[arch-releng] releases, snapshots and semantics
Problem: - Some users (newbies) think Arch Linux has separate releases. they think the images are more important for upgrading/installing then they actually are (they often think they need them, while they can just pacman -Syu instead) - the notice @ http://www.archlinux.org/download/ helps a bit (I think)... - ... but the biggest problem are news sites who are not really into Arch, see our news and call it a "new Arch Linux release with new features foo and bar" and "Arch Linux 2009.08" It has been proposed to call the images "snapshots", but the 2009.08 announcement has shown this is of no use (http://www.archlinux.org/news/459/): All news sites speak about the new "arch linux release" even though we called them snapshots. Not to mention I think the word snapshot is not accurate in this case anyway (we discussed this before - iirc around 2009.02 - but here is my opinion again): - Arch Linux (the distribution) may be "rolling" and does not have releases, but rather snapshots. - The *images* that arch-releng produces are imho definitely releases. The images have milestones, they are iteratively developed, tested etc. All images are especially crafted. They are not just snapshots. The only thing that is a snapshot, is the /src/core/pkg directory on core images. I think our images are "projects" just like Xorg or pacman, so they have releases. The actual distribution, which is made from a "mass of packages", and which is installed by using the "images project" has no releases. So there is a subtle duplicitly going on here. I've been thinking of simple, but clear ways to phrase this and I think it's best to make the images a separate project with a special name. for example we could call this project "ALIMG" or something (Arch Linux images) and then talk (news items) about new ALIMG releases. ALIMG 2009.08 etc. I think that this would be best to separate Arch Linux from the images which you can use to install it, as it would be a better "model of the reality" various places such as news messages on our site, on external news sites, in our installation guides etc can then be more clear. Dieter
Why not just call it the Arch Linux installer? Abhishek
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:18:09 +0530 Abhishek Dasgupta <abhidg@gmail.com> wrote:
Why not just call it the Arch Linux installer?
Abhishek
1) because you can use the cd's for other things besides installing new Arch systems (disaster recovery etc) 2) because there are more means to install Arch linux systems (not all are supported right now, but I want to do so on the long term): pxe installs, installation from other "normal" arch systems etc Dieter
2009/8/17 Dieter Plaetinck <dieter@plaetinck.be>:
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:18:09 +0530 Abhishek Dasgupta <abhidg@gmail.com> wrote:
Why not just call it the Arch Linux installer?
Abhishek
1) because you can use the cd's for other things besides installing new Arch systems (disaster recovery etc) 2) because there are more means to install Arch linux systems (not all are supported right now, but I want to do so on the long term): pxe installs, installation from other "normal" arch systems etc
Dieter
You can call it AIF then, that's after all the main program on the disc. Abhishek
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:24:30 +0530 Abhishek Dasgupta <abhidg@gmail.com> wrote:
2009/8/17 Dieter Plaetinck <dieter@plaetinck.be>:
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:18:09 +0530 Abhishek Dasgupta <abhidg@gmail.com> wrote:
Why not just call it the Arch Linux installer?
Abhishek
1) because you can use the cd's for other things besides installing new Arch systems (disaster recovery etc) 2) because there are more means to install Arch linux systems (not all are supported right now, but I want to do so on the long term): pxe installs, installation from other "normal" arch systems etc
Dieter
You can call it AIF then, that's after all the main program on the disc.
Abhishek
AIF is basically a set of bash scripts. It is not a bunch of images for cd's and usb sticks. Dieter
Dieter Plaetinck schrieb:
So there is a subtle duplicitly going on here. I've been thinking of simple, but clear ways to phrase this and I think it's best to make the images a separate project with a special name. for example we could call this project "ALIMG" or something (Arch Linux images) and then talk (news items) about new ALIMG releases. ALIMG 2009.08 etc.
Let's just call it "Arch Live 2009.12" or so then. It is a live system and contains AIF, which we will mention in the announce anyway.
