Re: RFD: Kernel release numbering

Steven Cole
2005-03-04T19:21:41Z

Jeff Garzik wrote:
> Linus Torvalds wrote:
>
>> I've long since decided that there's no point to making "-pre". What's
>> the difference between a "-pre" and a daily -bk snapshot? Really?
>
>
> Several non-BK developers use the first -rc1 as a merge point.
>
> Others simply trust that _Linus_ has a lot more smarts than an automated
> script, about deciding when a good testing point should occur. Holy
> Penguin Pee has value, they feel.
>
>
>> So when I do a release, it _is_ an -rc. The fact that people have
>> trouble understanding this is not _my_ fault.
>
>
> If you want people to start testing, a good first step would be
> understanding why this is so.
>
> Users have been trained that -rc means "serious bugfixes only". You are
> trying to re-train them. That just won't work.
>
> When you do an -rc1 or -rc2, it is not serious bugfixes only.
> _Especially_ rc1. rc1 is in no way "bugfixes only." Non-BK developers
> just treat the first couple -rc's as a merge point, while the rest of us
> BK developers have already gone into "send bugfixes only" mode.
>
> You are fighting an uphill battle against user perceptions and training.
>
> Jeff
>

Here's an idea which might just be too simple, but here it is anyway:

Modifiy the bk snapshot scripts to name the 2.6.x series snapshots as -PREy
instead of -BKy. That way, the general population of users will see
the -bk snapshots as -pre releases. According to Linus, pre == bk. So,
name them as such.

Linus, wait for at least two weeks before releasing the first -rc.
That way, the bulk on the thundering herd of patches will be hopefully
be merged by then. And users will have 2.6.x-PRE[1..14] to test.
The hard part for the kernel.org script writer might be to disable
the -bk/-pre snapshot once the first -rc is out.

Since your _intent_ is that an -rc really be an -rc, make it so. It
shouldn't take more than a release or two to train the maintainers
that the post-2.6.11 -rc's are _really_ release candidates.

Steven