On Tue, 12 Apr 2011, Dag Wieers wrote:
I also don't see what the size of my (past) contributions to CentOS has to do with this whole discussion. I would much rather discuss why the QA process needs to be closed, why you think opening up the process will not help fix issues faster (while obviously that's the whole point of Open Source) and what the analysis is of the CentOS 5.6 release taking 3 months to complete.
CentOS at its core is NOT a development project; it is a way to rebuild source content, and distribute trustable binary content in a fashion that replicates a third party's binary API, that is suitable for enterprise grade use. It is a misnomer to call MOST of what is issued as binaries as 'developed' -- rather they are simply BUILT.
There are exceptions -- early on, the addition and stabilization of yum and the mirror dispatch network WERE original development; solving 'self-hosting' where it was not a goal upstream IS development; the back building tools ARE developed; the ABI comparisons ARE new work rather than derivative works
It's obvious that most of the people arguing in this thread would like more timely releases, especially because those releases take longer and longer.
These are conflicting goals -- faster, more like upstream, more side product coverage, status and progress bars to look at. But at the end of the day, adding more cruft, bells and whistles, makes for more places for rot, more distraction to 'fix' the widget that is not performing either as one intends or at all, and will net SLOW a release because the total quantum of work by trusted parties needs to be performed has grown if such are adopted
At the moment four CentOS developers (Karanbir, Johnny, Tru and Russ) are arguing that more transparency in the build process and QA process is not going to help speed up the process and have clearly articulated that they do not plan to make the process more transparent, and that anyone willing to learn, what the project already knows, are going to have to start from scratch.
I scarcely think my outline earlier today, taken with all the content I've published over the years back to cAos days are 'starting from scratch' I've helped three or four folks privately with private rebuild efforts of the 6 sources since November. There was a post earlier this afternoon to the effect that my encouragement on these lists helped another person 'become a builder'. You overstate your case in seeking to tar me with your brush
So that it is clear, my objection to 'open QA' has ALWAYS been that careless users will treat QA interim content as production ready, and then seek support in general channels to repair what they improvidently broke. CentOS does not need reputational damage of that sort. Ever.
CentOS ships production ready enterprise binaries, to the extent of its capabilities, and has down a darn fine job over the with the existing system. There is no compelling reason to tamper with a system that works that I have seen so far.
If a person 'NEEDS' binaries faster, they need someone to provide SLA's to them. That usually implies contracts and an exchange of value for the SLA promise. Contracts are not within the scope of CentOS -- why would the project compete with the upstream? CentOS can not be that entity
I mentioned some months ago that I provide for my clients private updates (not CentOS content) and provoked wails and gnashing of teeth from some one of the Forum 'crew'; it seems I have instructed and motivated 'Cal Webster' to do the same. Johnny made it clear he could be hired for such in the last couple weeks without such outrage being expressed; you, Dag, have run consulting services, and your sig line seems it advertise it every time I see you post. Don't you consider that repetition to be in poor taste here?
After Johnny and Tru's disappointing messages, I twittered yesterday as my hope for a true CentOS community is fading. I rather spend my energy on something that is truly Open Source, transparent and honest.
Explain away your twitter remark if you will, but it left a bad taste with me in light of your posts here the last few days, and your ongoing 'attitude'
I guess that's what Johnny has been saying all along. There is no wish to change how the project is taking care of things.
Seems to me that KB's solicitation of testing cases, and the vast silence in reply makes it clear that the 'community' of centos is largely a community of takers and talkers, rather than 'do-ers'. That's okay, but please don't pretend it is some caged animal, eager to break free into creative expression that the CentOS bug tracker, wiki, or closely allied Fedora does not already provide an outlet for
-- Russ herrold