[Development] Fwd: Removing Qt 3D from release configuration in dev branch

Thu Mar 28 07:40:52 CET 2024

Hi Björn,

In general, we want to provide longevity and still host many items that are long ago removed from the main product configuration (or never been part of it). That said, we also need to have a way to sometimes let go of items in the main product configuration. Platform support is perhaps one of the most prominent examples of this, but sometimes also add-ons need to be adjusted. In some ways it is perhaps better not to drop things between major versions only. Maybe there is no good time, but at least during the transition from Qt 5 to 6 we got a lot of feedback about not bringing some modules forward in Qt 6.0.

Qt is modular by structure and the official release is the split source packages: https://download.qt.io/official_releases/qt/6.6/6.6.3/submodules/. Of course, for users no longer having some functionality is a problem, so to the extent possible we want to keep things available and working also for those repositories that are not part of the release configuration (and there are many available at https://code.qt.io).

We can definitely keep Qt 3D available in the repositories, covered by code review, continue running CI and open for new commits. Like you said, eventually it is up to the module’s maintainers how well the code continues to run with new versions (or in case existing ones one day wish to step down, finding a new ones). Unless there is some bigger change preventing it, I would also wish to see Qt 3D continue to be available in the repositories throughout the whole Qt 6 life-cycle, even beyond.

Yours,

                                Tuukka

From: Development <development-bounces at qt-project.org> on behalf of Björn Strömberg <bjorn.stromberg86 at gmail.com>
Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 04:38
To: Qt Project Development <development at qt-project.org>, Qt3D-Dev <qt3d-dev at kdab.com>
Subject: [Development] Fwd: Removing Qt 3D from release configuration in dev branch
accidentally replied only to Tuukka (QtC).

forwarding to ML so it gets where it was supposed to be.

to be clear, the problem is the admission of support, its left open, i saw that Giuseppe from KDAB also was on that ball, what happens after 6.8, its only listed as supported
·         Even though not part of the release configuration, intention is to keep Qt 3D working also with Qt 6.8

the wording I'm looking for is 'working with Qt at-least until 7.0' and when that wording comes into play, it can just as well still be left where it's in dev..

so we got a train wreck incoming, that likely will be QtC pushing this over to KDAB after 6.8, so how long after a 6.x release is it acceptable that the release of the Qt3D module releases, will QtC still host the tarballs,
will the development be done on Qts git trees?

that is really a question that it seems that only KDAB can answer since it seems that QtC is pushing it over to them without actually saying it open, but any lag upstream gets even bigger on the way downstream...

/Björn

>> first mail that went wrong
From: Björn Strömberg <bjorn.stromberg86 at gmail.com<mailto:bjorn.stromberg86 at gmail.com>>
Date: Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 2:53 AM
Subject: Re: [Development] Removing Qt 3D from release configuration in dev branch
To: Tuukka Turunen <tuukka.turunen at qt.io<mailto:tuukka.turunen at qt.io>>

So now qt-6.x is effecively only promise backwards-compatible module wise to 6.8?

As written it's open to interpretion afterwards...

Or will a breaking change in dev vs Qt3D really enforce no release of next point release unless the ext module actally is API compatible with the new 6.x minor?
Its unclear from the mail.

This sounds like it will become a "he said, she said" type of thing between QtC and KDAB, when stuff starts tilting...

In clear words can a Qt6 released module be dropped before Qt-7.0?

I might read the text like "the devils advocate" and look for errors, but since the shitty thing with the LTS release of patch releases as open source from Qt-5.15 forward, I dont trust these "stealth" changes, from user of the libraries perspective, its the reason i now follow the dev ml to get info about it before getting bitten.

Personally i was about to use qt3d in a new project since it was shipped as a module without any deprecation warnings in Qt6, so i assumed life of it till 7.0 without hassle.

But now i will look outside the Qt Eco system for alternative designs before deciding path to take for end design.

I might even ditch the whole Qt subsystem in due time, or atleast design for the possibility.

If this is allowed once what will be the next thing that gets dropped?
 First was open source LTS support, now Qt3d is on the chopping blocks, so that makes module support uncertain. Due to the combination.

With kind regards
Björn

On Wed, 27 Mar 2024, 09:40 Tuukka Turunen via Development, <development at qt-project.org<mailto:development at qt-project.org>> wrote:
Hi,

We have been discussing with KDAB about the future maintenance of Qt 3D module. It is a quite large and complex module, which has for most use cases by now been superseded by Qt Quick 3D. Since Qt 3D has been available for a long time, it should continue to be available for those who still need it. It is also part of all currently supported releases, which would continue to have it in upcoming patch level releases.

After discussing with KDAB (maintainer of Qt 3D) on how to proceed, we came up with the following and also agreed that I’ll summarize it for the Qt project development list:
· Qt 3D module is removed from official release configuration in the dev branch, i.e. no longer part of the releases from Qt 6.8 onwards
· Qt 3D continues to be part of Qt project, it continues to be covered by CI, and available in the repository for those who want to use it
· Even though not part of the release configuration, intention is to keep Qt 3D working also with Qt 6.8
· Qt 6.7 and older releases continue to have Qt 3D module in the upcoming patch releases
Qt 3D module was initially developed for Qt 4 and then received a major overhaul for Qt 5. It was also brought forward to Qt 6. Initially the idea was to offer Qt 3D as a separate item in Qt 6.0 via package manage (https://wiki.qt.io/Qt_6.0.0_Modules), but since we were not able to make this modularity successful, it was included to the release configuration along with the other add-on modules. Qt Quick 3D is a later addition to Qt, originating from the contribution from NVIDIA (https://www.qt.io/blog/2017/02/20/introducing-qt-3d-studio), initially as a separate runtime, then refactored into Qt Quick 3D for Qt 5 to achieve better alignment with Qt Quick 2D and after that completely reworked to be fully aligned with Qt Quick in Qt 6.

Yours,

                Tuukka

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