[Freeswitch-users] FS LTS version

[Anthony Minessale]

We are working on cutting edge technology, requirements and factors change
quickly.  Each version lasts about 2 years.  1 year in active development
and 1 year of backports.

When we were slow to get releases out we were critisized for it.  When we
find a consistent release cycle we are critisized for it.  Just like we are
critisized on both sides of using system libs or whatever distro.

We need to keep it in perspective that we only provide community resources
on a best ability basis and we are doing it for free.  We have commercial
packages and services as well and those concerned with this type of issue
discussed in this thread can consider those services and the shape support
will be driven by the needs of those customers.  The revenue from customers
help expand the services we can provide.

People often forget when using open source that it takes everone involved
to keep it running.


On Sunday, November 22, 2015, Francis <sms at icefire.qza.net.au> wrote:

> Perhaps it wouldn't be necessary to add another line as such, but keep the
> production version around for an extra year or two and allow the
> development version to roll through a few releases before it officially
> becomes "stable". Or, have Stable, Testing and Unstable as per Debian.
>
> Time the stable release with an updated Freeswitch book + cookbook, docs
> etc and it would promote a more cohesive and predictable platform to work
> with. Case in point, I deliberately stalled off a project until 1.6 was
> released, because I didn't want to waste time on old code. I could get away
> with it in that instance, but in most cases, stalling = lost business.
>
> Of course, the drawback of LTS is the delay of new features. Whether or
> not FS is at a stage where it (or we) could hold out for years between
> releases is a fair question to ask.
>
> On 22/11/2015 7:32 PM, Giovanni Maruzzelli wrote:
>
> The core developers at the moment simply do not have the resources for
> more than two lines of "official" development:
> - one has to be production, the one you use in servers
> - one has to be development, the one that will be the next production
>
> Because of effort put into allowong users time for transition, now the
> core developers are maintaining three lines: 1.6 (production), 1.6
> (development), 1.4 (old prodution).
>
> As obvious, in a short time will be necessary for core developers to begin
> working on next release (1.8).
>
> Because resources are finite, is not possible to ask core developers for
> maintaining an LTS as part of the community project.
>
> On the contrary, I believe this LTS thing can be a source of revenue for a
> maintainer, or a company.
>
> Is a matter of taking care of security and bug fixes in a software version
> you would not use, because is stale. Someone else is making money from
> that version you would not use, and is asking you to help him milking.
>
> I believe that if there is enough commercial, paying interest in an LTS, a
> single maintainer or a company will step out to take care of it. Or maybe
> this revenue stream can allow for the.core developers to hire someone for
> this purpose.
>
> Anyway, I believe that the key is showing a paying interest.
>
> So, how to do it?
>
> Crowfounding, kickstarter, etc... I'm not an expert, but those days I
> believe is simple to assure there are money for a project.
>
> -giovanni
>
> sent from my mobile,
> Giovanni Maruzzelli
> cell: +39 347 266 56 18
> Il 22/Nov/2015 09:12, "ik" <
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','idokan at gmail.com');>idokan at gmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','idokan at gmail.com');>> ha scritto:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>> It seems that every single year there is a new EOL (end of life) of FS
>> version (e.g. 1.4 at this time) and a new version series that replaces it
>> (e.g. 1.6).
>>
>> The problem is that it's not a simple act to update production servers.
>> When you have a lot of servers (in different clients and locations) it's
>> even harder.
>>
>> Many products, including Linux, and even Asterisk have LTS versions, and
>> newer releases versions.
>> The new releases has new features and way to do stuff, but the LTS get
>> bug fixes and are stable for long period of time (usually 5 years).
>>
>> What does it take to have LTS version with FS, that the new releases will
>> not stop, but EOL will be much longer for some of it's versions?
>>
>> Are there any plans for such things?
>> How we as a community can help?
>>
>>
>> Ido
>>
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-- 
Anthony Minessale II       ♬ @anthmfs  ♬ @FreeSWITCH  ♬

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