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Subject: XEmacs futures (Countdown to 20.1 and possible 19.16)
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From: Steven L Baur <steve@miranova.com>
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Date: 04 Apr 1997 03:43:04 -0800
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* 20.1
The recent configure changes have caused far more brokenness than I
expected.  Unfortunately, there are more configure changes for beta11
beyond the fixes to correct the problems people have been reporting.

The Checklist as I currently see it (in no particular order):

1.  Integrating Alpha/Linux.
Somehow this got lost last time around, I don't want it to happen
again.  We'll need an Alpha/Linux capable tester.

2.  The XEmacs/GNATS bug database needs to be brought on line.
I think I've got all the required patches into 20.1-beta11.  We need
to iron this out quickly.  crashes@xemacs.org is quickly getting out
of control.

3.  Movemail needs to be tested & MAIL_USE_FLOCK needs to be
    integrated into configure.
I've replaced our broken movemail with Emacs 19.34 movemail in
beta11.  It is *vital* we handle email properly, 'nuf said.

4.  There are various MULE related crash reports that need
    investigation (Steve Dunham's in particular).

If I've forgotten anything, now is the time to speak up.  I intend to
release 20.1 in a couple weeks.  See the README on the beta site for
schedule.

xemacs.org is saturated with respect to ftp right now, which is going
to make beta distribution problematic.  I welcome suggestions on how
to distribute 20.1-b11 this Saturday.

* 19.16
I remain unconvinced we *must* have further releases beyond 19.15.[1]  In 
case we really do I wish to impose the following conditions.

1.  We suck too much to make full distributions without any testing.
    I think there should be some testing before updated tarballs are
    put out.  I don't think we can handle a random assortment of
    periodic updates with respect to tracking down and fixing problems 
    so I'd like to limit the number of post-19.15 releases to exactly
    one, and the number of betas before that to less than 5.  *And* I
    don't wish 19.16-b1 to be opened before mid next week.

2.  Besides the previously `blessed' patches, I wish to see updated
    movemail, updated configure, XEmacs/GNATS bug database, and the
    heretofore unmentioned 6-letter m-word updated.  The new manuals
    are most unlikely to be ready within a month.

3.  There will be a seven day period prior to release where *no*
    patches are applied.[2]

In short, if consensus really insists we go beyond 19.15, I'd like to
see it done right.


Footnotes: 
[1]  I felt the same way about 19.14 that many of you do now about
19.15, but it managed to last 9 months with total lossage in several
key areas like jpeg display and a Gnus that required 15 further
releases before it was declared stable.

[2]  Yeah right, who am I trying to kid?

-- 
steve@miranova.com baur
Unsolicited commercial e-mail will be billed at $250/message.

