Cyrus Code of Conduct
Guidelines
The Cyrus community works to be welcoming and kind among itself and to others, with a deep commitment to psychological safety, and we want to ensure that doesn't change as we grow and evolve. To that end, we have a few ground rules that we ask all community members to adhere to:
- be welcoming,
- be friendly and patient,
- be considerate,
- be kind,
- be careful in the words that we choose,
- when we disagree, try to understand why, and
- recognize when progress has stopped, and take a step back.
This list isn't exhaustive. Rather, take it in the spirit in which it's intended – a guide to make it easier to communicate and participate in the community.
This code of conduct applies to all spaces managed by the Cyrus project. This includes chat systems, forums, emails (on lists or between members), issue trackers, events, and any other spaces that the community uses for communication. It applies to all communication and conduct in these spaces, including emails, chats, spoken words, slides, videos, posters, signs, or any other materials used in community contexts.
All community members should help support our standards of acceptable behavior. Everyone is encouraged to speak up in response to any behavior they deem inappropriate, threatening, offensive, or harmful. If you believe someone is violating the code of conduct, please report it to the conduct team.
Community Principles
Be welcoming
We strive to be a community that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, culture, nationality, immigration status, social and economic class, education level, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, physical appearance, age, family status, political belief, religion or lack thereof, and physical or mental ability.
Be friendly and patient
We want to encourage constructive participation. Many communication tools are low-context and can lead to misunderstandings. Be patient, assume good intent, and remain supportive while collaborating.
Be considerate
Your work affects others, and you depend on the work of others. Every decision has downstream consequences. Cyrus is a global community; be mindful that others may not share your language or context.
Be kind
Disagreement is normal, but it is not an excuse for harmful behavior. A community where people feel threatened is not productive. Maintain respect in all interactions, both inside and outside the Cyrus community.
Be careful with words
Avoid insults, exclusionary language, or harassment. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Violent threats or violent language directed at others
- Discriminatory jokes or slurs
- Posting sexual or violent explicit material
- Doxing or sharing private information without consent
- Personal insults, especially discriminatory ones
- Unwelcome sexual attention
- Encouraging any of the above behavior
If someone asks you to stop, stop. Continued behavior after a request to stop is harassment.
Disagreement and Progress
When we disagree, we try to understand why. Technical and social disagreements are natural. The strength of Cyrus comes from diversity of perspectives.
If progress stops:
- step back and reassess,
- avoid repetitive argument cycles,
- consider involving a third party for perspective,
- or switch to synchronous discussion (e.g., voice/chat).
Safety
No weapons are allowed at Cyrus events. Weapons include but are not limited to explosives, firearms, large knives, and any object intended to cause harm.
Off-platform behavior
In rare cases, behavior outside Cyrus spaces may impact participation inside them. This includes harassment, hate speech, or violence-related offenses.
We do not proactively investigate individuals, but we may act on credible reports when necessary to maintain community safety and inclusivity.
Reporting Conduct
Which platforms are officially supported for reporting?
Current draft assumes:
Filing a report
Reports can be formal or informal. Please include as much detail as possible:
- Your contact information (optional)
- Names or identifiers of individuals involved
- Time and location of the incident
- Description of what happened
- Any logs, screenshots, or links
- Context or background
- Whether the issue is ongoing
Response process
You will receive acknowledgment within 1 business day.
The conduct team will:
- investigate the situation,
- gather context from involved parties,
- assess whether a violation occurred,
- determine if there is ongoing risk.
If safety risk exists, immediate protective action may be prioritized over investigation completion.
Possible outcomes:
- no action,
- corrective action,
- warning,
- temporary ban,
- permanent ban,
- or escalation to relevant authorities if required.
If unresolved within one week, updates will be provided.
Enforcement Actions
Moderators may remove or modify content that violates this Code of Conduct.
Actions include:
Correction
Minor issues: private warning and explanation.
Warning
Repeated or moderate issues: temporary interaction restriction.
Temporary Ban
Serious or sustained violations: temporary removal from community spaces.
Permanent Ban
Repeated or severe violations: permanent exclusion from Cyrus spaces.
Special cases
If a conduct team member is involved in a complaint, they are excluded from decision-making for that case.
Acknowledgements
This Code of Conduct is based on work from:
- LLVM Code of Conduct
- Django Project Code of Conduct
- Speak Up! project
- Contributor Covenant v2.0