Re: Some thoughts about stable kernel development

[Adrian Bunk <bunk@fs.tum.de>]

On Sun, Nov 09, 2003 at 07:41:02PM +0100, Krzysztof Halasa wrote:

> Hi,

Hi Krzysztof,

>...
> Here is what I propose:
> As all of you know, the development cycle can be shortened by using
> two separate trees for a stable kernel line.
> 
> Say, we're now at 2.4.23-rc1 stage. This "rc" kernel would also be
> known as 2.4.24-pre1. The maintainer would apply "rc"-class fixes to
> both kernels, and other patches (which can't go to "rc" kernel) would
> be applied to 2.4.24-pre1 only.
>...
> Comments?

I don't like this idea for the following reason:

A -rc kernel of a stable series needs maximum testing to avoid any 
regressions compared to the previous stable kernel.

If you start a new -pre series at the time of an -rc series many people 
will use the new -pre instead of the latest -rc decreasing the number of 
people testing this -rc and therefore increasing the risk of problems in 
the final kernel.

> Krzysztof Halasa, B*FH

cu
Adrian

-- 

       "Is there not promise of rain?" Ling Tan asked suddenly out
        of the darkness. There had been need of rain for many days.
       "Only a promise," Lao Er said.
                                       Pearl S. Buck - Dragon Seed