Re: Features vs. Time-based [Was: Gnome 2 infinity and beyond]

[Alan Horkan <horkana maths tcd ie>]

On Thu, 20 Apr 2006, Elijah Newren wrote:

> On 4/20/06, Alan Horkan <horkana maths tcd ie> wrote:
> > > [1] Holy shit, just stop talking about version numbers at all. It
> > > totally doesn't mean anything useful.
> >
> > I understand you and most developers do not think it is important but
> > would it kill you to recognise that some people do* and it wouldn't hurt
> > to try and pin down when it might happen to something less vague than
> > "maybe later"?
>
> Personally, I'm all in favor of "Never -- unless something big comes
> up making it the only reasonable path forward."  Does that help?  ;-)

It isn't what I most want to hear but thanks for coming straight out and
saying it.

> Now, if you're really interested in being able to improve marketing, I
> have a suggestion for how to concretely improve things now:  Why not
> collect feature plans that maintainers already have and trumpet those?
>  Our roadmap (http://live.gnome.org/RoadMap) has 3 total things listed
> for 2.16.  Developers have already listed some plans on this list --
> maybe you could collect them.  And ping more maintainers individually
> for more?  And write up some cool marketing materials based on it?
> (Marketing ain't my gig so I won't be doing this -- I'd rather be
> working on bugfixes, or maybe some features for bugzilla)

> > No one is saying when if ever we might be ready.  You are not even saying
> > we wont be ready for at least another 2 or 3 releases and to stop asking
> > until then.  No one here seems to think it is strange to have the 2.x
> > branch continue for updwards of 8 years but I cannot be the only one
> > looking in thinking it is a bit weird**.
>
> I find it a bit odd to cite someone who admittedly doesn't use Gnome

okay so not the best example but ...

> probably failing (unless he changes, of course).  Anyway, it would
> probably make more sense to cite the many people who have added
> comments to http://live.gnome.org/ThreePointZero.  ;-)

... you provide a better one.

> > Hell at the very worst please just say nobody has any idea when if ever
> > 3.0 will happen, and what might be needed before anyone can provide a
> > credible answer?
>
> I personally have no idea when if ever it will happen and don't have a
> clue what would be needed before anyone can provide a credible answer.
>  You probably don't like that, but it's an honest answer from me.

> Note though, that my entire email is just me speaking as an
> individual.

It is a start, I appreciate your answers.

-- 
Alan H.