Re: RFD: Kernel release numbering

Rene Herman
2005-03-03T13:26:55Z

Jeff Garzik wrote:

> Rene Herman wrote:
>
>> Doing -pre and real -rc will get you more testers for -rc. Whether or
>
>> Add in the fourth level .k releases for real problematic bugs found
>> after release as you did with 2.6.8.1, and I believe things should work.
>
> Precisely.

I assume that one of the main problems with doing -pre is that actually
doing a real -rc isn't much fun -- I can certainly understand that
sitting around twiddling your thumbs by decree every few weeks is not a
good model.

You commented on the .k 4th level releases being an actual branch, BK
wise. To not let the forced thumb-twiddling -rc period be a problem,
this branch could happen at -rc1, after which Linus is again free to go
merge up stuff into mainline for the next one, if he wants to.

That's to say, I propose Linus doesn't change _anything_ other than
renaming his -rc's -pre's, and his final -rc1 (well, and making it a
branch if -final isn't a branch now, sorry, not a clue).

The -rc branch then just sits there, and if nothing turns up that needs
an -rc2, it gets released as final, and possibly onto .1, .2 and so on
if useful or need be.

Now, coaching that -rc branch from -rc1 through maybe -rcN to -final and
possibly beyond may not be something Linus wants to do. The -rc branch
would by definition see _no_ activity other than the really needed so I
don't believe it would be much of a burden time-wise, but it is in fact
not unlike what Alan is already doing with -ac. So, if Linus doesn't
want that job, Alan may? Or someone else?

Summarising:

- Linus:

1) rename 2.6.N-rcX to 2.6.N-preX
2) when you'd now release, branch off, release as -rc1
3) go on with 2.6.(N+1)-pre1

- Linus, Alan, or whoever else wants the job:

1) release -rc{2,3,...} only if needed.
2) release 2.6.N
3) do a 2.6.N.{1,2,...} only if needed.

Is this sane? The advantage is, real -pre's and -rc's which will get
more people onboard testing -rc, and hopefully without annoying Linus
with real no-changing -rc's. How many more, enough or not, remains to be
seen but certainly more.

Rene.