Re: RFD: Kernel release numbering

Thomas Gleixner
2005-03-04T19:06:08Z

On Fri, 2005-03-04 at 09:57 -0800, 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?

-preX are milestones mainly for developers

When -preX is converted to -rc1 then it defines feature freeze and the
testing / polishing steps to the final release take place, with "serious
bugfixes only" policy.

I know you think the -rc polishing is boring, so why don't you give it
to somebody else ?

In fact the 2.6.x.y tree is a substitution for this. So the official
2.6.X release will be considered a real release candidate within no
time.

If this is your intention, then please state it loud and clearly and use
generally known and understandable naming conventions for it.

> So when I do a release, it _is_ an -rc. The fact that people have trouble
> understanding this is not _my_ fault.

If you are referring to rc == "ridiculous count", I agree that it is not
your fault. Its not necessary to understand that.

If you refer to rc == "release candidate", please start to act in a way
which people _can_ actually understand without reading LKML and finding
the proclamation mail, in which you declare that ridiculous count should
now be considered as a release candidate.

There is no way to change common practice by proclamation.

tglx