Re: [RFC] Documentation: add documentation for rc-series and merge window

[Gábor Stefanik]

On Mon, Jun 15, 2009 at 10:31 PM, Pavel Roskin<proski@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Mon, 2009-06-15 at 16:12 -0400, Luis R. Rodriguez wrote:
>>
>> +Stable kernel releases
>> +----------------------
>> +
>> +Stable kernels are released when they are ready. This means there is no
>> +strict guidelines for sticking to specific dates for a kernel release.
>
> there are no strict guidelines
>
>> +After a maintainer has sent his pull request to Linus during the merge
>> +window no further new development will be accepted for that tree and
>> +as such it marks the closure of development for that subsystem for that
>> +kernel cycle. Developers wishing to target deadlines should simply work
>> +on their development without regards or consideration for inclusion to
>> +a specific kernel release. Once development is done it should simply be
>> +posted. If you insist on targetting a kernel release for deadlines you can
>
> targeting
>
>> +try to be aware of the current rc cycle development and how soon it seems
>> +the next stable kernel relase will be made. When Linus notes the last rc
>
> release
>
>> +cycle released may be the last -- that is a good sign you should already
>> +have all your development done and merged in the respective development
>> +tree. If your code is not ready and merged into the respective maintainers
>> +tree prior to the announced last potential rc kernel release chances are
>> +you missed getting your code in for the next kernel merge window.
>> +Excemptions here are new drivers, covered below.
>
> Exemptions
>
>> +rc-series rules
>> +---------------
>> +
>> +Rules on what kind of patches are accepted after the merge window closes.
>> +These are patches targetted for the kernel rc-series of a kernel prior
>
> targeted
>
>> +to its release.
>> +
>> + - it must fix a reported regression
>> + - if must fix a reported security hole
>> + - if must fix a reported oops/kernel hang
>> +
>> +This means any small-non-fix code changes, although they mix fix an issue,
>
> might fix
>
>> +will not be accepted. If the patch in question is for a driver that has been
>> +around for more than a kernel release, then "small fixes" really can't be
>> +worth all that much. And "small fixes" may be small and "obvious" they
>> +definitely can regress.
>> +
>> +rc-series new driver excemption rule
>
> exemption
>
>> +------------------------------------
>> +
>> +The very first release a new driver (or filesystem) is special. New drivers
>> +are accepted during the rc series. Patches for the same driver then are
>> +also accepted uring the same rc series of a kernel as well as fixes as it
>
> during
>
>> +cannot regress as no previous kernels exists with it.
>> +
>> +Once drivers are upstream for one kernel release (say on 2.6.29) the target
>> +*goal* after the merge window of the next kernel (respectively this would be
>> +the 2.6.30 rc-series) is to address address regressions. Kernel oops/hangs
>
> s/address address/address/
>
>> +and security issues are obviously accepted but the point is these should have
>> +also been caught earlier as a general development goal. The rc-series focus
>> +should really be to address regressions.
>> +
>> +Stable kernel rules
>> +-------------------
>> +
>>  Rules on what kind of patches are accepted, and which ones are not, into the
>>  "-stable" tree:
>
> Sorry, I'm in pedantic mood today.

At least you didn't end up making a spelling error in any of your
corrections. :-)

>
> --
> Regards,
> Pavel Roskin
> --
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