Some Suggestions (Mirror Space, gaim, ethereal, etc)

[Pekka Savola]

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005, Warren Togami wrote:
> May I also suggest creating a category of packages where it is generally OK 
> to upgrade the version because:
> 1) There is no ABI to break because it is a leaf-node package, like ethereal.
> 2) Nobody expects ABI compat, like ethereal.
> 3) Or ABI/API is maintained, like gaim-1.x or spamassassin-3.x.  Plugins 
> built against gaim-1.0 are supposed to continue work with any future 
> gaim-1.x.
>
> Fedora Legacy can save time and effort by simply following the newer Fedora 
> Core releases on these packages when it is safe to upgrade versions.  No 
> review necessary, but perhaps some testing and ACK votes to push.

Actually, whether or not it makes sense to upgrade or use a backport 
depends on whether a backported patch is already available.

So far, for RHL73 and RHL9, we've had RHEL21 and RHEL3 patches which 
usually fit very well.  In some cases, FC1 and FC2 likewise, but these 
may be trickier.

I think there is is significantly less need for testing for updates 
which only apply a backported patch (which has come through from RHEL 
QA process, or some equivalent QA).

On the other hand, I do believe we don't have resources to create 
these backported patches ourselves.  When such are not available, 
upgrading the package should be considered.  In particular I note that 
we should apply such a policy even more to the FC1 and FC2 packages.

So, I think the good rules of thumb are:
  1) if there is already QA'd patch backport, use that;
  2) if not, consider upgrading the package to a version that:
     a) has easier access to already QA'd patches or
     b) has been maintained by official FC updates, so
        RPM versioning with upgrades (e.g., FC2 -> FC3) doesn't
        break.

     In considering whether to upgrade, the considerations
     you posted are likely useful to consider.  IMHO, it's also
     useful to consider what other distros (RHEL in particular)
     have done.  If they have upgraded, I don't see why we
     shouldn't either.

-- 
Pekka Savola                 "You each name yourselves king, yet the
Netcore Oy                    kingdom bleeds."
Systems. Networks. Security. -- George R.R. Martin: A Clash of Kings