Den 28. mars 2016 12:50, skrev Georg Baum:
It all boils down to the question: Is the addition of a new .layout
file a file format change or not? It does not make sense to treat new
layouts differently in stable and master, so either it is a file
format change in master (and can't be put directly into the stable
version), or it is not, and then it can simply be added both to master
and stable. The same question is valid BTW for new modules. Currently
we are a bit inconsistent here: New modules are not treated as file
format changes, but new layouts are. IMO, we should make a list of
pros and cons for "new layout files are a file format change", and the
same for modules. I guess that a decision will not be difficult once
we have such an explicit list. Below you can find the pros and cons I
am currently aware of: Pro "new layout files are a file format
change": - All documents produced by 2.2.x can always be edited and
exported even if x is different. This is important for people using
different machines, or echanging work wth
I am very happy that a new LyX does not break existing documents. Such
compatibility is important for me as a user. When a new minor release is
out, I can "just use it", trusting it to be ok. (Usually, a new major
release is ok too.)
I do not see a problem with adding new features (such as a new layout or
a new latex class or a new inset or a new font) as long as it is
_strictly new_, that is, no change to existing stuff. The only
difference then, is that the "new lyx" can do something the "old lyx"
could not. Anything the "old lyx" did is still supported - without change.
But I see the potential for problems when users with different LyX
versions collaborate, wonder if that happens a lot.
Might be a problem with new features in general, but not with "new layouts":
A new layout (without other upgrades) is particularly harmless - even a
collaborator clinging to an older LyX of the same major version can open
such a document if I give him the layout file. Which I can do, due to
the nice licence.
Even if he can't modify his LyX installation, he can use the new layout
as a local layout.
Given "no file format change", the new layout file is necessarily
supported by the older lyx too, so no problems with new layouts.
Therefore, I think new layouts are ok at any time - as long as the
existing ones aren't modified.
Helge Hafting
