[Building Sakai] 2x: Micorsoft Sql Server conversion scripts: plan to move from trunk to contrib (and remove from 2.8.x, 2.7.x)

[Anthony Whyte]

Barring objections I plan to move the 2.7 and 2.8 Microsoft SQL server conversion scripts from trunk to contrib as well as remove them from the 2.7.x and 2.8.x maintenance branches.  The reasons are as follows:

1.  The Sakai Community does not publicly support MS SQL server for the Sakai CLE.
2.  Due to no. 1 Sakai CLE developers are under no obligation to maintain the MS SQL server conversion scripts and few choose to do so.
3.  Also due to no. 1 the MS SQL conversions scripts are not tested by QA.
4.  As a result of nos. 1-3 the existing MS SQL conversion scripts for both 2.7 and 2.8 are in an anemic condition when compared to the community-supported MySQL and Oracle conversion scripts (see comparison below).
5.  Due to no. 4 anyone attempting to perform an upgrade of a MS SQL database when upgrading their Sakai CLE to 2.7 or 2.8 is doomed to failure.

Leaving the MS SQL conversion scripts in place gives the impression that we support MS SQL server when currently we do not.  Given their existing state--incomplete, unsupported and not QA'd--they should be pushed to contrib (over even simply deleted) in order to eliminate any misconception that may arise from their presence in our production releases and maintenance branches.

If you object to their removal, be prepared to state how you intend to both maintain and test the MS SQL conversion scripts for upcoming releases, including 2.8.0.

Cheers,

Anthony


Trunk:

2.7.0: https://source.sakaiproject.org/svn/reference/trunk/docs/conversion/sakai_2_7_0_mssql_conversion.sql
2.8.0: https://source.sakaiproject.org/svn/reference/trunk/docs/conversion/sakai_2_8_0_mssql_conversion.sql

Compare these to

2.7.0: https://source.sakaiproject.org/svn/reference/trunk/docs/conversion/sakai_2_7_0_mysql_conversion.sql
2.7.0: https://source.sakaiproject.org/svn/reference/trunk/docs/conversion/sakai_2_7_0_oracle_conversion.sql

2.8.0: https://source.sakaiproject.org/svn/reference/trunk/docs/conversion/sakai_2_8_0_mysql_conversion.sql
2.8.0: https://source.sakaiproject.org/svn/reference/trunk/docs/conversion/sakai_2_8_0_oracle_conversion.sql 
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