Improving the mainline kernel testing process

[Tim Gardner]

On 04/22/2011 02:01 PM, komputes wrote:
> Hi Kernel Team,
>
> It has been some time that I have been talking to JFo about improving
> instructions or simplifying the process of testing the mainline kernel.
> We use the response "can you test the mainline kernel" so much that we
> should make it much simpler to test. The problem is that the current
> instructions [1] are complicated for average user to understand. We have
> to remember that we have experience doing this, average users (like my
> parents) do not.
>
> Why is this a problem? What happens to most bugs, they get reported
> against linux. Triager asks for the user to test mainline. At this point
> many users give up and do not follow up causing expired bugs.
>
> Here are some suggestions I propose:
> - Rewrite instructions [1] to be more use friendly (dated and could use
> some love)
> - Create a simpler process for testing the mainline build
> - Generate a LiveCD with the mainline kernel to simplify testing (not
> ideal for bandwidth, but very user friendly). Simply boot, test and
> report back.
> - Place a "mainline" metapackage in the repos for testing purposes
>
> What does the kernel team think of this proposal? Should it be something
> to discuss at UDS or do we think we can correct this simply?
>
> Cheers,
>
> -komputes
>
>    (]( -. .- )[)
>
> [1] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Kernel/MainlineBuilds
>
> PS. Thanks to bjf and JFo for providing assistance and guiding me in
> this proposal.
>

While the directions for installing a kernel are a bit technical, I 
don't think they are particularly complicated. If someone isn't 
comfortable following these directions, then they probably shouldn't be 
installing kernels. It _is_ a wiki, so feel to make improvements where 
you see fit.

I've long lusted after an easy customized Live CD build script. I think 
Brad has done something with customized kernels in Live CDs for 
suspend/resume testing, but it takes a lot of space and bandwidth (and 
time).

rtg
-- 
Tim Gardner tim.gardner at canonical.com