[ovs-dev] [PATCH] release-process.rst: Add "soft freeze" stage.

[Ian Stokes]

On 7/5/2018 9:21 PM, Ben Pfaff wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 05, 2018 at 07:33:06PM +0100, Ian Stokes wrote:
>> On 7/2/2018 9:57 PM, Ben Pfaff wrote:
>>> +1. "Soft freeze" of the master branch.
>>> +
>>> +   During the freeze, we ask committers to refrain from applying patches that
>>> +   add new features unless those patches were already being publicly discussed
>>> +   and reviewed before the freeze began.  Bug fixes are welcome at any time. > +
>>
>> Would there ever be an exception here? I'm thinking if a patch is submitted
>> for an existing feature and the patch is deemed low risk (i.e. fairly simple
>> but useful). I'm aware we want to draw up a deadline and stick to it but in
>> the case like this should an exception be requested from a maintainer? Or do
>> we stick to hard deadline and only previously discussed patches allowed.
> 
> We do have a history of making exceptions.  The closer we get to the
> release, the more motivation we need, in terms of high importance or low
> risk, etc.x
> 
Fully agree, I suppose I'm wondering do we need to explicitly state that 
it is possible but needs to be specifically flagged, I raise it only as 
I had the same question raised to myself today. Playing devils advocate 
I guess, maybe the danger of mentioning the exception process is that it 
will be ab(used) :).

I think the approached outlined sounds good however, applied and tested. 
Acked unless there are any objections.

Thanks
Ian