Add the MERC specifying javascript library usage.

Signed-off-by: Eric Riggs <ericriggs42@gmail.com>

docs/mercs/index.rst

@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ Draft
    test-writing
    merging-roles-and-groups
    support-forum
+   using-javascript-libraries
+
 
 
 Type

docs/mercs/using-javascript-libraries.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+===================================
+MERC XX: Using javascript libraries
+===================================
+
+:MERC: XX
+:Author: Eric Riggs
+:Status: Draft
+:Type: Feature
+:Created: 2018-03-08
+:Last-Modified: 2018-03-08
+
+.. contents:: Table of Contents
+   :depth: 3
+   :local:
+
+
+Abstract
+========
+
+This MERC proposes a standard way to use javascript libraries.
+
+Rationale
+=========
+
+Mayan EDMS uses several javascript libraries for user interface features.
+Currently, the libraries are not installed using any javascript package
+manager but copied uncompressed. Installing the libraries in this manner
+carries some disadvantages.
+
+Motivation
+==========
+
+The inclusion of the libraries in source form is required by many licenses
+if the library is not installed by a package manager in distributable form.
+There are several disavantages with the current approach:
+
+1. Having the library in source form means that the entire weight of the
+   library's size carries over the overall size of the Mayan EDMS distribution files.
+   The justification for not doing this is the same as with the Python libraries
+   which are not copied with the code but downloaded upon installation.
+2. Upgrading the libraries means manually examining the version of the
+   installed in the project and manually searching, downloading, compressing
+   and adding the files to the repository.
+3. The source form of the libraries includes normal and minified versions
+   of the code and the accompaning CSS files. There is no define preference
+   and through the project both versions of the libraries are loaded
+   interchangeably. Using a packager manager the minified version would be
+   used of a pipeline to minify the installed libraries should be added.
+
+Backwards Compatibility
+=======================
+
+There are no backwards compatibility issues with this proposal.
+
+
+Specification
+=============
+
+Changes needed:
+
+1- Python based javascript package manager. Alternatively a Python wrapper
+   for a javascript package manager could be used.
+2- Package manifest for the javascript libraries used.
+3- Installation pipeline to install the javascript libraries during the
+   installation and setup of the project.
+
+References:
+- https://github.com/JDeuce/powser
+- https://github.com/javrasya/version-manager
+- https://github.com/inveniosoftware-attic/setuptools-bower
+- https://pypi.python.org/pypi/django-bower-cache/0.5.0
+- http://django-pipeline.readthedocs.io/en/latest/index.html
+- https://github.com/nvbn/django-bower