[mapguide-internals] Re: 2.1.0 Final Windows Installer

[Trevor Wekel]

Hi Gabriele,

I will add some comments about svn checkout to the downloads page.

The 2.1 branch has been effectively frozen since June.  As far as I know, the only submissions made to that branch have been specific to bug fixes http://trac.osgeo.org/mapguide/log/branches/2.1/MgDev.

MgDev/trunk has always been the active development stream.  We only branch when we are getting close to a release.  And yes, trunk does get broken occasionally.

As Jason mentioned in a previous reply, it is true that MapGuide is less approachable as a Linux app.  This is something the PSC will need to look at.  Community support, sponsorship, and donations might help.  I have experience working with MapGuide on both Windows and Linux.  Windows is easier but Linux isn't so bad.

One area that definitely needs work is our documentation.  In previous releases, Autodesk donated a significant amount of time and effort into updating developer documentation, readmes, release notes, etc., for the community.  As we become a self-sustaining project, we will need to expend more effort into keeping the documentation up to date.

Every little bit helps.  And even making a few suggestions on the release notes does make a difference.

Thank you,
Trevor


-----Original Message-----
From: mapguide-internals-bounces at lists.osgeo.org [mailto:mapguide-internals-bounces at lists.osgeo.org] On Behalf Of Gabriele Monfardini
Sent: November 20, 2009 11:34 AM
To: MapGuide Internals Mail List
Subject: Re: [mapguide-internals] Re: 2.1.0 Final Windows Installer

> It would be great if we could post a tarball of the source checked out
> on linux (I think line-endings etc change?).
>
> Not sure if would be better to just zip up including .svn directories
> (good starting point) or to export from local repo for a cleaner tree.
> Maybe both :)

Why don't public just the svn command pointing to branch 2.1?

svn checkout https://svn.osgeo.org/mapguide/branches/2.1/MgDev mapguide

and two lines of explaination, like is done for example in

http://trac.osgeo.org/gdal/wiki/DownloadSource#Subversion

Easier to setup w.r.t. a "big-zip-file" (for you and for the users),
much easier to upgrade.

Obviously you need to freeze 2.1 branch and start using a trunk branch
as actively developed branch (as is done in a lot of other projects)

IMHO that would be a good idea since developers would be more free to
"break" sometimes the "trunk" (that is used only by "the braves") and
eventually to backport to the "2.1 stable" outstanding bugs that were
fixed during development.
Without rebuilding the "big-zip-file".

Not to mention the fact that with the "big-zip-file" you can only take
all the code, not just what you want/need.
This would be useful when (if) in the future third part software will
be optional if is already installed.

Finally, until now if I know that a bug has been corrected in the svn
I have to use "in toto" the svn code that is under heavy development,
aka unstable.
In the other way developers (or myself) may backport a fix into the
stable codebase, taken from the 2.1 branch. A much safer solution for
production boxes.

P.S.
What do you think about my comments on Windows-only elements in the
release notes that I've stated in my email of November 18?

I mean, GNU/Linux part of the project clearly needs love and I know
developers are already very busy.
Don't also discourage GNU/Linux users who want give MapguideOS a chance.
They need to build the source, so they're likely complaining and
helping to fix building process, and maybe to propose patches.

Reading the 2.1 Release Notes Mapguide seems a Windows only project.
One of two very small fix would help GNU/Linux users not to feel like
second-class citizen.

My 2 cents,

Gabriele
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