Karin Chan

Ubuntu Technical Board Meeting Decisions Regarding The New Release Proposals

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Ubuntu logo" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbhYL5DUqpi_cRWoRVihiVCmbUQd1lbwzxP0hRKFNIfNqzRkThQqGQsTqYT39qaOeaQqb0klAxg2kCII_Rb2_Co9O0k7ud-ifKzUfE91V31k-uDm5Bn6SB0rYrg6Tnic-COfapmYTxXDh/s200/ubuntu-logo.png" /></div><br />In a recent Ubuntu technical board meeting, it was decided to:<br /><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><b>reduce maintenance period for regular (non-LTS) Ubuntu releases from 18 months to 9 months;</b></li><b> </b><li style="text-align: justify;"><b>enable users to continuously track the development focus of Ubuntu without having to explicitly upgrade.</b></li></ul><br /><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">It was also decided to implement the above changes "to the maintenance schedule effective in 13.04 and later". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To be honest, I didn't understand exactly what "enable users to continuously track the development focus of Ubuntu without having to explicitly upgrade" does so I've looked for an explanation and <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107109423598372241322/posts/GzwBfHuFHsr">it seems</a> this means that <i>archive.ubuntu.com</i> will get a symlink always pointing to the current development release. So basically, users (although I assume mostly developers will want to use this) will be able to always use the current Ubuntu development release without having to upgrade.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Ubuntu members that have attended the IRC meeting didn't agree on using the "rolling release" wording for this because technically this isn't exactly a rolling release.<br /><br />So technically, there won't be any rolling release although you'll easily be able to use the current development release if you want to. There are also not going to be any monthly releases, etc. like in the <a href="http://www.webupd8.org/2013/02/official-ubuntu-rolling-release-proposal.html">initial proposal</a>.<br /><br />According to Colin Watson's (Canonical) <a href="http://www.webupd8.org/2013/03/ubuntu-technical-board-meeting.html#comment-834691748">comment</a> below, the changes mentioned above are <b>only part of the changes related to the recent Ubuntu release management proposals</b>.<br /></div><br /><b>What's your opinion about these changes? </b><br /><br /><br />For more info, see:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://ubottu.com/meetingology/logs/ubuntu-meeting/2013/ubuntu-meeting.2013-03-18-21.01.moin.txt">Meeting summary </a></li><li><a href="http://irclogs.ubuntu.com/2013/03/18/%23ubuntu-meeting.html#t21:00">IRC log</a></li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><i>via <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/109175303602657131317/posts/C7V3VgRsz89">Alan Bell</a></i></div>

Ubuntu Technical Board Meeting Decisions Regarding The New Release Proposals

In a recent Ubuntu technical board meeting, it was decided to: reduce maintenance period for regular (non-LTS) Ubuntu releases from 18 month...

<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Ubuntu logo" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDbhYL5DUqpi_cRWoRVihiVCmbUQd1lbwzxP0hRKFNIfNqzRkThQqGQsTqYT39qaOeaQqb0klAxg2kCII_Rb2_Co9O0k7ud-ifKzUfE91V31k-uDm5Bn6SB0rYrg6Tnic-COfapmYTxXDh/s200/ubuntu-logo.png" width="200" /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">A while back, Leann Ogasawara, Canonical Kernel Team Manager, has <a href="http://www.webupd8.org/2013/01/ubuntu-might-become-rolling-release.html">said</a> that it has been discussed internally to use a rolling release model for Ubuntu between LTS releases, but that it is just an idea for now. With the new <a href="http://www.webupd8.org/2013/02/canonical-unveils-new-ubuntu-tablet.html">Ubuntu Touch</a>, which needs both "velocity and agility", the rolling release mode seems to be more than just an idea and Rick Spencer, Engineering Director at Canonical, has made a proposal about this on the Ubuntu Devel <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2013-February/036537.html">mailing list</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the thread named "<i>Let's Discuss Interim Releases (and a Rolling Release)</i>", he states that "we should keep LTS releases, but starting now, stop doing interim releases and start a rolling release".</div><br /><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">Basically, he wants to stop making interim releases which are the Ubuntu versions between LTS releases, and instead, <b>users could choose between LTS releases, rolling release updated daily or rolling release updated monthly</b>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>This would be beneficial for both users and developers:</b></div><ul style="text-align: justify;"><li>users who prefer LTS releases would be unaffected by this change while those who prefer more up to date software would get the latest versions of their favourite applications without having to constantly upgrade to newer Ubuntu releases or use PPAs;</li><li>developers would benefit from not having support so many Ubuntu releases, there wouldn't be any pressure / deadlines (features would land when they are ready, developers wouldn't need to rush things to get their app included before an Ubuntu release), etc.</li></ul><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">So Ubuntu <s>13.04</s> Raring Ringtail might become Rolling Release. But before continuing with this, Rick says<b> this needs to be discussed in the Ubuntu community. So what do you think?</b></div><br /><b>You can read the complete proposal <a href="https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2013-February/036537.html">HERE</a>.</b><br /><br />Rick Spencer will be discussing this on <a href="http://ubuntuonair.com/">http://ubuntuonair.com/</a>, Friday, March 1st at 6pm UTC / 10am Pacific / 1pm EST (the mailing list message says "Friday 27th Feb" but since the message was posted today, the date is clearly wrong).<br /><br /><b>Update: The UbuntuOnAir Hangout in which Ubuntu devs answer questions and discuss the Rolling Release proposal can be watched below:</b><br /><br /><center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/z04ndWaVfJs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />(<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z04ndWaVfJs">direct video link</a>)</center>

Official Ubuntu Rolling Release Proposal

A while back, Leann Ogasawara, Canonical Kernel Team Manager, has said that it has been discussed internally to use a rolling release model...

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