Bits from the Release Teams: Freeze timeline, fix RC bugs and changes to testing migration rules

To: debian-devel-announce@lists.debian.org

Subject: Bits from the Release Teams: Freeze timeline, fix RC bugs and changes to testing migration rules

From: Niels Thykier <niels@thykier.net>

Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2018 07:01:00 +0000

Message-id: <[🔎] 38ab177c-36b7-d06f-df53-aeb97d65c710@thykier.net>

Mail-followup-to: debian-devel@lists.debian.org

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA512 Prepare for freeze ================== We are about 3 and a half months way from the initial phase of the buster freeze. Please follow up on your plans for buster and evaluate whether it is realistic to accomplish them for buster. Changes can be staged in experimental, to avoid disruption. Keep in mind that other volunteers may not have the same capacity to work on your goals. If there is a unfixed bug that is nagging you, remember to fix it (e.g. via an NMU) now rather than later. As a reminder, the freeze time table for buster is: * 2019-01-12 - Transition freeze * 2019-02-12 - Soft-freeze * 2019-03-12 - Full-freeze Please consult the buster freeze policy and timeline[BUSTER-FREEZE] for detailed information about the different types of freezes and what they mean for you. [BUSTER-FREEZE]: https://release.debian.org/buster/freeze_policy.html Help fixing bugs ================ We know that many people would like short freezes (we do as well). We can achieve this if we all pull up our sleeves and fix RC bugs in testing before the transition freeze starts (or help remove packages with RC bugs from testing). You can do that now, by looking at the list of RC bugs[BUGS] or joining the #debian-bugs irc channel on irc.oftc.net. Now is also a good time to join one of the planned Bug Squashing Parties[BSP], or organise one yourself [HOSTINGBSP]. Note that Debian is willing to reimburse 100 USD (or equivalent) for expenses to attend Bug Squashing Parties. [BUGS]: https://udd.debian.org/bugs/ [BSP]: https://wiki.debian.org/BSP [HOSTINGBSP]: https://wiki.debian.org/HostingBSP Updates to Autopkgtest support in Britney ========================================= We have been using autopkgtest results to influence the migration of packages to testing in the past 4 months. So far it has been quite successful and we have solved most of the initial issues discovered so far. We will make autopkgtests regressions block migrations to testing (just like RC bugs) before the buster transition freeze (2019-01-12). This means that packages with failing autopkgtests in unstable will not migrate to testing if the autopkgtests succeed in testing. To ensure that the tooling and procedures related to autopkgtests have matured properly, we will implement this new policy in a gradual way by slowly increasing the delay caused by regressions. This will be implemented in the form of increasing the delay by 2 days per week starting now. We will strive to deploy the increase in the weekend of each week, (if we miss one, we will update it as soon as possible after noticing the omission). The increased delay will be applied retroactively to all packages with regressions. Therefore, we highly recommend that people work on solving the underlying issue rather than wait it out. For the Release Team, Niels -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- iQIzBAEBCgAdFiEE8f9dDX4ALfD+VfsMplt42+Z8eqwFAluwdNUACgkQplt42+Z8 eqwS5RAAh1GxbIZHEnUBLbk28uSiu05vt2vFtYPYkYc7x9QJZLzGvw9eyX7gUUSB 6wTGH/i7eTXcp7SCPCmLdowqJpcLvBszrsv/mtP9yK8/+AkjHFpkUP3sKVnRGCs+ JzI80MC8se9yv//nxMAMNm6E7GXEPK9SYfO0ekkInPMTsx6Ry4+LLPNBfSuBbQNR DFxNNm/Ns2Ra7Zc7H6ba44olEqw1ol+xb4DT3ocvxmuNZuk5eniL3ZkSOvogVHfs a1DOqzPe4gTI9vy4I0Dqctkm8mitm/AtrAcRGh3YGD7pI0VV1kZbRY3e72ntzwjc ZQFPs0YSZ693F/phsTtXFSB6gphgOwcHuoXJ+2xfS4y6glZ/acVUWf835qrBnBiK liPnFk+vAI40Z+81mHVaJQ3dggXtU2H+h5ntc7/N/kvfWQ54l5/pqQxxWpFzgAWB +gytVovlKHH21sDQ0SpmCjNq4cU+Ih8lnpc0Yieu8KNm+xuZYenASnc7wMXwkwHY l+MjIh+/6UZB0btk+Z7+lK4H6LeSxrLaeVQvzdd7Rg8j1A+6vmTf57lbk+RhLj/C PjueAgtNK9hfb0SjuL2fiApta+O5SnYJqVP1wEtPa82kpVqFeVdrRBeWEZch04eN ZjhBaavY4K+zntJJgehfoWBtM2er1C2913I2+l4/h1I2FTsMuII= =1eyh -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----