[Mageia-dev] Question about backports: calibre (bug 1659)

Thu Jun 16 23:29:14 CEST 2011

Radu-Cristian FOTESCU a écrit :
+>
+>> From: andre999<andr55 at laposte.net>
+>>
+> [...]
+>>
+>> ...
+>> Considering your concern for the application, maybe you would
+>> like to package it for Mageia.  You could ensure that it is always up to date, and that it
+>> works properly, and is properly supported.  (The packager is a key player in support.) Just
+>> because it is called a backport doesn't mean that it won't work. The packager mentoring
+>> program will help you get started :)
+>>
+>> -- André
+>
+>
+> Well, first of all, I never liked the _concept_ of backports. Too many repositories, too complex
+> tree already. One of the reasons I wasn't very fond of Mandriva (the other reason being the
+> IaOra theme(s).)
+
+As Stormi suggested, you could consider backports as "feature updates".  (Whether or not the 
+repository names change.)
+There is a certain logic for having separate backport repositories.
+It is normal to put more focus on security updates and bug fixes, than introducing new features.
+The former could also be considered release blockers, but never backports.
+So QA focuses on security updates and bug fixes.
+Also, Mandriva provided corporate support for the former, but not backports.  Of course this 
+concept doesn't apply to a volonteer community distro such as Mageia.
+Mageia policy is inherited from Mandriva, but is evidently subject to changes.
+In terms of support, the nature of support by Mageia is yet to be defined, but it is starting to be 
+discussed.
+
+> From the NON-rolling distros, Fedora is arguably the only one who tries to bring newer versions
+> of a number of applications throughout its 12+1 months lifecycle. w/o using backports. My
+> opinion is that, as long as system libraries are _not_ upgraded, many other packages
+> (applications!) should be updated as appropriate. Otherwise, the result would be that Windows
+> users would have more freedom and ease in decided what version of the [multi-platform
+> open-source] applications to use than Linux users! (Except, of course, the users of
+> rolling-release distros, and except for users of unstable/rawhide/cooker/cauldron...)
+>
+> I know, I should probably be using Fedora as long as _some_ of their principles suit my views
+> much more than Mageia does or than Mandriva did. However, Fedora lacks something like Mandriva
+> Control Center, and yum is millions of times slower than urpmi, therefore...
+
+I appreciate the same strengths inherited by Mageia.
+
+> Not to mention that most of the best people Mandriva had are now with Mageia, which makes this
+> distro hard to ignore... (Je crois qu'on appelle cela zugzwang...)
+
+I agree totally.  Mageia is the best of the old Mandriva.
+
+So what I propose is that you seriously consider packaging your application for Mageia.
+We find a mentor for you to apprentice with, to familiarise you with the process.
+In choosing a mentor, it would help to find someone in the same time zone.
+You're in Canada ?  What time zone ?
+(I'd offer to mentor you myself, being also in Canada, but I'm not yet a full packager.)
+When I started, I was able to package my favorite application to start with, hopefully you can do 
+the same, if it's not too complicated.  (Since you indicate that it doesn't have dependancies 
+to/from other packages, I suspect that it would be relatively straight-forward.)
+Once you have started packaging, you have a better chance to influence Mageia policy, if you still 
+think that it should be changed.
+But in any case you would be able to ensure that your package is available on Mageia, and is always 
+up to date.
+And of course, ensure that it works properly.
+
+So, isn't it worth a try ? :)
+>
+> R-C
+
+-- 
+André
+