Re: [Gnu-arch-users] Arch Roadmap Draft (the anticipated part 3)

[James Blackwell]

>> From: address@hidden (James Blackwell)
>
>> I suggest the following format for a merge request: 
>
>> archive-location: (optional) http://bitmovers.com/archives/subvert-thyself
>> archive-name: address@hidden
>> contact: (optional) address@hidden
>> merge-patches: patch-10, patch-15..patch-20

Tom Lord wrote:
> I don't think so.   I think it makes more sense to require people to
> make branches for submissions so that the merge technique is always
> either replay of all patches on a branch or star merge or something
> like that.

 From the perspective of a patch submitter, I do think so. I think this
format handles a wide variety of development styles, including
what I think you mean by "submission branches".

But while we're on the subject of "submission branches", I think they're
a bad idea. Sure, "submission branches" make your job a lot easier. Did
you stop to consider whether "submission branches" make the work of
submitters easier or more difficult? 

I've tried "submission branches" and in my experience they're a pain in
the rear. I personally suspect that you're pushing "submission branches"
as a political tool to discourage diverging (and eventually forking)
branches. What better way to control development, then to encourage
submitters to keep their patches scattered around in different branches?
That way, patches aren't concentrated into development trees that pose a
potential threat to tla (a.k.a. "Tom Lord's Arch"). 


> Those kind of cherry-picking merge requests centralize the labor
> requirements to sort them out -- that won't scale.
>
> Requiring submitters to make a branch for each request (roughly
> speaking) distributes the labor -- that will scale.
>
>
>      > [long point-by-points]
>
> Save those thoughts for the individual threads they'll be relevent in.

Pardon? Are you telling me what to think when?


-- 
James Blackwell          Try something fun: For the next 24 hours, give
Smile more!              each person you meet a compliment!

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