Anyone can write a guide. That’s the point. But not every guide should be trusted equally. Verification is how we separate “someone wrote this” from “experts have checked this.”
The Jury System
When a guide is submitted, a jury of qualified volunteers reviews it. Not one person — a group. Each juror reads the guide independently and votes.
Juries have 3, 5, 7, or 9 members. Always odd so there’s no tie. The jurors are people who have proven their knowledge in that subject through a qualification process.
What Jurors Look For
Five things:
- Is it accurate? Are the facts right, or is there something that’s just wrong?
- Is it complete? Does it cover everything a reader needs to follow along?
- Does it respect prerequisites? Does it assume knowledge from lower levels, or does it sneak in a concept that requires a higher level?
- Is it clear? Could someone with the right prerequisites actually follow these steps?
- Do the methods work? Each method listed should be achievable with the materials described.
Jurors provide written explanations for their votes. It’s not just “approved/denied” — they explain what’s good and what needs fixing.
Guide States
| State | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Unverified | Not yet submitted, or waiting for a jury |
| Pending | Under review |
| Verified | Passed jury review |
| Disputed | Failed review or was challenged after being verified |
Most guides are unverified at any given time. That doesn’t mean they’re wrong. It means the process hasn’t caught up yet. If you’re following an unverified guide and something doesn’t work, that’s a sign — flag it in the repository.
Becoming a Verifier
If you know a subject well, you can apply to become a verifier for that subject. The qualification process involves passing a test that proves you actually know the material. Not just “I’ve used Linux” but “I can tell if a Linux guide is right or wrong.”
Verifiers are expected to:
- Review guides in their subject area
- Provide clear, constructive feedback
- Vote honestly based on the guide’s quality, not who wrote it
- Recuse themselves from guides where they have a conflict of interest
Why Bother
Without verification, any guide could be wrong and you’d have no way to tell. The internet is full of confidently incorrect tutorials. The jury system doesn’t solve that entirely — unverified guides can still be wrong — but it gives you a signal. Verified means experts looked at it and agreed it’s correct.
Next Steps
Interested in governance? Read Governance and Community to learn how decisions are made beyond verification.