#1 Complaint about Ubuntu: Updates break things

[Cody A.W. Somerville]

On Sat, Dec 20, 2008 at 12:50 PM, Kees Cook <kees.cook at canonical.com> wrote:

> On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 08:57:58PM -0500, Cody A.W. Somerville wrote:
> > To start the ball, I'll throw an idea out: the introduction of multi-tier
> > system that would classify an update based on an agreed set of
> quantitative
> > and qualitative criteria such as where the component falls in the stack
> (ie.
> > distinction between the kernel, desktop environment, and an application),
> > popcon score, etc. etc. Each tier would demand a different degree of
> > testing, verification, time in -proposed, sign off from different
> parties,
> > etc. That way we ensure appropirate people are looking at the SRUs,
> > appropriate testing is occuring, and appropriate happiness is occuring!
> :)
>
> Regressions are avoided by a larger variety of people doing testing.
> Not enough people currently give feedback on -proposed.  Adding tiers
> to -proposed would reduce the number of people testing each tier.  I think
> this would result in a net loss.


It would be a net loss if it were to work the way you describe. -proposed
would not be tiered, the classification of an SRU would be. The
classification would dictate the amount of testing required before being
deployed to -updates, that way we can ensure that riskier SRUs *do* get the
right people and the right number of people looking at them.


> I would propose that increasing the number of people giving feedback on
> -proposed would be the better solution.  I don't have a specific plan
> for how to implement that, but it seems that a tighter communication loop
> between people using -proposed, LP, and a log of what they've installed
> and when (some kind of additional bug-filing wizard) could reduce the
> technical knowledge needed to provide useful feedback on proposed.
> And let them revert/blacklist an update easily.


Improved tools is an excellent idea.


>
>
> --
> Kees Cook
> Ubuntu Security Team
>

Cheers,

-- 
Cody A.W. Somerville
Software Systems Release Engineer
Custom Engineering Solutions Group
Canonical OEM Services
Cell: 506-449-5899
Email: cody.somerville at canonical.com
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