Thoughts please: 4.54.4 as a stable?

[Ken A]

David Lee wrote:
> On Thu, 25 May 2006, Julian Field wrote:
> 
>> Given the problems with 4.53.8, should I change the latest stable
>> release to 4.54.4?
>> I am not intending to do a June release, unless people think that is a
>> better solution to the 4.53 problem.
>>
>> A new stable or the current beta-->stable?
>>
>> Your thoughts please!
> 
>>From the user perspective the label "stable" signals reliability, and
> freedom from bugs (so far as is reasonably practicable).  Likewise the
> label "beta" signals caution, 'own risk', and possible known-and-unfixed
> problems.  We, the users, need to be able to trust those labels ("stable",
> "beta")  and, crucially, their implied signals about production-quality
> reliability.
> 
> (What follows is intended as constructive!)  My understanding is that
> 4.53.y, which bears the label "stable", in fact has some serious problems
> and so is actually unstable in use.  Whereas 4.54.x, which bears the
> cautionary label "beta" is, in practice, more reliable (production
> quality).  (Is that understanding correct?)  If so, then the labelling
> ("stable", "beta") becomes open to question (untrustworthy, even?) and
> casts a shadow of doubt over the trust we can place in the MS product
> that we download.

Yep, well that was sorta the whole point in starting the beta list, 
wasn't it? The idea that this sort of upside-down-ness of beta vs. 
stable shouldn't be repeated if possible, but with frequent releases, 
it's likely to happen occationally. The increase of beta testing and 
reporting should help.

It does happen sometimes though, despite our best efforts.. as I 
(version 1) came before my son (version 2); but at 2 yrs old, he's still 
very much a beta human. ;-)

That said, I think 4.54.5 is out of diapers.

Ken A
Pacific.Net


> Knowing that the label "stable" means reliable is, to my mind, much more
> important than release schedules.  Aiming at a regular schedule is nice.
> But having the label "stable" mean reliable is absolutely essential.
> 
> So... 4.53.x or 4.54.x ?  My vote is that the "stable" link should point
> to the most reliable.  And I understand that to be 4.54.x .
> 
> Hope that helps.
> 
>