Add SIG Etcd Spotlight

content/en/blog/2025/sig-etcd-spotlight/sig-etcd-spotlight.md

@@ -0,0 +1,213 @@
+---
+layout: blog
+title: "Spotlight on SIG etcd"
+slug: sig-etcd-spotlight
+date: 2025-02-11
+author: "Frederico Muñoz (SAS Institute)"
+---
+
+In this SIG etcd spotlight we talked with [James Blair](https://github.com/jmhbnz), [Marek
+Siarkowicz](https://github.com/serathius), [Wenjia Zhang](https://github.com/wenjiaswe), and
+[Benjamin Wang](https://github.com/ahrtr) to learn a bit more about this Kubernetes Special Interest
+Group.
+
+## Introducing SIG etcd
+
+**Frederico: Hello, thank you for the time! Let’s start with some introductions, could you tell us a
+bit about yourself, your role and how you got involved in Kubernetes.**
+
+**Benjamin:** Hello, I am Benjamin. I am a SIG etcd Tech Lead and one of the etcd maintainers. I
+work for VMware, which is part of the Broadcom group. I got involved in Kubernetes & etcd & CSI
+([Container Storage Interface](https://github.com/container-storage-interface/spec/blob/master/spec.md)) 
+because of work and also a big passion for open source. I have been working on Kubernetes & etcd
+(and also CSI) since 2020.
+
+**James:** Hey team, I’m James, a co-chair for SIG etcd and etcd maintainer. I work at Red Hat as a
+Specialist Architect helping people adopt cloud native technology. I got involved with the
+Kubernetes ecosystem in 2019. Around the end of 2022 I noticed how the etcd community and project
+needed help so started contributing as often as I could. There is a saying in our community that
+"you come for the technology, and stay for the people": for me this is absolutely real, it’s been a
+wonderful journey so far and I’m excited to support our community moving forward.
+
+**Marek:** Hey everyone, I'm Marek, the SIG etcd lead. At Google, I lead the GKE etcd team, ensuring
+a stable and reliable experience for all GKE users. My Kubernetes journey began with [SIG
+Instrumentation](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/tree/master/sig-instrumentation), where I
+created and led the [Kubernetes Structured Logging effort](https://kubernetes.io/blog/2020/09/04/kubernetes-1-19-introducing-structured-logs/).  
+I'm still the main project lead for [Kubernetes Metrics Server](https://kubernetes-sigs.github.io/metrics-server/), 
+providing crucial signals for autoscaling in Kubernetes. I started working on etcd 3 years ago,
+right around the 3.5 release. We faced some challenges, but I'm thrilled to see etcd now the most
+scalable and reliable it's ever been, with the highest contribution numbers in the project's
+history. I'm passionate about distributed systems, extreme programming, and testing.
+
+**Wenjia:** Hi there, my name is Wenjia, I am the co-chair of SIG etcd and one of the etcd
+maintainers. I work at Google as an Engineering Manager, working on GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine)
+and GDC (Google Distributed Cloud).  I have been working in the area of open source Kubernetes and
+etcd since the Kubernetes v1.10 and etcd v3.1 releases. I got involved in Kubernetes because of my
+job, but what keeps me in the space is the charm of the container orchestration technology, and more
+importantly, the awesome open source community.
+
+## Becoming a Kubernetes Special Interest Group (SIG)
+
+**Frederico: Excellent, thank you. I'd like to start with the origin of the SIG itself: SIG etcd is
+a very recent SIG, could you quickly go through the history and reasons behind its creation?**
+
+**Marek**: Absolutely! SIG etcd was formed because etcd is a critical component of Kubernetes,
+serving as its data store. However, etcd was facing challenges like maintainer turnover and
+reliability issues. [Creating a dedicated SIG](https://etcd.io/blog/2023/introducing-sig-etcd/)
+allowed us to focus on addressing these problems, improving development and maintenance processes,
+and ensuring etcd evolves in sync with the cloud-native landscape.
