DP Challenge

Desirable Properties Challenge

Join a DP Workgroup

Each of the 23 Desirable Properties is stewarded by a dedicated workgroup on Gov Hub. Pick the property whose purpose resonates with you, join as a member, or nominate yourself (or someone else) for a coordinator or contributor role.

Browse all 23 workgroups →FAQ

Not ready to join a workgroup yet? You can also comment on chapters at book.desirableproperties.org or patch drafts directly on Gov Hub. See all the ways to contribute.

What is a DP workgroup

A Desirable Properties workgroup is a small, focused team that moves a single Desirable Property from concept to working draft. Each workgroup has a charter, a coordinator, and a flexible roster of members who contribute as their time allows – most collaboration is async, with synchronous time reserved for moments that need it.

There is no requirement to attend every meeting or write every line. Join for the parts of the work you care about, and step back when life gets busy.

Workgroup roles

Every workgroup is staffed by a small set of contributors. Roles are flexible – contribute where you have time and interest.

  • Coordinator

    Coordinates the workgroup, sets agenda, and supports contributors.

  • Co-lead

    Shares recruitment, member approvals, and contributor coordination with the coordinator.

  • Editor

    Edits drafts, coordinates document revisions, and maintains quality.

  • Presenter

    Presents workgroup output at meetings, webinars, or public sessions.

  • Facilitator

    Facilitates meetings and helps the group reach consensus.

  • Liaison

    Coordinates with other workgroups, layers, or external partners.

  • Recorder

    Captures meeting notes, decisions, and action items.

Join vs Nominate

Two ways to get involved with a workgroup: join it as a member, or nominate someone (including yourself) for a coordinator or contributor role.

Join as a member

Joining is low-commitment and reversible. As a member you can read drafts, discuss on the book, patch on Gov Hub, and contribute wherever your time and interest align – there is no obligation to attend meetings or write code.

Most workgroups welcome additional members at any point. Use theJoin as memberbutton on any card below to get started.

Nominate a coordinator (or yourself)

Nominating puts someone forward for a named role – Coordinator, Editor, Presenter, or another contributor position. You can nominate yourself or someone else in the community.

The nominee reviews the nomination first and must accept it before the layer admin reviews and approves. Use theNominatebutton on any card below – it opens the workgroup page with the form ready.

The 23 workgroups

Each workgroup stewards one Desirable Property – drafting the canonical text, reviewing contributions, and proposing updates. Click through to Gov Hub to join as a member or nominate a coordinator.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know which workgroup is right for me?

Read each DP's short description and pick the one whose purpose resonates with your interests and skills. You can always join a different workgroup later.

What if I don't have time for ongoing commitments?

Some roles are flexible and low-touch. Roles like Recorder or Liaison can be episodic – contribute when you have capacity.

Can I be a member of more than one workgroup?

Yes. Many community members participate across multiple workgroups.

How are Coordinators chosen?

Coordinators can be nominated by anyone in the community, or you can nominate yourself. The layer admin reviews and approves each nomination.

Can't open Gov Hub? (connection or security error)

Join and Nominate take you to hub.themetalayer.org (Gov Hub). If you see “This site can’t provide a secure connection” or ERR_SSL_PROTOCOL_ERROR, the link is usually fine – something on your network is interfering with HTTPS. If it works on cellular but not Wi‑Fi, the problem is your home router or ISP, not Gov Hub.

  1. Quick check: on the same device, turn off Wi‑Fi and try again on cellular. If that works, focus on your home network (steps below).
  2. Confirm the address bar shows https://hub.themetalayer.org/... (not the raw IP address).
  3. Change your router or device DNS to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 (some ISP or filter DNS returns bad answers that break HTTPS).
  4. Check for Pi-hole, AdGuard Home, NextDNS, or router “security” / parental controls that may block or rewrite Gov Hub hostnames.
  5. Reboot your modem and router, then flush DNS (Windows: ipconfig /flushdns; Chrome: chrome://net-internals/#dns → Clear host cache).
  6. If it still fails only on Wi‑Fi, try another browser or disable VPN and antivirus HTTPS scanning – then contact your ISP if nothing else helps.

Cellular works but home Wi‑Fi does not? Tell us your ISP and router model – that pattern almost always means DNS or filtering on the home network.

Ready to participate?

Pick a workgroup above, or go straight to the Metaweb layer on Gov Hub to discover drafts and discussions across all 23 properties.

Browse the 23 workgroups →Open Gov Hub← Back to Challenge