[Releasing] Testing: 08/22/2012 + linux-g++ [fail]

[lars.knoll at nokia.com]

On Aug 22, 2012, at 3:55 PM, ext Thiago Macieira <thiago.macieira at intel.com> wrote:

> On quarta-feira, 22 de agosto de 2012 12.58.29, lars.knoll at nokia.com wrote:
>> There is no split source package currently, and I don't see this happening
>> for the beta neither.
> 
> I'm calling that a showstopper.
> 
> Here's why:
> 
> The split sources is the preferred way of building packages in Linux 
> distributions, which is in turn one of our main channels to users. I've looked 
> at the build scripts used in the Qt 5 PPA for Ubuntu, in the KDE:Qt50 OpenSUSE 
> OBS, in Mer's packaging and even the one I'm keeping for Tizen: they're all 
> split-source based.

Well, Qt 4.8 wasn't split source neither. I know distributions don't like it very much, but at the same time I don't think we should delay the beta further because of this. 
> 
> Distribution binary packages is probably the channel that reaches the largest 
> number of users, so it's a mistake to ignore it.
> 
> Using the monolithic package in the distro is not acceptable. For one thing, 
> it would require rewriting the build scripts that have been developed for 
> months. For another, it would make one very large bottleneck in the build 
> process, since that build process is not distributable to many build nodes. 
> 
> Finally, remember that after 5.0 we might have different release cycles for 
> some of the modules. Those need to be released in separate packages anyway, 
> which means they need to be tested now. Not to mention that some distros will 
> have difficulty updating portions of a monolithic package.
> 
> Therefore, the 5.0 final *must* include split sources.

Split source packages also should lead to split binary package (aka an online installer). 

But in any case, I still don't see this as an absolute must have for 5.0. It is certainly more important to get a release out then delaying another month to implement split source packaging.

The main problem implementing split source packages is documentation. Currently this still requires a monolithic source package, and until we have gotten that one modularised we simply can't do it.

Cheers,
Lars

> 
> Since it's a requirement for the final, it needs to be tested during the beta.
> 
> -- 
> Thiago Macieira - thiago.macieira (AT) intel.com
>  Software Architect - Intel Open Source Technology Center
>     Intel Sweden AB - Registration Number: 556189-6027
>     Knarrarnäsgatan 15, 164 40 Kista, Stockholm, Sweden
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