Conduct
- Rust Code of Conduct
- Python Community Code of Conduct
We thank these communities for their leadership in creating welcoming spaces.
If you have questions about this Code of Conduct:
- Open a Discussion (for general questions)
- Email j.d.a.jewell@open.ac.uk (for private questions)
- Contact any maintainer directly
Be kind. Be respectful. Be collaborative.
We're all here because we care about this project. Let's make it a place where everyone can do their best work.
Last updated: 2026 - Based on Contributor Covenant 2.1