On Mon, Oct 17, 2011 at 12:59 AM, Wayne Stallwood ALUGlist@digimatic.co.uk wrote:
On 17/10/11 00:17, James Freer wrote:
ubuntu's achilles heel... frequent releases and development don't work. I've always felt that they'd be better off with an annual release. Two years (LTS)... too long to cater for developments adequately.
I am not sure about that...Two years for the LTS is fine as generally people who stick to the LTS want a fixed environment or it is an office full of PC's, LTS is supported as a desktop OS for 3 years but replaced after 2.
On the other side if you did yearly releases of the non LTS version then people that want to be on the bleeding edge..aren't. Also the model Ubuntu have done to date is mostly pushed the big updates in before a non LTS release so they get 3 shots at implimenting the Unity's and the Pulse Audio's of this world and have all the non LTS campers provide the feedback. Then traditionally the 4th release (LTS) is generally unexciting and is just a tidyup of the new stuff added over the last 3 releases. You won't see any fundamental changes in 12.04 over 11.10 as they will be too busy making it nice and tidy for LTS.
I agree with you there. What i was meant to say was that with missing an upgrade one is say 10% out on updated new releases of packages... into to the second year perhaps 20-30%. If one doesn't want bleeding edge 6 month release [like me] a year is a better option. I'm now an october updater if you like - 'bleeding edge for a few months! I used to stick to April but end of year/winter months allows me to sort out my data, trash, general tidy up, longterm backups etc. I've got too much to do in the garden in April and May - now i've got two landrover's to restore in my 40' x 16' shed.
Six month release for xubuntu is fine as the development is gradual... that's the way ubuntu should have stayed (it's going downhill with Unity) - not thought through carefully enough from the beginning. [prophet's spoken - i have a five inch beard now after just a year!].
Well see the other model is one of continual gradual upgrades. So LMDE for example just tracks Debian Testing...so no releases as such just a non stop rolling upgrade. That's fine if you don't mind the carpet changing under your feet but there are commercial environments where that wouldn't be appropriate.
As to whether Unity is truly downhill....I think it's too early to tell for sure. It certainly needs more work though.
What i meant but perhaps didn't put very well is that i feel it's a step too far too quickly. ubuntu is still making a huge loss per year i gather - they are trying to be market leaders with unity and it's not working. How much longer will Mr Shuttleworth support the loss (i'd have thought he was beginning to run short)?
james