Fedora Extras packaging beta software into production repos, why?

[Horst H. von Brand]

Tim Jackson <lists at timj.co.uk> wrote:

[...]

> This to me is the best argument for something *like* a "testing" repo
> I've seen. I've never been convinced about the whole "testing" thing
> to date, but I can see a limited use for some packages (especially big
> ones with long release cycles and beta/RC periods) where regular users
> might want to use the latest and greatest but it wouldn't be
> appropriate to put it into devel, which might of course become a
> release branch. In fact even if there's any doubt about whether the
> package might not be ready for the next release (e.g. close to FC7
> branch) it makes it awkward for the maintainer because you they
> potentially have to revert devel (go backwards)and undo good work if
> it turned out the package wasn't quite ready in time for a branch,
> which isn't ideal.

That would mean having stable versions, development, and testing. Too much
for a short-lived distribution like Fedora.

There are testing packages announced from time to time in developer's own
space, that should be enough. Perhaps that should be expanded to Extras
people?
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