Proposed release cycle

[Paul Cutler <pcutler foresightlinux org>]

I've been debating the best way to propose a release cycle for GNOME
Journal, and I would love some feedback.

Here is where I'm at right now:

Proposed 2009 Release Dates:

May 15th (Current edition, 6 articles, 90% chance on current CMS.
Referred to as "Release" below)

July 15th (Release +1)

August 15th (GUADEC Special Edition) (Release +2)

October 15th (Release +3)

December 15th (Release +4)

As we discussed last week, if we get more contributors as we build
momentum, we can always increase the number of editions published.  I
like the idea of a 60 day release cycle, and I think if we try hard we
can have 3 articles every 60 days - one interview / Behind the Scenes,
one application review, and one other article.  If we have more,
great, but I think 3 is probably the minimum per release.

I would also like to see one of those three articles over the next
year have something to do with GNOME 3.0.  I think there is a lot we
can do with that idea.

I think an 8 week release process might work, though the GUADEC
special edition might throw a kink in it.  Claus or Jim, I'd love to
hear your thoughts of what's worked in the past.  Here's an example,
for release + 1 (July 15th) and release +2 (GUADEC), which is a
special edition.  Assume that release +3 (October 15th would be on the
same 8 week cycle as release + 1).

+0 - Release!  (July 15th)

T -1 CMS prep (July 8th)

T - 2 : Editing (July 1st)

T - 3 - Articles Due (June 24th)

T - 7 - Article list finalized (May 27th)

T - 8 Call for Articles (May 20th)

________________________________________________________

+0 Release (August 15th)

T -1: CMS Prep (Aug 13th)

T -2 Editing (Aug 1st)

T - 3 - Articles Due (Aug 8th)

T - 7 - Article list finalized (July 20th)

T - 8 Call for Articles (July 15th)

Things to think about:

* 1 week to edit - some extra time is built in to that as we have 1
whole week to get it formatted in the CMS or Wordpress once that is
available

* Writers have a month to write their article, once the article is
accepted.  Is that enough time?

* GUADEC is July 1 - 13th.  This gives us about a month to push a
whole release.  I've tried to give authors enough time to write
articles, and compressed the call for articles and selection, editing
and publishing.  I will personally sign up for editing and publishing
to meet those timeframes.

* Release + 3 is October 15th - I chose 60 days after the GUADEC
edition to get us back on an 8 week schedule, as well as the GNOME
2.28 release is September 23rd.  This way we could have articles in GJ
about new features, applications, etc in GNOME 2.28.

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this.  Once we are in
agreement, I will update the planning pages on LGO to reflect the
discussion.

Also - are there any opinions in having another follow-up meeting in
the near future?

Paul