I vote for AIR (Arch Linux Installer), and then mention that the new 2009.02 AIF also contains a recent snapshot of the [core] repo. This way you have a version for AIF/the cd and snapshot for the repository. Gr. Jeroen On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 2:11 PM, Thomas Bächler<thomas@archlinux.org> wrote:
Dieter Plaetinck schrieb:
So there is a subtle duplicitly going on here. I've been thinking of simple, but clear ways to phrase this and I think it's best to make the images a separate project with a special name. for example we could call this project "ALIMG" or something (Arch Linux images) and then talk (news items) about new ALIMG releases. ALIMG 2009.08 etc.
Let's just call it "Arch Live 2009.12" or so then. It is a live system and contains AIF, which we will mention in the announce anyway.
Am Montag, den 17.08.2009, 14:11 +0200 schrieb Thomas Bächler:
Dieter Plaetinck schrieb:
So there is a subtle duplicitly going on here. > I've been thinking of simple, but clear ways to phrase this and I think it's best to make the images a separate project with a special name. > for example we could call this project "ALIMG" or something (Arch Linux images) and then talk (news items) about new ALIMG releases. ALIMG 2009.08 etc.
Let's just call it "Arch Live 2009.12" or so then. It is a live system and contains AIF, which we will mention in the announce anyway.
I would leave all as it is... YYYY.MM snapshots a) we don't make images for the press b) the few user who will get confused will get a answer on bbs etc. They don't will ask this again. Realy, i don't see the need that we make us a problem with this... Gerhard
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:22:02 +0200 Gerhard Brauer <gerbra@archlinux.de> wrote:
Am Montag, den 17.08.2009, 14:11 +0200 schrieb Thomas Bächler:
Dieter Plaetinck schrieb:
So there is a subtle duplicitly going on here. > I've been thinking of simple, but clear ways to phrase this and I think it's best to make the images a separate project with a special name. > for example we could call this project "ALIMG" or something (Arch Linux images) and then talk (news items) about new ALIMG releases. ALIMG 2009.08 etc.
Let's just call it "Arch Live 2009.12" or so then. It is a live system and contains AIF, which we will mention in the announce anyway.
I would leave all as it is... YYYY.MM snapshots
a) we don't make images for the press b) the few user who will get confused will get a answer on bbs etc. They don't will ask this again.
Realy, i don't see the need that we make us a problem with this...
Gerhard
Actually, the more I think about it, the more it just makes sense. The images we create are not "Arch Linux". They are a project on itself, based on arch linux. Even if you don't consider the semantic/press discussion, it is weird to me to have a very specific project, but no name for it. And yes, I do consider the press. I think if we can improve (as in: make it more acurate) the picture they draw of us towards (new) people, we should. I think media plays a big role. See how many places talk about the "arch linux 2009.08 release" http://www.google.be/search?q=arch+linux+2009.08+release Dieter
On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 9:16 AM, Dieter Plaetinck<dieter@plaetinck.be> wrote:
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:22:02 +0200 Gerhard Brauer <gerbra@archlinux.de> wrote:
Am Montag, den 17.08.2009, 14:11 +0200 schrieb Thomas Bächler:
Dieter Plaetinck schrieb:
So there is a subtle duplicitly going on here. > I've been thinking of simple, but clear ways to phrase this and I think it's best to make the images a separate project with a special name. > for example we could call this project "ALIMG" or something (Arch Linux images) and then talk (news items) about new ALIMG releases. ALIMG 2009.08 etc.
Let's just call it "Arch Live 2009.12" or so then. It is a live system and contains AIF, which we will mention in the announce anyway.
I would leave all as it is... YYYY.MM snapshots
a) we don't make images for the press b) the few user who will get confused will get a answer on bbs etc. They don't will ask this again.
Realy, i don't see the need that we make us a problem with this...
Gerhard
Actually, the more I think about it, the more it just makes sense. The images we create are not "Arch Linux". They are a project on itself, based on arch linux. Even if you don't consider the semantic/press discussion, it is weird to me to have a very specific project, but no name for it.
