gstreamer/docs/random/thomasvs/0.4.0

Set of 0.4.0 proposals

* module versioning
  - we need an agreement on how we are going to version the separate modules.
    This needs to meet some requirements :
    a) we shouldn't be forced to release all of the modules together 
       every time (if the plugins have been updated, and still work against
       a previous core, then only release plugins, for example)
       We should start treating the different modules as separate projects
       (albeit still closely tied of course)
    b) it should be clear for other people what packages they need to download
    c) major API breakage needs to be clear; we don't expect really old players
       to keep working with really new cores.

   - my idea (which others seemed to agree with) would be to let the micro
     numbers run independently.  Only when the core API has changed to the
     point that other modules are not compatible with them anymore
     should we upgrade the minor version.
     We can assume/assert that modules with the same minor number will be able
     to work with each other.
     
    - Example schedule : 
      * we release 0.4.0 versions of all of the modules
      * plugins get updated a few times : 0.4.1 and 0.4.2
      * core gets a new scheduler, doesn't affect other modules : 0.4.1
      * gst-player gets rapid releases due to arik's recovery: 0.4.1-0.4.5
      * core gets a major new update re: events : 0.5.0
      * some days later, other modules have been updated to the new core
        and the new core starts being useful to other people as well
	
* release practice
  - we should have a simple way to cut releases; something that makes
    the necessary adaptions to the source tree
    This could also be a simple check list of things that need to pass
  - cvs tarballs/packages should be easily distinguishable from pre-release
    tarballs/packages and actual released ones.

    my idea here would be :
    a) releases are named as normal
       e.g. gstreamer-0.4.0.tar.gz
            gstreamer-0.4.0-1.i386.rpm

    b) as soon as the release is made, we are back in "cvs" mode
       i'd use a ".1" for a fourth version number for all cvs versions
         so as soon as we release 0.4.0, I'd add a fourth ".1" version number.
	 this one would be used during the whole of the cvs period, no
	 reason to up this manually in between
	The packages (rpms in any case, don't know about debs) would still
	keep the date as the revision number like they have now, in order
	to make it easy to work with snapshots.

    c) when we are ready to release this module, I would go back to maintainer
       mode, but keep the fourth version number and increase that for each cut.
       So we'd stop developing the module, switch to maintainer mode, up the
       version number to
       gstreamer-0.4.0.2.tar.gz
       and test that.

     d) when we are happy with the precuts, we drop the fourth number and make
        a release

     Summary :
     * all "official" released versions have sane versioning with three numbers
     * all "cvs" versions are clearly recognizable by the fourth .1
     * all "precuts" are also recognizable
     * no tarballs will accidentally spill pretending to be real releases ;)
     * upgrading rpm's all through this process is easy
	 
* build code stuff duplicated between various modules
  - how do we integrate these ? this pertains to stuff in autogen.sh,
    duplicate stuff in configure.ac (which should probably be moved out to
    custom .m4 files and yanked in), and maybe testing stuff
  
* what possible ways are there to build gstreamer ?
  I would like to take stock of the combinations of deps possible to build
  gstreamer.  While most people want only glib2, I think there is merit
  in still making glib1 work and willing to put in the effort.  I just need
  the possibilities mapped out once and for all ;) IMO the effort going into
  making gstreamer build without libxml is the same as making it work with
  older glib too.  I mean, as soon as you allow variation, it isn't that hard
  to allow for more than one variation.  The bigger step is from zero to one.
  
  so, what are they ?
  - glib1 & gtk1
  - glib1 & gtk1 & libxml
  - glib2 & libxml2
  
* media suite
  - media files on the site should be renamed to simple uniform names
  - and split up based on size
  - described by features/content

* when to branch in CVS ?

* automatic build testing
  - tinderbox ? useful ?
  - small build scripts
  
* automatic functionality testing
  - an md5sink would be useful to do this
  - something automated is needed; it should check if you have the plugins
    that are needed to test other plugins

* media player

* packaging
  - dependency libs should be easily available