Proposal: Rolling Release

[Horst H. von Brand]

Eric Springer <erikina at gmail.com> wrote:

[...]

> So what I propose is that Fedora goes to a rolling release cycle.
> Implemented properly I believe we can better achieve Fedoras
> objectives[3] of rapidly progressing Free Open Source Software, while
> providing a more user centric focus (and bringing something new to the
> easy-to-use-table). While I would prefer to not get bogged down in the
> technical details at this stage, we would need to provide software in
> varying levels of stability.
> 
> Perhaps something like:
> hemorrhaging -> rawhide -> stable -> rocksolid
> 
> Users should be able to very easily and freely move through the
> levels, especially on a per-package basis (with PackageKit). It should
> also be easy for users to "freeze" their system/package to only
> receive security (and optionally bug) patches, as many aren't
> interested in the constant upgrade cycle.

If you do it across the board, you have rawhide/Fedora du annee/Fedora d
l'annee derniere. And the unending flamewar on Fedora legacy has amply
shown /nobody/ is interested beyond that.

If you want to mix&match, you get a mess that nobody can do any sane QA on.

> New features/software/functionality would be easily tested by the
> masses without needing to upgrade the entire distribution.

They have a knack at involving the whole distribution (i.e., use
NetworkManager and all the other new, automated stuff is on or off; and
impacts much other stuff. Keeping both around is double work, double QA,
double (or more) bugreports to triage, ... Just not worth the (very minor)
advantage. Plus /really/ enterprising users do install stuff from latest
upstream commit and futz around with that. Sure, they (hopefully) won't
come around here reporting on their experiences...).

>                                                            It would
> give the open source community a massive user-base they could call
> upon to test easily.

Sorry, said _user_-base wants to _use_ the system, not play guinea
pig. Those insane enough to want to, can use rawhide.
-- 
Dr. Horst H. von Brand                   User #22616 counter.li.org
Departamento de Informatica                    Fono: +56 32 2654431
Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria             +56 32 2654239
Casilla 110-V, Valparaiso, Chile 2340000       Fax:  +56 32 2797513