Loïc Martin wrote:
bulia byak a écrit :
On Sun, Mar 2, 2008 at 9:11 PM, Loïc Martin <loic.martin3@...400...> wrote:
would be the best. Personally, even though I know it won't happen, I wouldn't find disrespectful to release 0.46 on all platform and advertise it, even if print sill doesn't work on Windows. Just advertise it so people know what to expect, and 0.46.1 will fix the bug like other .1 releases have done for other bugs before. That, or just start the campaign for 0.46.1 (see my comments below - who remembers Open Office 2.0 anyway when what we all started to use was at least 2.0.4?).
A few years ago, releasing 0.xx.1 was considered an emergency measure and a bit of "losing the face" for the project.
Then, it came about to be a pretty normal and even expected development with most releases.
And now, you're proposing to basically place all bets on a 0.xx.1 and just sweep 0.xx under the rug as some kind of a buggy preview.
I don't think I like this particular line of evolution.
Point taken for the .1 campaign, because after writing this email I don't feel it's necessary anymore ;), so sorry for the bad idea.
I haven't followed Inkscape development since the beginning, and thus I'm not really in any position to influence Inkscape evolution. All I can say is that a as a user, I trust .1 releases more than full releases, whatever the program :) but I've never been disappointed by _any_ of the Inkscape releases. The project has never been "losing face" and has shown a quality one doesn't always find in commercial applications. There are issues with things like .pdf export and maybe some other stuff, but everybody understand it's related to the format (other OS apps have the same difficulties with .pdf), or to the libraries you're using - because you have always be open about the issues, and whenever we want to get a new release these issues are explained.
As a user, I also understand that if the release matching the advertising campaign (the terms aren't the best) isn't a simultaneous release, the effect will be totally wasted. I can understand what it can mean to a hard-working developer, because even as a user I want the project to get the best recognition it can get.
But there's also the problem of being included in distributions repositories. Fedora users won't understand, and I know I'm also crossed with the policy, but Ubuntu's policies are a *pain* when it comes to SRU. Even a backport wouldn't make it in time for the campaign (unless that campaign starts in mid June), because it not only requires unbelievably tedious procedures, it also requires someone on the Ubuntu side to do their job (it can take a few weeks for someone to notice, and even there the upload can be forgotten). Unless you have an Inkscape supporter in the council, it's a 50-50 risk. And that would mean even more time and energy lost than has been spent on this thread - and only an Inkscape developer's time would be enough. Something I'd rather not see undertaken, because I'd rather Brice spent his time on the project than on something like that (I speak from experience - I've been through it for far simpler patches - and look at the recent aumix fiasco for another example - http://glyphobet.net/blog/?p=140).
What it boils to is that :
- starting the 0.46 release campaign without a Windows version is a
complete waste - most reviewers will try it on Windows, and the userbase on Windows is big;
- starting the 0.46 release campaign without a version in Linux main
distributions' repositories is also a waste, since it amount to a 0.46 release without a working Linux version (if you consider that 98% of the Linux users can't and won't use anything different than what their distro provides).
So there's a problem from whatever point of view we look at it. Except on OSX - we should all get a Mac this time :)
Now, if 0.46 appears in the repos before the official campaign starts, where is the harm, as long as it's a real 0.46 (finished on the Linux side with all developers happy and proud of it)?
Nobody's going to use it before the distro is released (leaves till end of April, a good month and a half). And even if the campaign has to be postponed, only a few reviews of the distros will mention a package that isn't in the default install (shame on this distro, though!). Graphic program reviewers won't review it before the campaign starts (or only as a WIP preview, which can be done already).
When 0.46 for Windows is ready for public adoption, the campaign can start as usual - except this time 98% of the Linux users won't be left in the cold for a few month.
Another benefit of having 0.46 already in Hardy's repos (can't speak about Fedora, they seem far more reactive about it) is that whatever patches are released afterwards for 0.46, they'll be included more easily (=less paperwork).
The other solution, but Brice is better placed to speak about it, is to sponsor a beta release for Hardy, as long as he thinks it's possible to convince Ubuntu developers. However, what's the point in calling it 0.45.999 if before mid-March the source can be good enough for 0.46?
I just want to conclude this long email by all my thanks to all Inkscape developers. For years, it's been the best open source drawing program, (can't compare it with Adobe's products, never tried them) and it is, among all drawing programs, the one with the best potential, the one where the development community is the nicest and the most enthusiastic.
can there be a "stealth" release to Ubuntu, Fedora with idea that any fixes make their release deadlines giving a month or so for the official .46 release to make it in. This seems what they do for Gnome (although that might be an understandable holdout exception). This idea would commit an official Inkscape release within a month.