Bug fix releases

[John W. Baxter]

In article <mailman.983648765.842.python-list at python.org>,
 Guido van Rossum <guido at digicool.com> wrote:

[Quoting Aasz, I think <JB>]
> >   Betas of the bugfix releases are important -- portability testing is
> > fairly difficult to do when all we have are Windows and Linux/x86
> > boxes.  There's definately a need for at least one beta.  We probably
> > don't need to lengthy, multi-phase alpha/alpha/beta/beta/candidate
> > cycle we're using for feature releases now.
> 
[Guido:]
> OK, you can have *one* beta.  That's it.

That covers the hoped for case, in which no disasters appear during that 
beta.  

If one does, it implies that the bug-fix release is dead, since even 
backing out the failed fix requires fresh testing of the remainder, just 
as fixing the fix would require fresh testing.

This could actually be a useful discipline:  it might improve the 
quality of the submitted fixes.

  --John (who comes from a time of slower release cycles than the world 
sees now)

-- 
John W. Baxter   Port Ludlow, WA USA  jwbnews at scandaroon.com