Re: [gentoo-user] linux boot logo in 2.6.29-gentoo sources

[Mike Kazantsev]

On Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:59:02 -0300
Jorge Morais <please.no.spam.here@×××××.com> wrote:

> > It's still a way to check out these new features hands-on :)
>
> It's a kernel.

Exactly.
That's definitely one of the thing you have to know about, especially
if this one's got some unpredictable stuff in it.

> Even if it already released, it has a higher chance of bugs than a
> more established kernel.

Agreed, but from my experience, it's more like 'features' with kernel -
some stuff just change, and most of this isn't quite obvious from
release info, even with such commit-by-commit teardown like
kernelnewbies.
http://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_2_6_29

> Waiting for the package to become stable on Gentoo is not just about
> ebuild bugs; it is also about waiting for enough users in general to
> test the upstream package, and Gentoo users in particular to test the
> package within Gentoo.

There's a race condition and quite unpredictable dependency :)

> Of course, if you want to actively help, that is a reason to test
> the latest software... but I am afraid that a kernel bug could lead
> to unpredictable behavior, data loss and other problems I can't
> tolerate. Also, I think a kernel has a higher chance of hidden
> bugs (bugs that don't stand in your face).

But that's fine with desktop systems, especially if you have full
net backup as a daily cronjob (which is a great idea, btw).
I tend to use each new kernel for at least a few weeks, before
deploying it anywhere, and no bugreports or security advisory papers
are substitute for that.

But this isn't really a discussion, since I certainly don't speak for
production systems and you probably mean just a general deployment
everywhere, so everyone's right in their own way.
Besides, stability vs innovation is too much a matter of personal
preference to discuss it w/o starting an endless holywar.

-- 
Mike Kazantsev // fraggod.net