Hello,
This is a sort of mini-Bacula status report on the following:
1. Next release
2. New release cycle
3. New bugs tracking database
4. New Bacula server (www.bacula.org)
5. New Bacula source distribution server
1. Next release:
Before the end of August, we will be releasing the next version of Bacula --
version 5.0.3 which is a bug fix update to 5.0.2. This release is almost
ready and the most recent code is in the SF bacula git repository under
Branch-5.0
2. New release cycle:
The little code we currently have for the next major release is in the SF
bacula git repository under Branch-5.1.
We are considering to moving to a regular 6 month release cycle. The advantage
of such a cycle is that it gets features out to you faster. The disadvantage
is that it doesn't work so well in small projects like Bacula if there are
not sufficient contributions.
Such a release would consist of the following points:
- A release every 6 months
- The deadline is not absolute and could be extended to 9 months if there were
insufficient new submissions.
- There will be far fewer or no bug fix updates as they are not really needed
if we can maintain a 6 month cycle.
- Two months before the projected release we will decide if there are
sufficient new features to release
- The release count down will consist of 3 phases
1. We will add all new approved features
The first 4 months after a release this phase will go into
effect for the next release
- 2. Only very small new features (a few lines) will be added
Two months before the final release this phase will go into
effect. Note, this phase can be delayed 3 months if insufficient
new features are submitted
3. Only bug fixes
This phase will go into effect one month before the release
Under this scheme, we are currently in Phase 3 for the 5.0.3 release, and the
next major release (5.2.0) would be made before mid-January 2011, and is
currently under development in Branch-5.1 on Source Forge.
I would appreciate comments on this proposed new "deadline" release cycle.
3. New bugs tracking database
Sometime in early August (possibly slightly before) we will be moving the
current Mantis based bug tracking system to a new RT based system hosted by
Bacula Systems. The upside is that the RT system is far more powerful,
flexible and adaptible, and most important of all, it allows email responses
to bugs. The downside is that it is a bit more complicated (as are most
things that have more features) and that it will require everyone to
re-register for the new system. In addition, if you don't want to rely on
just the community to furnish bug fixes, you will be able to subscribe to a
bug fix service that is more professional and has a guaranteed response time
(not to be mistaken for a guaranteed fix time). More on this when the
service is ready for production.
4. New Bacula server
The current Bacula Community server is as you probably know generously offered
by UKFast. However, the hardware is starting to age, so they have gratiously
provided us with a new machine that we will be putting in place in the next
few weeks. We don't expect that you will notice any differences, but the
hardware running www.bacula.org should be more stable.
5. New Bacula source distribution server
You may or may not be aware that we have not always been pleased with the
services offered by Source Forge. The uploading is complicated by lines
dropping (I have *never* seen this else where), their user interface is
horrible, we don't get good statistics, being US based, they block direct
access to our code from a number of countries such as Cuba, ... So, probably
in September or October we will be moving our Bacula project off of Source
Forge to a new server provided by UKFast. There is still a *lot* of work to
be done to make this work -- principally getting up a good and suitable
interface for users -- more as this develops.
As mentioned above, I would appreciate any comments you might have,
particularly on the proposed new release cycle.
Best regards,
Kern
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