[hopefully the final draft... I would like to get this to lwn this week]
On Thu, 13 Jan 2000, Allan Rae wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Jan 2000, Allan Rae wrote:
>
> > NOT FOR RELEASE
> > DO NOT REMOVE THE ABOVE LINE
> >
> > Target audience: freshmeat, linuxdev.net, slashdot, icewalkers, c.o.l.a.
> >
> > ####
[ added OS/2 ]
> LyX is an advanced open-source document processor running on many Unix
> platforms, OS/2 and on Windows NT with the Cygwin environment. It is
> called a "document processor" because, unlike standard word
> processors, LyX encourages an approach to writing based on the
> structure of your documents not their appearance. LyX lets you
> concentrate on writing, leaving the details of visual layout to the
> software. LyX automates formatting according to predefined rule sets,
> yielding consistency throughout even the most complex documents. LyX
> produces high quality, professional output by using LaTeX, an
> open-source, industrial strength typesetting engine, in the
> background.
>
> > In September of 1999 the LyX Team decided that we could no longer
> > successfully use the two strand development process like the Linux
> > kernel. We are in the process of switching to a development model
> > similar to that used by Fetchmail where we will only make small stable
> > changes between releases and release more often. All future releases
> > should be stable although we are currently in a transition period
> > where some major changes have to be introduced and are likely to
> > affect the stability in the short term.
[ JMarc's suggestion ]
> > These changes include:
> > * Use of C++ Standard Library features such as the Standard
> > Template Library (STL), string and streams.
> > * Rearrangement of the directory structure,
> > * Use of libtool, automake and autoconf.
> >
> > Once the transition is over the 1.1 series should be very stable and we
> > will then release 1.2.0. This new series will be in a state of continual
> > advancement. Note the word "advancement" and not "development."
> > Development will be occurring in branches of CVS and once the
> > feature/modification has proved stable it will be merged into the main
> > releases.
[ New numbering scheme -- please read this bit even if you don't reread
anything else ]
A new numbering scheme for releases will be used. At present we are using
a Linux kernel style odd/even development/stable numbering scheme. This
will be replaced by a continuous numbering scheme where odd or even
numbering is no longer significant. Prereleases will be labelled with a
"pre" suffix and any fixes required between stable releases will have a
"fix" suffix. Thus there are three possible file names:
lyx-1.1.4.tar.gz -- stable release
lyx-1.1.4fix1.tar.gz -- bug fix of the 1.1.4 stable release.
lyx-1.1.5pre1.tar.gz -- potentially unstable test release
> > The old development strand has been put on ice and we will be backporting
> > and improving on the changes we experimented with in that series. Thus,
> > the developers gain a stable platform to build upon and users will get
> > those wonderful new features sooner. In particular, the move to GUI and
> > system independence will be a priority. Development will continue to use
> > a CVS repository with each area of change having its own development
> > branch. This will allow the developers to test their changes and get them
> > stable before they are merged into the main code. Thereby, ensuring that
> > each release should be very stable.
> >
> > If you are interested in a particular area of development then you will be
> > able to checkout the appropriate development branch using CVS. If you're
> > unable to use CVS then contact one of the developers of that branch and
> > ask them to make a snapshot available. A list of current major branches
> > and the developer responsible for that branch will be maintained on the
> > LyX website. Major branches are likely to include GUI independence,
> > Asian-language support, pdf and SGML editting.
[ Please read the last two sentences in the above paragraph ]
[ Adjust stability claim below and mention forthcoming 1.1.4fix1 ]
> > Our fourth release of the new series is lyx-1.1.4 and contains many of
> > the significant changes listed above. This is the fourth transitional
> > release and contains many bug fixes. It is almost as stable as the
> > 1.0.4 release although with all the changes some new bugs have crept in.
> > A 1.1.4fix1 will be released shortly. That said, please consider
> > trying it out on your existing documents (if you've never used LyX
> > before give this version a try) and contact the
> > <A HREF="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]">developers list</a> if you find
> > any bugs.
>
> Learn more about LyX, including screen shots, the LyX Graphic Tour and a
> list of ftp sites at:
> http://www.lyx.org/
>
> > Thanks,
> > on behalf of the LyX Team,
> > Allan. (ARRae)
Allan. (ARRae)
