[boost] [git] automated update of superproject master branch

Subject: [boost] [git] automated update of superproject master branch
From: Peter A. Bigot (pab_at_[hidden])
Date: 2013-12-27 11:21:41

I realize there are several email threads about how the super-project 
branch should be managed, but most pre-date live experience with boost 
on git and go deep into other aspects of the issue, so I still want to 
call this out specially:

https://svn.boost.org/trac/boost/wiki/ModBigPicture specifies that the 
master branch on each module should be stable at all times, which is the 
right policy.

Currently, the master branch on the super-project is automatically 
updated twice(?) per hour selecting all updates to the master branches 
of modules.  Consequently, super-project master is the exact opposite of 
stable.

This divergence is confusing. I'm unconvinced that waiting a few days 
will demonstrate a significant decrease in churn on the super-project 
master branch.  Some is due to multiple updates to specific modules, 
which might decrease as maintainers become more familiar with git and 
only push once, but interoperability issues will still arise and there 
will be no way to tell which master branch commits produce a working 
Boost installation.

There is value in having a branch with automated-update semantics, but 
IMO regardless of what the final policy will be, "master" is not the 
right choice for this, and automated updates of it should stop ASAP.  
Perhaps the update script can simply be moved to occur on latest/master 
and latest/develop.  Leave master untouched until whatever gets 
committed to it has undergone cross-toolchain integration validation, 
and make develop available for changes to superproject content that are 
not just submodule updates.

Peter