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Date:      Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:37:56 -0700
From:      Doug Barton <dougb@FreeBSD.org>
To:        Dylan Cochran <a134qaed@gmail.com>
Cc:        freebsd-stable <freebsd-stable@freebsd.org>
Subject:   Benefits of multiple release branches (Was: Re: Upcoming Releases Schedule...)
Message-ID:  <48D81034.6080607@FreeBSD.org>
In-Reply-To: <bdf82f800809180847n4b586164r1a689da8a3b65141@mail.gmail.com>
References:  <1219409496.10487.22.camel@bauer.cse.buffalo.edu>	<20080904133604.GB1188@atarininja.org>	<CB36FE28-D125-4C22-B5DE-1001515DD8A6@netconsonance.com>	<47d0403c0809051319r3c82f87bhdb15ce5b0167987a@mail.gmail.com>	<alpine.BSF.1.10.0809061159410.28840@fledge.watson.org>	<2742CAB1-8FF2-425D-A3B6-0658D7DB8F4D@netconsonance.com>	<alpine.BSF.1.10.0809162043380.64176@fledge.watson.org>	<0C2C7E9B-61E3-4720-B76F-4745A3C963DA@netconsonance.com>	<alpine.BSF.1.10.0809180022580.13100@fledge.watson.org>	<658B8861-1E78-4767-8D3D-8B79CC0BD45F@netconsonance.com> <bdf82f800809180847n4b586164r1a689da8a3b65141@mail.gmail.com>

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Dylan Cochran wrote:
> One of the biggest (and most prominent, though not obviously so)
> issues is the lack of concurrency with regards to releases. With the
> default system, having multiple freebsd releases side by side (both
> different versions, and different architectures) is infeasible. This
> makes the choice more critical, while hindering flexibility. The
> necessity of long support schedules is one of the symptoms.

While on the one hand I can understand the users' frustration on this
point, IMO having at least 2 release branches is necessary. We are
trying to walk the fine line between pleasing those who want new
features (including new drivers), better performance, etc. that a newer
release branch offers (in this case 7.x) and those that want long-term
API stability, and other forms of stability that an "established"
release offers. The only practical way to accomplish both of those goals
is with 2 release branches.

Speaking only for myself,

Doug

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