Re: GDB 8.0 release/branching 2017-03-20 update

Joel Brobecker
2017-03-20T22:52:45Z

Hi Yao,

> Tim contacted me off-list that his work site will relocate at the end
> of march and he will not be able to respond to mails or work on the
> patches. It may take two weeks, and I am not sure he has been
> unreachable from now on.

Ok, thanks for the heads up.

> > * [TimWiederhake] new "record" Python API should be finalized before we release
> > (otherwise, we might be have a compatibility issue if we don't design
> > them well from the start)
> >
> > https://sourceware.org/ml/gdb-patches/2017-03/msg00023.html
> >
> > Looks like the discussion is still fairly active, and I am starting
> > to think that we might be putting too much pressure to get this done
> > before 8.0.
> >
> > What's the status of this API? Is this something entirely new?
> > Or something that replaces an API which was already contributed?
>
> They are new python APIs.
>
> > If it's a replacement, was the older API part of a previous release?
> > Looking at the NEWS file, it looks like it's something which
> > would be new. So we could decide to not rush this into 8.0,
> > and wait for 8.1, when we're more certain of the API we'd like.
> > It would also give it another 6 months of use where we can
> > easily change the API, before it's part of a release, and therefore
> > harder to change.
>
> I've started reading this new APIs and the code since late last week.
> Progress slowly as I know little about GDB python. I gradually
> understand the code, and do some experiments to make sure
> my suggestions can be done. I want to re-design the APIs, to
> make them more general, less btrace specific.
>
> I'll post my design draft tomorrow, then people can compare
> the current design to mine. If we think we need to improve the
> current design, it is unlikely to get it done by 8.0.

Since they are new, and we're still deep in the design phase,
I think it is more reasonable to branch without them. The worse
thing that can happen, really, is for us to rush and then and
realize later on that we should have taken our time. Sounds like
you agree, and with Tim's limited availability, I'll move this
item to the excluded list.

> > * [TimWiederhake] Build issue when using Python 2.6.x
> >
> > What's the status of that patch? My questions were answered,
> > but was the patch reviewed?
> >
> > https://www.sourceware.org/ml/gdb-patches/2017-03/msg00053.html
> >
>
> I've already conditionally approved the patch, with a fix in
> doc part, "Python 3" or "@code{Python} 3". Tim's patch uses
> the former but I suggested the latter. Tim believes "Python 3"
> should be used (off-list) so I asked Eli
> https://sourceware.org/ml/gdb-patches/2017-03/msg00334.html

Looks like Eli just answered! I'm a little tied up today, but
if no one gets to it before tomorrow, I'll try to dig the patch
out, and push it.

Thanks!
--
Joel