Date: Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:57:47 +1000 From: "David N" <davidn04@gmail.com> To: "Jo Rhett" <jrhett@netconsonance.com> Cc: freebsd-stable <freebsd-stable@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Upcoming Releases Schedule... Message-ID: <4d7dd86f0809192057s33dfd92fv598488a4c05ada14@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <851F09A2-788D-4343-9E00-A0AB5C3AC063@netconsonance.com> References: <alpine.BSF.1.10.0809162043380.64176@fledge.watson.org> <658B8861-1E78-4767-8D3D-8B79CC0BD45F@netconsonance.com> <alpine.BSF.1.10.0809181935540.16464@fledge.watson.org> <15F15FD1-3C53-4018-8792-BC63289DC4C2@netconsonance.com> <448wtpcikb.fsf@be-well.ilk.org> <C096D142-4572-48DF-8CCA-053B41003A07@netconsonance.com> <alpine.BSF.1.10.0809191158330.40909@fledge.watson.org> <34C3D54B-C88C-4C36-B1FE-C07FC27F8CB5@netconsonance.com> <20080920020703.GA82392@phat.za.net> <851F09A2-788D-4343-9E00-A0AB5C3AC063@netconsonance.com>
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2008/9/20 Jo Rhett <jrhett@netconsonance.com>: > > On Sep 19, 2008, at 7:07 PM, Aragon Gouveia wrote: >>> >>> To get a business to commit resources to a project there must be an >>> actual goal. >> >> [1] The FreeBSD project would have to commit resources too. Its community > > Of course. This is what the requirements analysis is ;-) > >> For (a), (b), and (z), this is where you come in. Define the goal. Make >> a >> plan to get there. Assess the effort involved. Convince your employer >> that >> (a), (b) and (z) is worth it to him/her and that the result of (z) will >> convince the FreeBSD project to commit the resources needed to integrate >> it. >> If they're happy, start working on (z) and bring it to the FreeBSD project >> when you think it's ready. > > > Of course. If this was something that could be done without working with > the freebsd developers, do you think I would put up with this kind of abuse? > I'd much rather have something I could just go and do ;-) > > The issue is that nobody is willing to answer the question: "what resources > are too limited to provide longer support? How can we help?" > > This the elephant that everyone ignores. To develop a plan, you need to > know the limitations. Once those are spelled out, you sit down and try to > determine what resources are necessary to achieve a certain goal. Then you > find those resources, etc etc... > > Without input from the current release team extending the support schedule > is not possible. > > -- > Jo Rhett > Net Consonance : consonant endings by net philanthropy, open source and > other randomness > > > _______________________________________________ > freebsd-stable@freebsd.org mailing list > http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-stable > To unsubscribe, send any mail to "freebsd-stable-unsubscribe@freebsd.org" > I have been following this thread for a while now and I've only recently used FreeBSD for the past 1-2 years, so my experience is not so great. But from what I've gathered from reading the mailing lists during the EOL of 4.11, the limited resources are >From Kernel Space - Security patches - Drivers (sometimes back porting a 7.x driver to 6.x isn't possible because if missing API or limited API calls that are only available to newer kernels) Base/Core Software - Security Patches Ports (I think the biggest issue in maintaining support) - Ports maintainers have to keep patches for every RELENG thats available. Previously they had to maintain compatibility with 3-4 branches (i can't remember), 4.x, 5.x, 6.x, 7.x. and there is alot (10,000+) ports. - At the moment there is two (i think) 6.x and 7.x, and possible mid next year (2009) there will be 3 (8.x). - Some ports didn't work with 4.x due to missing API calls as well and had to be marked broken if they tried to compile it on a 4.x. This will eventually happen when FreeBSD reaches 8 or 9 and 6 will not have the API calls required. >From what I gather, those are the main points in maintaining extended support. How long are you expecting support for a RELENG to last, 1, 2, 3 years? 5 years? (comparison, Ubuntu LTS is 3 years, security updates) Are you after support for a RELENG_X or RELENG_X_Y? What are you expecting from the support? Security only? Drivers? Ports? Please don't get me wrong, it is great that you and your company is willing to put the resources in, but its a huge undertaking maintaining a release. Maybe those questions might clarify to some FreeBSD Developers what you're asking from them. NB: I'm not a FreeBSD developer, but a very happy user that maintains FreeBSD servers for business clients. Regards David N
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