[ecf-dev] ECF Release Train Participation

[Scott Lewis <slewis@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Folks,

I wanted to renew/begin a discussion of ECF's participation on the 
yearly Release Train (this year called Indigo [1]).

For the past 4 (or is it 5? :) years, ECF has been part of the annual 
release train, and currently we have already declared our intention to 
participate in the Indigo release train.

But I currently have a severe resources problem that I should explain.

First, in case people weren't aware, the release train has a large 
number of requirements...for example  see the must do and should do 
requirements linked to here [1].

In addition to these requirements, there is plenty of IP process work 
(e.g. CQs, etc), creation/prep of project plans, review, N&N materials, 
lots and lots of releng tasks, coordination with the good folks doing 
the simultaneous release builder, coordination with the platform 
consumers of ECF (p2/Equinox team), other EF-imposed-process tasks, and 
quite a few other things.  The participation requirements have increased 
every year of ECF's participation...and Indigo is not an exception to 
this (i.e. there are more must-dos and should-dos for Indigo).

In past years, I and a few other committers have performed these tasks, 
and given resources I would personally be willing to do them again...so 
that ECF could be part of the release train.  But I'm not at all certain 
if I will have the resources (i.e. time) required to do them during the 
winter and spring 2011 months, when completion of these tasks is 
required (i.e. in preparation for the June 2011 release).

As project lead, I don't know if I can commit to doing the level of work 
necessary this year for successful participation in Indigo (given what 
it's required of me in the past, my uncertainty about my own time 
availability, and the fact that release train participation requirements 
go continuously up).   The purpose of this note is to raise this issue 
with the ECF community and to publicly pose and discuss alternatives.

Thanks,

Scott

[1] http://wiki.eclipse.org/Indigo