Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner [LWN.net]

The results of the latest round of Debian Project general resolutions are in. The resolution to recall the project leader failed, while the counter-resolution reaffirming support for the leader (and the Dunc-Tank initiative) passed. The attempt to make section 2 of the Debian Free Software Guidelines apply to all programmatic work (and firmware in particular) failed, with the project voting (narrowly) for "further discussion." While this discussion takes place, however, the project has voted to release etch when it is ready without requiring a complete and final solution to the firmware problem first.

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Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 15:44 UTC (Sun) by frlinux (guest, #27370) [Link] (4 responses)

Mmmh, Am I the only one to be slightly surprised about the decision to release sooner rather than have a proper fix ? I loved the idea of release when it is ready.

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 16:33 UTC (Sun) by Richard_J_Neill (subscriber, #23093) [Link]

I think there is a misunderstanding. Etch won't be released before it is *technically* ready. But this political discussion about firmware, while very important, won't directly affect the release. Waiting till/if it is resolved would probably do more harm than good.

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 16:34 UTC (Sun) by Thue (guest, #14277) [Link]

Well - this is not quite the same. The fact that there is some non-free firmware blobs is not going to make the release work technically worse.

The firmware problem is mainly political rather than technical. Resolving it will probably make Debian work technically worse in the short term, as they will have to remove some firmware.

The "release when ready" philosophy is usually used for technical and not political problems.

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 20:25 UTC (Sun) by dark (guest, #8483) [Link]

The current release has the same firmware problem, so there would be no real point in delaying etch.

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 16, 2006 9:43 UTC (Mon) by ballombe (subscriber, #9523) [Link]

The article do not mention two crucial points of the firmware
resolution:
3. We assure the community that there will be no regressions in the progress made for freedom in the kernel distributed by Debian relative to the Sarge release in Etch
4. ... we will deliver firmware ... as long as we are legally allowed to do so, and the firmware is distributed upstream under a license that complies with the DFSG.

so there is not much conceded to the Etch release.

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 16:57 UTC (Sun) by liljencrantz (guest, #28458) [Link] (2 responses)

These results reaffirm my suspision that there is a clique of vocal Debian devolopers (Sven Luther, Joey, MJ Ray, Josselin Mouette and a few more) with somewhat radical opinions, that seem to belive that their opinions are shared by the silent majority, while the silent majority is actually much more interested in releasing software than with politics.

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 17:12 UTC (Sun) by jonth (guest, #4008) [Link] (1 responses)

I couldn't agree more - a rash of common sense has broken out. How gratifyingly unexpected.

Jonth

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 20:07 UTC (Sun) by wookey (guest, #5501) [Link]

Debian is indeed a more balanced 'organisation' than it appears to be from its mailing lists. That doesn't actually surprise me, but it's nice to have it affirmed.

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 22:46 UTC (Sun) by pjdc (guest, #6906) [Link]

I'm glad the recall failed, because I really doubt that Arnold Schwarzenegger has what it takes to run an operating system project.

Debian to keep leader, release etch sooner

Posted Oct 15, 2006 23:03 UTC (Sun) by lordsutch (guest, #53) [Link]

Well, technically "further discussion" is a vote for "none of the above," and not further discussion per se. Frankly, I think most DDs are getting rather sick of this discussion and would rather get etch out the door.