[Mageia-dev] measuring our resources for release support

Sun Jul 24 07:18:44 CEST 2011

Margot a écrit :
+> On Thu, 21 Jul 2011 16:44:03 -0400
+> andre999<andr55 at laposte.net>  wrote:
+>
+>> Hello everyone,
+>>
+>> At the last packager's meeting I've been given the task of
+>> gathering ideas of how to measure our resources for supporting
+>> releases. Part of this is to see if we have (or will likely have)
+>> the resources for a LTS (long-term support) release.
+>>
+>> These resources will involve QA, testing, packaging updates, etc.
+>>
+>> So we're inviting input - there are probably factors overlooked,
+>> so don't hesitate with your suggestions.
+>>
+>> Please post to this thread, so we have all the suggestions in one
+>> place.
+>>
+>> Regards :)
+>
+> Before deciding whether we can support a LTS release, we need to
+> look at what users will expect as 'support' for any non-LTS release.
+
+Note that this is off topic, as this thread is about how to measure our 
+resources to support releases.
+
+> This is the support that I, as a mere user, would expect:
+>
+> (a) security&  bugfix updates
+> (b) supported backports of popular applications (Firefox,
+> LibreOffice, Thunderbird, Gimp etc.)
+> (c) user support - experienced Mageia users available on mailing
+> lists/forums/IRC giving help and advice to users who have problems.
+
+Ok.  (Although I'm not sure about Gimp.)
+
+> And, as many users will not be willing and/or able to upgrade to
+> latest stable Mageia immediately when it is released, I would
+> expect all of that support to continue until next-but-one release -
+> so, support for Mageia 1 until the release of Mageia 3, support for
+> Mageia 2 until release of Mageia 4 etc.
+>
+> With our 9-month release cycle, that means that all releases would
+> be supported for 18 months.
+
+If I'm not mistaken, that what we have already decided.
+
+> Is there any need for LTS on top of
+> that? People running servers might think that 18 months is not long
+> enough, but Mageia is not primarily aimed as a server distro and 18
+> months should be plenty for desktop users.
+
+Why would you think that LTS would only be of interest for server use ?
+My experience would indicate the contrary, in most business environments.
+As well as many individual users.
+
+> Bear in mind that many of our brave volunteers will be supporting 3
+> versions of Mageia - current and immediate previous stable, plus
+> cauldron -  so adding a 4th LTS version might put too much strain on
+> their hardware or on their family life!
+
+Strictly speaking, cauldron is not supported, particularly in terms of your 
+definition.  (i.e. backports, end user support.)
+It is our development branch, where we expect things to be broken on a regular 
+basis, and ordinary end-users are advised to not use.
+However, indeed LTS would be an additional (3rd) version to support.
+
+Note again that this thread is about how to measure our resources to support 
+releases.
+
+-- 
+André
+