Hi,
Martin Michlmayr writes:
> with the changes in the kernel maintenance, I hope to get non-i386
> and non-alpha kernels maintained more closely - basically what
> happend in the past was that Herbert uploaded a new source package
> plus i386 and alpha image, and then other kernels started to work.
> With the new team, I hope that everyone will work together much
> closely, with one code repository where kernel maintainers can
> commit changes. Ideally, these changes will also be pushed upstream
> (if applicable), and having more upstream people on board will be
> helpful for this.
Let's not be hasty.
IMHO, the existing process is an example of very good and efficient
cooperation. What we need foremost is a process that gets a new
release from kernel.org into Debian unstable as quickly as possible.
Right now, the process involves two stages - one kernel-source source
package create an arch-independent kernel-source binary package, from
which a number of arch-specific kernel-{patch,image} source packages
create the kernel-image packages. This works remarkably well, and
therefore I suggest it stay this way.
To the problems.
The various source packages are kept in different locations, and only
come together in the archive itself. A central repository would be
nice - as long as it does not bear the restriction of allowing only
one source package.
Patches are rarely propagated in the opposite direction. If an
arch-specific patch works on all architectures, it should be moved
from kernel-patch-<arch> to kernel-source. If Linus happens to like a
patch from kernel-source, it will enter the tree on kernel.org
eventually. Both testing arch-specific patches elsewhere and getting
Linus' attention on Debian-specific patches requires time and
dedication. Therefore reinforcements, even if they are not DDs, are a
good thing.
Right now, there are ten kernel-source packages in testing, seven of
which are clearly obsolete. To get rid of them, kernel-image packages
should be removed from unstable as soon as a new version enters, and
kernel-source packages should be removed from unstable as soon as no
more kernel-image packages depend on them for building. Plain and
simple.
Regards, Jens.
--
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