5.0 Release Plan

[Frank Warmerdam]

Steve Lime wrote:
> Hi all: I'm wondering if it might make sense to start talking about a
> 5.0 release plan? It would be nice to at least have a good idea of what
> will be included before the conference in Sept so that we can discuss
> with users etc... There are several RFCs out there with an unknown
> status (e.g. dynamic array allocation, C unit tests) and a few other
> things (e.g. internationalization) that are still hanging.

Steve,

I think we will need to treat dynamic array allocation as deferred.
I don't see myself getting this RFC updated, reissued and implemented
in time for a pre-conf release at this point.

> Personally I have 3 big todo's:
> 
> 1) RFC 19 (attribute binding)
> 2) style-level transparency/removing TRANSPARENCY ALPHA (if possible)
> 3) WFS application schema support
> 
> Along with other cleanup...
> 
> Those along with the WXS services support, curved labels, full-GEOS
> support, mapfile includes, credential encryption and other stuff should
> be more than enough to warrant a 5.0 release. I'd love to get a second
> renderer in place but I fear there isn't time.

I would like to see this release considered 5.0 (if only because I hate
larger than single digit subversions).  Clearly it is too late for
introducing a new renderer.

> Also, what do folks think about periodic IRC developer meetings?
> MapBuilder does this, seems to work pretty well in keeping out in front
> of things.

 From what I have seen with some of the other projects, it is challenging
to get people together for regular IRC meetings.  I would be *inclined*
not to mandate them for MapServer.  But I do think as-needed meetings could
be helpful. Perhaps an IRC meeting to hammer out 5.0 release details would
be good.  ie. setup a timeline, establish what is in and out, etc.

Best regards,
-- 
---------------------------------------+--------------------------------------
I set the clouds in motion - turn up   | Frank Warmerdam, warmerdam at pobox.com
light and sound - activate the windows | http://pobox.com/~warmerdam
and watch the world go round - Rush    | President OSGF, http://osgeo.org