Hello everyone. I don't want to start up this big thread again in a list it doesn't belong in, but I thought I should write something....
First, to Dave on the incorporation, I might not agree it is as bad a thing as you think, but I can see where you are coming from. The thing is, though, is that all of "official" developers seem to have been behind it, so the only way to change it now would be to have a big outcry from the users. Maybe this is why you started the thread in the user mailing list? Anyways, the responses to your outcries seemed to range from a few tentative agreements to a lot of total non-agreements. This is definately not what would be needed to undo the incorporation, now that it has already been done. So, I think it is safe to say that there isn't really anything that can be done about it now except for starting a whole new distribution... Some "constructive" critisms like saying that more information on the current structure of the organization should be put on website seemed good to me, and I believe Bruce agreed to do that. I think it is futile at this point to try to do anything about undoing the organization, though. So, while your arguments were interesting in the philisophical and legal standpoint, it is kind of moot now... Now, about the numbering scheme. The main critism from Dave/Paul seems to be not the x.x.x.x versus x.x.x release x, but on if it was catering to the cd companies, especially with that thing where changes were done to the current release without updating the number. Now Dave/Paul claim this is due to the CD-Rom stuff, while Bruce says it was a mistake since the guy usually overseeing the stuff is on vacation. But, personally, I don't think the motives matter at this point for those two updates. What really matters is what is going to happen from NOW ON. Bruce has been saying lately empatically that it was a mistake and won't happen again, so I don't think it can happen again without him getting in major trouble. Now Bruce, this is what I think you should do. Make a web page, maybe in the Latest News section of the site. Say on it that the last two things were a mistake, won't happen again etc., and say EXACTLY what is going to happen now. Yes stuff has been said in the list, but that is kind of fleeting, and can be changed around in memory. A stationary page says "This is the official policy" and it can't be strayed from without officially changing the policy. I'd recommend putting a lot of really clear-cut information. Like if what I heard about the major numbers being put on the cds, and then the release ones being downloaded from the net, then put that down. Also, what would be really nice is like a "simulated timeline". Like what the numbers should be if Debian was released in the following 10 versions. The timeline would start with 1.3.1, then the official numbers for the 2 that were released without updating the version, and then a couple of made-up ones. That would make everything SO much clearer! Something like this: ------------------------ 1.3.1 -- Last one from the "origional" numbering scheme. 1.3 release 2 -- Official # for the first "messed up" one. 1.3 release 3 -- Official # for the second "messed up" one. 1.4 release 1 -- Made up future one. 2.0 -- Made up future one. ----------------------- Even with reading everything that I did, I'm not sure if what I just put down is the way you are planing to do the numbering, or if I still have it wrong... (I, and seemingly others on the list, am especially unsure on the official #s of the two that were messed up). I don't mean to sound pushy that you "need" to do that Bruce, but I think it'd be a really good idea. That way you can just point to the page and say THAT is how it will be.... That way should also pacify some of the critics since if what is on the page looks good, and it is strayed from, then either there has been a mistake again, or they have reason to be angry since the policy has changed without saying anything. Just my $1.50 in change. =) Shawn -------------------------------------------- [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.the-spa.com/shawn.fumo/ -------------------------------------------- -- TO UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THIS MAILING LIST: e-mail the word "unsubscribe" to [EMAIL PROTECTED] . Trouble? e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] .