+
+**Frederico: And has becoming a SIG worked out as expected? Better yet, are the motivations you just
+described being addressed, and to what extent?**
+
+**Marek**: It's been a positive change overall. Becoming a SIG has brought more structure and
+transparency to etcd's development. We've adopted Kubernetes processes like KEPs
+([Kubernetes Enhancement Proposals](https://github.com/kubernetes/enhancements/blob/master/keps/README.md) 
+and PRRs ([Production Readiness Reviews](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/sig-architecture/production-readiness.md),
+which has improved our feature development and release cycle.
+
+**Frederico: On top of those, what would you single out as the major benefit that has resulted from
+becoming a SIG?**
+
+**Marek**: The biggest benefits for me was adopting Kubernetes testing infrastructure, tools like
+[Prow](https://docs.prow.k8s.io/) and [TestGrid](https://testgrid.k8s.io/). For large projects like
+etcd there is just no comparison to the default GitHub tooling. Having known, easy to use, clear
+tools is a major boost to the etcd as it makes it much easier for Kubernetes contributors to also
+help etcd.
+
+**Wenjia**: Totally agree, while challenges remain, the SIG structure provides a solid foundation
+for addressing them and ensuring etcd's continued success as a critical component of the Kubernetes
+ecosystem.
+
+The positive impact on the community is another crucial aspect of SIG etcd's success that I’d like
+to highlight. The Kubernetes SIG structure has created a welcoming environment for etcd
+contributors, leading to increased participation from the broader Kubernetes community.  We have had
+greater collaboration with other SIGs like [SIG API
+Machinery](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/sig-api-machinery/README.md), 
+[SIG Scalability](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/tree/master/sig-scalability), 
+[SIG Testing](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/tree/master/sig-scalability), 
+[SIG Cluster Lifecycle](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/tree/master/sig-cluster-lifecycle), etc. 
+
+This collaboration helps ensure etcd's development aligns with the needs of the wider Kubernetes
+ecosystem. The formation of the [etcd Operator Working Group](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/wg-etcd-operator/README.md) 
+under the joint effort between SIG etcd and SIG Cluster Lifecycle exemplifies this successful
+collaboration, demonstrating a shared commitment to improving etcd's operational aspects within
+Kubernetes.
+
+**Frederico: Since you mentioned collaboration, have you seen changes in terms of contributors and
+community involvement in recent months?**
+
+**James**: Yes -- as showing in our 
+[unique PR author data](https://etcd.devstats.cncf.io/d/23/prs-authors-repository-groups?orgId=1&var-period=m&var-repogroup_name=All&from=1422748800000&to=1738454399000)
+we recently hit an all time high in March and are trending in a positive direction:
+
+{{< figure src="/blog/2025/sig-etcd-spotlight/stats.png" alt="Unique PR author data stats" >}}
+
+Additionally, looking at our 
+[overall contributions across all etcd project repositories](https://etcd.devstats.cncf.io/d/74/contributions-chart?orgId=1&from=1422748800000&to=1738454399000&var-period=m&var-metric=contributions&var-repogroup_name=All&var-country_name=All&var-company_name=All&var-company=all) 
+we are also observing a positive trend showing a resurgence in etcd project activity:
+
+{{< figure src="/blog/2025/sig-etcd-spotlight/stats2.png" alt="Overall contributions stats" >}}
+
+## The road ahead
+
+**Frederico: That's quite telling, thank you. In terms of the near future, what are the current
+priorities for SIG etcd?**
+
+**Marek**: Reliability is always top of mind -– we need to make sure etcd is rock-solid. We're also
+working on making etcd easier to use and manage for operators. And we have our sights set on making
+etcd a viable standalone solution for infrastructure management, not just for Kubernetes. Oh, and of
+course, scaling -– we need to ensure etcd can handle the growing demands of the cloud-native world.
+
+**Benjamin**: I agree that reliability should always be our top guiding principle. We need to ensure
+not only correctness but also compatibility. Additionally, we should continuously strive to improve
+the understandability and maintainability of etcd. Our focus should be on addressing the pain points
+that the community cares about the most.
