Re: Linux 2.6.9-rc1

[Daniel Andersen <anddan@linux-user.net>]

Dâniel Fraga wrote:
> In article <Pine.LNX.4.58.0408241221390.17766@ppc970.osdl.org>,
> 	Linus Torvalds <torvalds@osdl.org> writes:
> 
> 
>>Any reason for your preference? 
> 
> 
> 	Linus, sorry but I can't agree with your decision.
>     
>     I'm not a developer, just an user and for me at least, there's no
> sense in supplying a patch related do 2.6.8 instead of 2.6.8.1.
> 
> 	I always update my kernel when the official patch is announced and
> I'd expect to follow a well defined order (2.6.8 -> 2.6.8.1 ->
> 2.6.9...).
> 
> 	Suppose we had 2.6.8.1, 2.6.8.2, 2.6.8.3 until 2.6.8.10. Should I
> remove 10 patches just to update to 2.6.9? For me it's a waste of time.
> 
> 	I know you kernel developers use BK or some other method, but...
> 
> 	Thanks.
> 

As Linus initially said, there is the possibility of releasing a bug-fix 
patch 2.6.8.2 *after* 2.6.9 has been released. This can make things very 
confusing when patch-2.6.9 is against 2.6.8.1 and not 2.6.8.2 (or 
2.6.8). So if we use a rule of always patching against the first x.y.Z 
release (and not the last x.y.z.W by the time the new x.y.Z is released) 
we can assure consistence in the patch management.

Daniel Andersen
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