[Mageia-dev] Release cycles proposals, and discussion

Mon Jun 13 17:37:25 CEST 2011

On Mon, 13 Jun 2011, Wolfgang Bornath wrote:
+
+> About the cycles:
+>
+> The problems with 6-months have been pointed out - my main concern
+> would be the lack of manpower and the continuous state of
+> "pre-release", no real room to sit back and contemplate hwat is and
+> what could be and all the rest. IMHO such a "contemplating" time is
+> necessary to keep the whole picture in focus.
+>
+> The problems with 12-months have also been pointed out and I agree
+> with them (too long out of public focus, too long for the main
+> userland applications, etc.).
+>
+> The 9-months seem to be a compromise - but I start to ask why we need
+> such a fixed statement (which it would be, once published). We need a
+> schedule for each cycle, that's true. Without a schedule we would
+> never finish anything. But how about taking 9 months only as a "nice
+> to meet" target, leaving us the option to set a roadmap after setting
+> the specs of the next release - we could then go for a 8 or 10 months
+> roadmap, depending on the specs.
+>
+> This being said, I am a friend of a rolling release like ArchLinux,
+> but I fear that our main target group is not up to this. Despite of
+> having to "burn yet another DVD" as somebody pointed out, the majority
+> seems to see this as normal and a good way. Of course I may be totally
+> wrong with this assessment!
+
++1
+
+The consensus so far seems to be:
+
+6 months is too short
+12 months is too long
+9 months is juuuuust about right
+
+and that applies not only to developers having a chance to catch their breath between versions, but
+users too.  A 6-month turnaround feels like I'm constantly updating, but a 12-month wait between
+versions is like forever.  And as wobo suggests, 9 months need be only an average, with a target date
+for the next release, taking into account upstream developments, decided on after each one.  Also,
+the target date should be approximate at first and firmed up only as we get closer to release.
+
+spock
+