+
+**Frederico: Are there any specific SIGs that you work closely with?**
+
+**Marek**: SIG API Machinery, for sure – they own the structure of the data etcd stores, so we're
+constantly working together. And SIG Cluster Lifecycle – etcd is a key part of Kubernetes clusters,
+so we collaborate on the newly created etcd operator Working group.
+
+**Wenjia**: Other than SIG API Machinery and SIG Cluster Lifecycle that Marek mentioned above, SIG
+Scalability and SIG Testing is another group that we work closely with.
+
+**Frederico: In a more general sense, how would you list the key challenges for SIG etcd in the
+evolving cloud native landscape?**
+
+**Marek**: Well, reliability is always a challenge when you're dealing with critical data. The
+cloud-native world is evolving so fast that scaling to meet those demands is a constant effort.
+
+## Getting involved
+
+**Frederico: We're almost at the end of our conversation, but for those interested in in etcd, how
+can they get involved?**
+
+**Marek**: We'd love to have them! The best way to start is to join our 
+[SIG etcd meetings](https://github.com/kubernetes/community/blob/master/sig-etcd/README.md#meetings), 
+follow discussions on the [etcd-dev mailing list](https://groups.google.com/g/etcd-dev), and check
+out our [GitHub issues](https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/issues). We're always looking for people to
+review proposals, test code, and contribute to documentation.
+
+**Wenjia**: I love this question 😀 . There are numerous ways for people interested in contributing
+to SIG etcd to get involved and make a difference. Here are some key areas where you can help:
+
+**Code Contributions**:
+ - _Bug Fixes_: Tackle existing issues in the etcd codebase. Start with issues labeled "good first
+issue" or "help wanted" to find tasks that are suitable for newcomers.
+ - _Feature Development_: Contribute to the development of new features and enhancements. Check the
+etcd roadmap and discussions to see what's being planned and where your skills might fit in.
+ - _Testing and Code Reviews_: Help ensure the quality of etcd by writing tests, reviewing code
+   changes, and providing feedback.
+ - _Documentation_: Improve [etcd's documentation](https://etcd.io/docs/) by adding new content,
+   clarifying existing information, or fixing errors. Clear and comprehensive documentation is
+   essential for users and contributors.
+ - _Community Support_: Answer questions on forums, mailing lists, or [Slack  channels](https://kubernetes.slack.com/archives/C3HD8ARJ5). 
+   Helping others understand and use etcd is a valuable contribution.
+
+**Getting Started**:
+- _Join the community_: Start by joining the etcd community on Slack,
+  attending SIG meetings, and following the mailing lists. This will
+  help you get familiar with the project, its processes, and the
+  people involved.
+- _Find a mentor_: If you're new to open source or etcd, consider
+  finding a mentor who can guide you and provide support. Stay tuned!
+  Our first cohort of mentorship program was very successful. We will
+  have a new round of mentorship program coming up.
+- _Start small_: Don't be afraid to start with small contributions. Even
+  fixing a typo in the documentation or submitting a simple bug fix
+  can be a great way to get involved.
+
+By contributing to etcd, you'll not only be helping to improve a
+critical piece of the cloud-native ecosystem but also gaining valuable
+experience and skills. So, jump in and start contributing!
+
+**Frederico: Excellent, thank you. Lastly, one piece of advice that
+you'd like to give to other newly formed SIGs?**
+
+**Marek**: Absolutely! My advice would be to embrace the established
+processes of the larger community, prioritize collaboration with other
+SIGs, and focus on building a strong community.
+
+**Wenjia**: Here are some tips I myself found very helpful in my OSS
+journey:
+- _Be patient_: Open source development can take time. Don't get
+  discouraged if your contributions aren't accepted immediately or if
+  you encounter challenges.
+- _Be respectful_: The etcd community values collaboration and
+respect. Be mindful of others' opinions and work together to achieve
+common goals.
+- _Have fun_: Contributing to open source should be
+enjoyable. Find areas that interest you and contribute in ways that
+you find fulfilling.
+
+**Frederico: A great way to end this spotlight, thank you all!**
+
+---
+
+For more information and resources, please take a look at :
+
+1. etcd website: https://etcd.io/
+2. etcd GitHub repository: https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd 
+3. etcd community: https://etcd.io/community/