Is it time to consider EOL of branch-1 and all 1.x releases ? There doesn't seem to be much developer interest in branch-1 beyond occasional maintenance. This is understandable. Per our compatibility guidelines, branch-1 commits must be compatible with Java 7, and the range of acceptable versions of third party dependencies is also restricted due to Java 7 compatibility requirements. Most developers are writing code with Java 8+ idioms these days. For that reason and because the branch-1 code base is generally aged at this point, all but trivial (or lucky!) backports require substantial changes in order to integrate adequately. Let me also observe that branch-1 artifacts are not fully compatible with Java 11 or later. (The shell is a good example of such issues: The version of jruby-complete required by branch-1 is not compatible with Java 11 and upgrading to the version used by branch-2 causes shell commands to error out due to Ruby language changes.)
We can a priori determine there is insufficient motivation for production of release artifacts for the PMC to vote upon. Otherwise, someone would have done it. We had 12 releases from branch-2 derived code in 2019, 13 releases from branch-2 derived code in 2020, and so far we have had 3 releases from branch-2 derived code in 2021. In contrast, we had 8 releases from branch-1 derived code in 2019, 0 releases from branch-1 in 2020, and so far 0 releases from branch-1 in 2021. * 2021202020191.x0282.x31312* If there is someone interested in continuing branch-1, now is the time to commit. However let me be clear that simply expressing an abstract desire to see continued branch-1 releases will not be that useful. It will be noted, but will not have much real world impact. Apache is a do-ocracy. In the absence of intrinsic motivation of project participants, which is what we seem to have here, you will need to do something: Fix the compatibility issues, if any between the last release of 1.x and the current branch-1 head; fix any failing and flaky unit tests; produce release artifacts; and submit those artifacts to the PMC for voting. Or, convince someone with commit rights and/or PMC membership to undertake these actions on your behalf. Otherwise, I respectfully submit for your consideration, it is time to declare branch-1 and all 1.x code lines EOL, simply acknowledging what has effectively already happened. -- Best regards, Andrew Words like orphans lost among the crosstalk, meaning torn from truth's decrepit hands - A23, Crosstalk
