MRE request: mysql-5.5

[Clint Byrum]

Excerpts from James Page's message of 2014-03-07 04:51:59 -0800:
> Hash: SHA256
> 
> Hi TB
> 
> On 06/02/14 13:31, Robie Basak wrote:
> > I would like to apply for a micro release exception for MySQL 
> > Server.
> > 
> > Upstream:
> > 
> > - Micro releases happen from low-volume stable branches, 
> > approximately once every two months.
> > 
> > - Stable branches are supported with bug fixes for 8 years.
> > 
> > - Upstream commits are reviewed by members of the MySQL Server 
> > Engineering team.
> > 
> > - All commits to stable branches are evaluated wrt. potential 
> > regressions and signed off by the MySQL Support team.
> > 
> > - Unit tests and regression tests are run on multiple platforms
> > per push to the source code repository. In addition, there are
> > more extensive test suites run daily and weekly.
> > 
> > - Unit and regression tests are run on both debug and optimized 
> > builds.
> > 
> > - Each micro release receives extensive testing between code
> > freeze and release. This includes the full functional test suite, 
> > performance regression testing, load and stress testing and 
> > compatibility and upgrade testing from previous micro and 
> > minor/major releases.
> > 
> > - Tests are run on all supported platforms.
> > 
> > In Ubuntu:
> > 
> > - Unit and regression tests are run as part of the package build 
> > process, and the package FTBFS if tests fail.
> > 
> > - Micro releases for MySQL Server 5.1 and 5.5 have routinely been 
> > accepted as security updates since Ubuntu 12.04 without known 
> > regressions.
> [..]
> 
> Thanks for reviewing and approving the MRE for mysql-5.5; on the back
> of this I'd also like to apply for a MRE for mysql-5.6.  All of the
> rationale for mysql-5.5 applies to mysql-5.6 as well.
> 
> mysql-5.6 will be available in universe as a first GA release for
> 14.04; the server team will likely be proposing a change in default
> for 14.10 so we'd like to start updating mysql-5.6 with point releases
> in 14.04 as well.
> 

I do not support this MRE, and I would like to suggest that mysql-5.6
_not_ be available in universe.

We've discussed this in the past. Having something as large and complex
as MySQL in universe means that we are relying on "the community" to
keep it up to date.

I don't think the community is well served by having mysql-5.6 in universe
for the life of trusty. It is a bit confusing having two versions, and
there are enough compelling reasons to use MySQL 5.6 that I fear users
will choose it not knowing that they'll now be potentially incompatible
with upstream packages, and unsupported by the Ubuntu project.

A better option would be to just promote it to main, but I think it is a
bit late for that. So I think users will be better off with one well
supported version of MySQL.