Astropy Proposal for Enhancement 15: An Updated Model for the Affiliated Package Ecosystem (APE 15)

A revision of the concept of Astropy-affiliated packages (hereafter "affiliated packages") is proposed. The idea of affiliated packages has continued mostly unaltered since the original vision for Astropy. However, time has revealed some potential improvements in how the ecosystem is structured and the review process for affiliated packages. Hence, this APE proposes to make three changes:

• This APE creates the concept of "coordinated" packages - affiliated-like packages that are more closely overseen by the Astropy Project. While apparently significant, this change is mainly a recognition of de facto status that some affiliated packages already have.
• The APE changes the review process to a more explicit criteria-based review process - again, this is primarily simply formalizing a process that was already in place in the coordination committee.
• It lays out guidelines for the eventual goal of converting the affiliated package review process into a more "peer-review" style, where other members of the community can contribute to the review.