So the concerns, as I read the thread, is review of code for release
needs to be minimized.
Instead of shrinking the SVN Image, I present the following.
1) expand the tests to verify each component/folder. This would reduce
release review.
2) expand the ant script or create seperate one for Distribution, where
folders are copied to a new root folder, and appropriate changes to the
files are done. this would save a lot of documentation. Short of like
the hot-deploy new component script. Each component/folder would have a
script to handle it specific requirement.
If every committer took what they are familiar with and covered #1 and
#2 this should not be any more effort than changing the schema of the SVN
To me this would make Ofbiz something a not so technical person deploy a
OFbiz image specific to their concerns.
For those that hold this was a project to create cash flow, I put to you
that there is plenty consulting opportunities in doing the business
setup, that is more lucrative than coding.
At least that is what I have found with my customers.
Jacopo Cappellato sent the following on 7/9/2012 3:21 AM:
A few months ago we discussed about moving out of OFBiz some components from framework
and specialpurpose and introduce the concept of "OFBiz Extras" projects,
managed out of the ASF infrastructure.
I still think it is a good way to go, especially because it will help to grow
an ecosystem of projects not necessarily licensed under the same license.
However I understand that this will take time to adjust and a lot of work to setup communities
etc... this is the main reason I have prepared this proposal for an intermediate step: instead of
moving out the components we can move them to the "specialpurpose" folder, rename it into
"extras" and exclude the folder from the ootb build/deployment and from releases.
Some more details:
* the extras folder will not be included in build scripts, test runs,
deployments; in order to build/run/test an extras component, it will have to be
dropped into the hot-deploy folder
* extras components are not deployed on our demo instances, or included in
automated builds; no dependency on them (links, documentation etc...) will
exist in the OFBiz codebase
* some of the components in the extras folder could be experimental; each
component should contain a README file with all the information required to
deploy it successfully
* a separate LICENSE file will be maintained in the extras folder
* extras folder will not be part of the future OFBiz releases; we will instead release
all the extras components in one package as "Apache OFBiz Extras" let's say
every year
* we may consider to move back ecommerce from specialpurpose/extras to
applications, at least the core ecommerce features
Considering that the components are either experimental or very specific, it will be easier to get commit
rights for one or more of the "extras" components; new committers will be formally "OFBiz
committers" (i.e. in theory they will have right to change all code in svn, including ofbiz code) but
they will be asked to limit their field of action to the components they have been voted for; it will be
based on trust rather than commit rights; a formal vote will be still required to authorize the committer to
other components; the fact that a committer will still have the ability to change all code could be an
advantage if we allow them to commit code under the explicit permission of another senior committer on
specific case; for example a senior committer could say "I have committed r123456 and this should be
backported to 12.04 and 11.04 but I don't have time; is there a committer available to help to backport and
test the feature?"
This strategy, to have committers that are asked to not commit out of specific
components, or areas (we could, for example, have a committer allowed to only
work on ui labels), could even be considered for old committers (whose commit
history shows lack of quality)... but this is probably topic for another day.
In short, this approach should help in a few areas: smaller core code base,
greater community of specialized committers, less load on existing committers.
What do you think?
Jacopo
