[sakai2-tcc] Proposal for scrapping the indies and improving the release process

[Noah Botimer]

Steve,

Thank you for writing this up in document form. It is very helpful to have the background, problem definition, and proposed solutions presented in a consistent way.

I think much of what you have proposed aims us in the right direction but I do have a couple of things in mind that worry me in that they could be a half-step where we want a full step.

For example, adjusting the top-level POM and externals to build everything solves the confusion of a split source/binary build, but stops short of rationalizing the actual working copy layout. I consider our status quo (68 externals) a malignant side effect of historically conflating a few goals (per-project commit rights and dependencies, mix-and-match installations, and a single build-and-deploy tool/command). This doesn't make your proposal a bad one at all, but I do want to think through the assumptions or patterns we want to uphold or reject (as they serve or harm our goals as a project).

Consider the gradual migration of things to common and edu-services for an example of something that made perfect sense to those doing it, but was confusing and arbitrary to those just building, all to a somewhat nebulous and incremental architectural goal. It may be that, for example, combining everything in the release into a single trunk serves the community best moving forward, if we excuse ourselves from the historical status quo.

I don't think a bunch of bullet-point debate in an email thread will shed much light right now, so I plan to follow your lead and pull together my thoughts in long form. I'll try to focus on the contextual forces and continuum of options we have (deficiencies, goals, and minimal-to-comprehensive reform).

This is a great document. Thanks again for getting us rolling.

Thanks,
-Noah

On May 31, 2013, at 8:06 PM, Steve Swinsburg <steve.swinsburg at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> Based on a number of discussions over the past few months I have drawn up a proposal for scrapping the indies and improving the release process overall.
> 
> It is lengthy, but I thought it was helpful to paint the entire picture as to why this is necessary.
> 
> I believe this is on the agenda for discussion at the TCC meeting. Have a good conference!
> 
> regards,
> Steve
> 
> 
> <cle-release-process-proposal.pdf>
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