Re: Bug#219582: ITP: linux -- Linux 2.4 kernel
On Sat, Nov 08, 2003 at 04:34:33PM -0500, Theodore Ts'o wrote:
> Consider how long it takes for us to get XFree86 4.3.0 out, when most
> of the other distro's are already shipping with 4.3.0, and the CVS
> tree generally works just fine for i386. I'm told one of the reasons
> for this is because XFree86 attempts to support all architectures.
>
> My concern with trying to have a single kernel that supports all
> architectures it that it will be so hard to upgrade to a newer version
> that it will become as stale and obsolete as XFree86, even in sid, is
> today. (Yes I know about XFree86 4.3.0 in experimental; but the fact
> that we needed to do is precisely my point.
>
> XFree86 4.3.0 was released February 27, 2003. Almost 9 months later,
> it still hasn't hit sid. Do you want to be shipping a kernel which is
> 9-12 months out of date when the stable release is finally cut, such
> that it is some 2-3 years out of date before it is finally replaced
> with the next Debian stable release?
>
> If not, think carefully about whether the "one package for all
> architecture" really makes sense! I don't think it does, and I think
> folks are massively understestimating the amount if work it takes to
> support something like the kernel or an X server on all Debian
> architectures.
Can this be cleanly implemented using the current Debian toolset? I
assume that the packager would have to upload a package for each arch,
with a different architecture specification in debian/control, but
would the names of the packages have to be different as well?
One real advantage I could see to this, even if all arch's were still
kept in sync the way they are now, is that this would encourage more
team-based maintainership. We've been seeing more of that lately, which
is fantastic, but this could help provide clear lines of responsibility
for maintainer teams, which might be very useful and would likely get
things moving faster.
As far as XFree86 goes, I think Branden is doing a great job, but I
also agree with you. Branden has really made an effort as of late to
open up the X Strike Force to more people, but has complained that no
one has really taken up the offer. I know that personally I have no
idea as to how to go about helping out on it, beyond starting to
package the newest release once it's out, much like DanielS did with
4.3 when it was released. I get the feeling that it's the classic case
of 9 women not being able to make a baby in 1 month, and with the way
things are we just have to be patient.
- David Nusinow
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