[GRASS-dev] DebianGIS and GRASS6.3

[Hamish]

Helena:
> > It would be a pitty if it had only GRASS6.2 
...
> > because GRASS6.3 is so much better.
> > Is there any way that we can make sure that GRASS6.3
> > gets into the package?

Paolo:
> I insisted with DDs, but I think their position is reasonable.
> The only way I see is releasing a stable 6.4 really soon,
> and insist for this to be included in lenny (next debian stable).

Francesco has expressed support for the idea of providing a parallel 6.3.0 package in the next release. Remember that Debian/Stable's focus is on well tested software which is guaranteed to work well together, not on latest releases. There is a real shyness for any ".0" release, regardless of label or reputation. It has a lot to do with maturity of the Debian packaging bits as well, and how that fits with the many dependent packages; a process which only really begins with the new release. From that perspective 6.3.0 really is a baby.

FWIW GRASS's highly conservative release model has stood it very well in this regard. Random API changes between minor point releases seem to be a common cause of breakage -> package removals, and we have been pretty good about avoiding those.

v6.2.3 was released 27 Nov 2007, it is not so old (even if the feature set does date back to 2006). Also consider the current version of Debian/Stable ships with 6.0.2! (with 6.2.2 available from backports.org)


Hamish