[Mageia-dev] How will be the realese cycle?

[Fernando Parra]

On Tue, 12 Oct 2010 00:50:04 +0200
Wolfgang Bornath <molch.b-gM/Ye1E23mwN+BqQ9rBEUg at public.gmane.org> wrote:

> 2010/10/12 Balcaen John <balcaen.john-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org>:
> > Le lundi 11 octobre 2010 14:02:16, Wolfgang Bornath a écrit :
> > [...]
> > You can always release a new install cd every 6/8/12 months even if you're
> > using a « rolling distro » .
> 

Hi everybody.

IMHO first than talking about a release cycle, we must define what kind of distro Magiea will be. When I proposed a Rolling Ligth Distro, I suggest to run a poll, but not for to make a decision about what kind of distro, at least not now.

For to do that, the community need to understand what are the goals and must have a wide picture on every proposed model.

As vfmBOFH poll's at BlogDrake show (no only in percentages), the comunity doesn't understand what is what.

Let me translate to you some comments written there:

"Inicialmente voté por un distribución como la actual de Mandriva..."
(In a first instance I voted for a distribution as present Mandriva are...)

"Y a ser posible no tener que esperar mucho por las nuevas versiones, estables, de los programas"
(And if it's possible, I prefer no need to wait long time for the new stable program versions.)

Another user wrote:
"Es solo una opinión. En definitiva, cómo ha venido siendo Mandriva me parece lo correcto."
(It's just an opinion. Definitively, I think the Mandriva's way is the right way.)

"Por último, también estaría bien no ser tan estrictos con las versiones de ciertos componentes. Si por ejemplo mañana saliera Mageia 2010 (por poner un ejemplo) y pasado mañana sale Firefox 4.0, que no se quede esa versión con la 3.6.x todo el tiempo,"
(Finally, it would not be as strict versions of certain components. If, for example morning out mageia 2010 (for instance) and the day after Firefox 4.0 comes out, you do not run the 3.6.x version with all the time,)

That's very clear, these users are trying to say: "We want a different model, but we want a stable distro"

There are other comments like that, but I'm not trying to bore you.

> Yes, but it will never be as exciting and will not get the same
> attention as a new release of a distribution. You ever read about a
> Archlinux Beta or release party coming up? With a new release you have
> some improvements, a new design (maybe), some new features - all
> together at the same day. A rolling release is not exciting, it is as
> boring as my wrist watch (radio controlled, solar cell powered, no
> maintenace during the last 8 years). It does its job, no negative nor
> positive surprises.
> That's why people who regard their computer as a tool to get things
> done will prefer a rolling release, while others who are interested in
> the system will possibly turn to normal releases.
> 
> Of course this has nothing to do with technical reasons, I only wanted
> to add this piece of thought.
> 

I agree with you. Mageia needs a lot of noise in the media time to time, and of course a permanent buzz

> Will do in MandrivaUser.de because I also think it is important to ask
> the community.
> But I'm also aware that the result will not be near the real opinion
> of the community. The percentage of active members of the community is
> quite small, so the result of a poll will be only that of a small
> percentage of the community. I think the technical and logistic
> reasons and benefits/constraints may be much stronger advocates of one
> or the other release system.

I agree again, the people that post comments in there are a very small percentage of the Mandriva users around the world, refereeing again to BlogDrake's poll, there were 130 votes, and 49 posts (including 4 of vfmBOFH and 2 of mine), but we take in mind that there are some like 1,300 millions of Hispanics around the world.

Finally I think: Our goal isn't "convert" Mandriva's users into Mageia's users. Our main goal must be to catch a multitude of new users to GNU Linux, and we must do that into Mageia.

Regards from México.
-- 
Fernando Parra <gato2707 at yahoo.com.mx>