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

[Ben Pfaff]

On Thu, Jul 05, 2018 at 09:37:16PM +0100, Ian Stokes wrote:
> 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.

OK, what if I add a sentence to point 1, like this:

    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.
       Please propose and discuss exceptions on ovs-dev.