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| -rw-r--r-- | doc/contributing.texi | 27 |
1 files changed, 24 insertions, 3 deletions
diff --git a/doc/contributing.texi b/doc/contributing.texi index 8465745ee9..925c584e42 100644 --- a/doc/contributing.texi +++ b/doc/contributing.texi @@ -345,9 +345,30 @@ For important changes, check that dependent package (if applicable) are not affected by the change; @code{guix refresh --list-dependent @var{package}} will help you do that (@pxref{Invoking guix refresh}). -Packages with roughly 100 dependents or more usually have to be -committed to a separate branch. That branch can then be built -separately by our build farm, and later merged into @code{master} once +@c See <https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/guix-devel/2016-10/msg00933.html>. +@cindex branching strategy +@cindex rebuild scheduling strategy +Depending on the number of dependent packages and thus the amount of +rebuilding induced, commits go to different branches, along these lines: + +@table @asis +@item 300 dependent packages or less +@code{master} branch (non-disruptive changes). + +@item between 300 and 1,200 dependent packages +@code{staging} branch (non-disruptive changes). This branch is intended +to be merged in @code{master} every 3 weeks or so. Topical changes +(e.g., an update of the GNOME stack) can instead go to a specific branch +(say, @code{gnome-updates}). + +@item more than 1,200 dependent packages +@code{core-updates} branch (may include major and potentially disruptive +changes). This branch is intended to be merged in @code{master} every +2.5 months or so. +@end table + +All these branches are tracked by our build farm +and merged into @code{master} once everything has been successfully built. This allows us to fix issues before they hit users, and to reduce the window during which pre-built binaries are not available. |