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Date:      Fri, 22 Jun 2001 16:55:19 -0700
From:      Joe Kelsey <joe@zircon.seattle.wa.us>
To:        "Jason Watkins" <jwatkins@firstplan.com>
Cc:        "Stable" <stable@FreeBSD.ORG>
Subject:   RE: Staying *really stable* in FreeBSD
Message-ID:  <15155.56039.812973.488190@zircon.zircon.seattle.wa.us>
In-Reply-To: <JBEOKPCEMKJLMJAKBECCGENKDBAA.jwatkins@firstplan.com>
References:  <15155.29806.145760.832648@guru.mired.org> <JBEOKPCEMKJLMJAKBECCGENKDBAA.jwatkins@firstplan.com>

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Jason Watkins writes:
 > >>> If the problem is instead that STABLE isn't STABLE enough and RELENG
 > doesn't move fast enough - though evidence for the latter would also
 > seem to be in short supply - then one of those two problems should be
 > attacked, rather than trying to automate something that experience
 > shows doesn't automate well.
 > 
 > Thanks mike. I didn't mean to criticise anyone, I just mean that the root
 > problem here is -stable isn't always stable.

Sorry Jason.  Adding another tag is *never* going to solve your
imaginary problem.  I say imaginary because it really is not a problem.
The people who complain are always people who have an "automatic
midnight cvsup" or some other regular procedure that they run without
thinking first.  As the handbook says, you *must* track the stable
mailing list before even thinking about running cvsup against the
appropriate tag.  Adding a new tag will simply move the problem to those
people who still don't read the mailing list or even try to engage their
brains before running cvsup.

This is an organization of *volunteers*.  It is up to each and every
individual who wants to run FreeBSD to understand the consequences of
their actions before starting.  I would personally recommend that
most people stay away from FreeBSD.  It is definitely *not* a turnkey
system.  Anyone who has an automatic cvsup and rebuild overnight is just
asking for trouble.

 > Although adding another tag would provide another buffer layer, I
 > personally feel it's missing the point. Somewhere, someone has to
 > approve moving things from -current to -stable, and figuring out how
 > to better equip those people is what I think would bring about the
 > best situation.

Have you ever looked into the committers list?  It is simply not
possible for there to be any central control over checkins as you
describe.  The number of projects and people is simply overwhelming.

The way to better equip people is to force them to read the handbook.
The way to force them to read the handbook is for them to get surprised
by their unthinking actions.  FreeBSD is not for tyros.

 > I definately think life is easyer when you rebuild the system every
 > month or 2 on a reasonable schedual instead of letting changes
 > accumulate until it becomes a day long affair.

I personally think it does not matter how often you cvsup and rebuild.
Sometimes, I go for months, sometimes I do it daily.  It all depends.
If you have any thoughts of running cvsup at all, you need to have a
fast connection.  It is definitely not for dialup users.  Maybe that
should go in the handbook--only do it if you have DSL or cable modem or
better.

My basic point is that it is not possible to "schedule" the activity in
advance due to the changing nature of the source tree.  You have to
constantly monitor the mailing list and make your own decision based on
mailing list traffic.

/Joe

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