And yes, I do consider the press. I think if we can improve (as in: make it more acurate) the picture they draw of us towards (new) people, we should. I think media plays a big role. See how many places talk about the "arch linux 2009.08 release" http://www.google.be/search?q=arch+linux+2009.08+release
This comes down to a difference in opinion, which is by no means a bad thing, but I think is good to point out. Most of the "old" developers are a lot less worried about our public image, and a lot more worried about providing a good distro that fits their needs. You have a different perspective than a lot of us- let's try and ensure our image matches what we say we provide. At the end of the day, the developers are going to continue to strive to put out a good product, and you are going to continue to try to make a good installer for that product. Details aside, I think we all agree this is a good thing. The difference might lie in the fact that you are making it a point to attract some new people, and us old guys could care less- we're more of the philosophy that people find Arch, rather than it finding them. Now I'm blathering on here. As long as we don't call it ALIWQIEHIOH or some other absurd acronym, I don't have a strong opinion, but I just wanted to make sure we seeing the different perspectives here. -Dan
On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 9:38 AM, Dan McGee<dpmcgee@gmail.com> wrote:
Most of the "old" developers are a lot less worried about our public image, and a lot more worried about providing a good distro that fits their needs. You have a different perspective than a lot of us- let's try and ensure our image matches what we say we provide.
This is excellent. If people are going to believe they are full ubuntu-releases and reinstall their system, then that's their loss. I can't read documentation to them. I say we don't worry about the name, keep it as is (just make sure we use the term "snapshot" as much as possible)
Aaron Griffin schrieb:
This is excellent. If people are going to believe they are full ubuntu-releases and reinstall their system, then that's their loss. I can't read documentation to them.
I say we don't worry about the name, keep it as is (just make sure we use the term "snapshot" as much as possible)
All true. But I'll also say we should let Dieter and Gerhard decide this, as they're the ones working on it.
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:37:23 +0200 Thomas Bächler <thomas@archlinux.org> wrote:
Aaron Griffin schrieb:
This is excellent. If people are going to believe they are full ubuntu-releases and reinstall their system, then that's their loss. I can't read documentation to them.
I say we don't worry about the name, keep it as is (just make sure we use the term "snapshot" as much as possible)
All true. But I'll also say we should let Dieter and Gerhard decide this, as they're the ones working on it.
Well it's clear that there are much more votes against my idea then in favor, so let's just keep it like it is. Dieter
On Mon, Aug 17, 2009 at 17:16, Dieter Plaetinck<dieter@plaetinck.be> wrote:
On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 14:22:02 +0200 Gerhard Brauer <gerbra@archlinux.de> wrote:
Am Montag, den 17.08.2009, 14:11 +0200 schrieb Thomas Bächler:
Dieter Plaetinck schrieb:
So there is a subtle duplicitly going on here. > I've been thinking of simple, but clear ways to phrase this and I think it's best to make the images a separate project with a special name. > for example we could call this project "ALIMG" or something (Arch Linux images) and then talk (news items) about new ALIMG releases. ALIMG 2009.08 etc.
This is bad idea IMO.
I would leave all as it is... YYYY.MM snapshots
a) we don't make images for the press b) the few user who will get confused will get a answer on bbs etc. They don't will ask this again.
Realy, i don't see the need that we make us a problem with this...
Agree.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more it just makes sense. The images we create are not "Arch Linux". They are a project on itself, based on arch linux. Even if you don't consider the semantic/press discussion, it is weird to me to have a very specific project, but no name for it.
And yes, I do consider the press. I think if we can improve (as in: make it more acurate) the picture they draw of us towards (new) people, we should. I think media plays a big role. See how many places talk about the "arch linux 2009.08 release" http://www.google.be/search?q=arch+linux+2009.08+release
I think something similar was when Gentoo used to make regular install CD ISO releases. Most people got used to scheduled releases and not rolling releases, that's why they confuse liveCDs of rolling-release distros with releases of other distros. IMO it is enough to just put a text like: "Note that this is just a new release of LiveCD/USB images, not a release of Arch Linux, because there are no 'releases' in Arch Linux". If reviewers cannot read - their problem. People who read their review will point it to them in comments. -- Roman Kyrylych (Роман Кирилич)
participants (8)
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Aaron Griffin
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Abhishek Dasgupta
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Dan McGee
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Dieter Plaetinck
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Gerhard Brauer
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Jeroen Maris
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Roman Kyrylych
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Thomas Bächler