[ecf-dev] ECF builds and Helios contributions as we approach Helios rele

[Scott Lewis <slewis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Folks,

Just so things are clearer (I hope), I want to describe what is/will 
happen with the ECF SDK build both now and over the next few weeks prior 
to Helios.

ECF's Hudson/Buckminster Builder

First, ECF's Hudson/Buckminster builder is available here [1].

If you go to this URL, you will see that there are a number of different 
Hudson jobs...those that start with 'C' are continuous builds (i.e. 
triggered by CVS checkins), those that start with 'N' are nightly, those 
that start with 'I' are platform integration (i.e. the core/filetransfer 
part of ECF...that goes out with p2/Equinox/Eclipse platform), 'L' for 
linked...these are mostly automated test jobs, and finally 'R' for 
release builds.

If you go to the dashboard for a particular build (for example 
C-HEAD-sdk.feature at [2]), you will see a Build History on the left.  
If you click on one of the previously (but recently) done builds, e.g. 
[3] you will see a link at the top:  'Build Artifacts'.  Under this link 
is both a folder containing the p2 repo output and a zip of the p2 repo. 

If you wish, you can easily download the zip, unzip to local disk and 
then add the repository to Eclipse and install...i.e. to test the 
install or work with a more recent version of ECF (not yet released, but 
without having to get/compile/use the ECF source).

Helios Build Contribution(s) from ECF

As part of the Helios Simultaneous release process [4], ECF contributes 
a built *and signed* version of our plugins to the Helios simultaneous 
release.  We do so by contributing a p2 repo...and our contributed repo 
for Helios is available here [5].  If you wish, you can also install 
from this repository as well simply by adding this repository URL to 
your Eclipse and using the update manager ui.  This repository updated 
with a new version periodically by me (every couple of days now...and 
probably getting more frequent as we approach Helios). 

Once Helios is released, we will (of course) have a repo and zip also 
available via our own download page [6].  But this will simply be a copy 
of what is made available to the Helios builder [5].

Everyone is encouraged to help with install testing prior to release by 
installing from [5]...and reporting any install issues/problems via new 
bug reports.  Having many people test out the builds and report issues 
(from as many environments as possible) will be most helpful.

ECF 3.3 Release Branch

In approx 2 weeks, we will create a new branch called:  Release_3_3 and 
create a new Hudson job that builds from this branch (instead of 
R-HEAD-sdk.feature from HEAD).   Only *at that point*, HEAD will be 
opened up for development for subsequent ECF releasese (i.e. 3.4 and 
beyond).  Until that branch is created please do not add or change 
anything on HEAD other than reported bugs.  That is, for the next two 
weeks, please everyone focus on testing, reporting bugs, and fixing bugs 
prior to the 3.3/Helios release.  No API changes, no new features may be 
added to HEAD until after the branch as been created and HEAD opened up 
for longer term changes. 

If anyone has questions about any of this, please feel free to ask. 

Thanks for your help and cooperation.  Helios is going to be a very 
exciting release for ECF.

Scott

[1] https://build.ecf-project.org/hudson/  or https://ecf2.osuosl.org/hudson
[2] https://build.ecf-project.org/hudson/job/C-HEAD-sdk.feature/
[3] https://build.ecf-project.org/hudson/job/C-HEAD-sdk.feature/1029/
[4] http://wiki.eclipse.org/Helios_Simultaneous_Release
[5] http://download.eclipse.org/rt/ecf/3.3/helios/site.p2
[6] http://www.eclipse.org/ecf/downloads.php