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Message-ID: <53EB19F9.4040803@marino.st>
Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 09:55:37 +0200
From: John Marino <freebsd.contact@marino.st>
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To: Alexey Dokuchaev <danfe@FreeBSD.org>
Subject: quarterly branches and transition to post-pkg_* [was: svn commit:
 r364739 - in head: . sysutils sysutils/syslog-ng-devel
 sysutils/syslog-ng-devel/files]
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Cc: svn-ports-head@freebsd.org, svn-ports-all@freebsd.org,
 ports-committers@freebsd.org, Bryan Drewery <bdrewery@FreeBSD.org>
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On 8/13/2014 09:45, Alexey Dokuchaev wrote:
> [*] Well, there are quarterly branches if one wants it to feel like Debian
>     stable without the quality control; IMHO they are of no use and should
>     be ignored altogether.


In concept the quarterly branches are a good idea.  Execution is a
different matter.

#1 issue: There's no portsnap with quarterly branches
#2 issue: backporting fixes to quarterly branch, the process is a PITA
#3 issue: There's no basic integrity check (e.g. freeze) before branching


We have a huge problem looming: The pkg_* tools are going to be removed,
maybe as soon as 1 September.

I think the following should happen:
1) A version of portsnap be modified and added to the ports tree before
then, a version that is quarter-branch capable
2) Waiting until 2014Q4 before removing pkg_* tools, which means at
least wait until Oct 1.
3) Encourage everyone that has no intention to move to pkgng immediately
to switch to the 2014Q4 branch
4) Maintain security updates to 2014Q4 branch for 6 months instead of
the normal 3 months
5) Get the updated portsnap into base

And eventually make quarterly branches the norm and working on head "at
your own risk".


Right now I see no plan for the post-pkg_* transition and the absence of
one is pretty scary.  You guys should consider my proposal above or
something similar.


John