Hello, I apologise if this is considered off-topic - might be barking up the wrong tree in the wrong forest here - but bringing up an old issue here of release frequency, once the transition to using package pools and the new debian-installer is done, would it be reasonable to expect Debian releases more often - say, once every quarter like FreeBSD already does?
The comparison with FreeBSD is rather apt as both are community projects working on whole OSes, although FreeBSD has a principal sponsor (BSDi, then WindRiver) and positions itself more commercially than does Debian (selling official CDs) and thus perhaps having more to benefit from frequent releases? That asides, with the avalanches of release in the last few days (RH 7.1, Mdk 8.0, FreeBSD 4.3) leading me to think about the future of Debian - note that last week also sees the update of the Unofficial Debian CD sets (by Attila Nagy - many thanks!), one sets to ponder certain points of matter: - it should be easier maintaining the new modular installer in-between releases (considering the present one looks very much similar to FreeBSD's spartan interface, and *that* installer has not changed in ages it seems, it would be nice if our next installer can be that dependable) - Package pools allowing easy roll-out of custom-made mini-distributions Take the two together and certain possibilities arise: 1. Frequent releases made possible for the benefit of people without blazing-fast connection 2. This frequent release should allow Debian to generate more revenue 3. A sort of package rating system, allowing a core nucleus of important libraries and programs to coalesce. Since these packages are those most likely to change and thus most noticeable when they become out of date, having frequent releases would help, and doing so would be easier with less packages to concentrate bug-fixing on 4. Inter-release update CDs could be issued ala Microsoft's Service Packs with updated packages only - so it might depend on previous release CDs. Should be simple enough to automate, does not even need an installer. I am sure all these points have been raised before, or even seem obvious and if anyone think this posting is a waste of time and space, my apologies. Just thought to appease my curiousity about Debian's future plans since I am in the process of joining it. Warm regards, -- Michèl Alexandre Salim
