[maemo-community] Extras and Fremantle

[From: Quim Gil]

Hi,

ext Jeremiah Foster wrote:
> If the SDK is "experimental", which its alpha status seems to
> indicate, then it is valuable to build packages and fix any bugs in
> the SDK.

Sure, but people will want to share their alphas too, and if there is no
an extras-devel repository we will start seeing own repos and even debs
attached to ITt threads, different versions of same libraries and other
potential nightmares we have seen already.

> If the SDK is not finished and is subject to significant change, then
> building packages with it will be of no use because those packages
> will not work later and anything learned in the building phase may not
> be relevant.
> 
> What state is the SDK in? Is it going to have lots of API or ABI
> changes? What does the "alpha" status mean specifically, how is that
> defined?

alpha = API complete. It's not frozen yet but we don't expect many
changes in the API after the alpha release. Maybe some additions in some
components, maybe some minor changes for optimizations here and there.
The alpha will be a mature alpha since the pre-alpha phase hasn't been
so long in vain.  :)

I really see no reason not to create a Fremantle extras-devel. Since the
SDK will be an alpha bringing API changes already from Diablo, those
developers jumping into it will know what to expect. I don't think all
of you will stay with arms crossed waiting for the more reliable beta.

-- 
Quim Gil
open source advocate
Maemo Software @ Nokia