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= Packaging Guidelines and Policies for EPEL =
= Packaging Guidelines and Policies for EPEL =


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Other updates get queued up in a testing repository over time. That
Other updates get queued up in a testing repository over time. That
repository becomes the new stable branch after one month of testing. There
repository becomes the new stable branch after at LEAST 2 weeks of testing.  
will be a short freeze time period before the monthly update happens
But even these updates should be limited to fixes only as far as possible and should
to make sure the repository and its packages are in a good shape -- packages
in this phase still can be removed if thats is needed. But even this
updates should be limited to fixes only as far as possible and should
be tested in Fedora beforehand if possible. Updated Packages that
be tested in Fedora beforehand if possible. Updated Packages that
change the ABI or require config file adjustments must be avoided if
change the ABI or require config file adjustments must be avoided if
somehow possible. Compat- Packages that provide the old ABI need to be
at all possible. Compat- Packages that provide the old ABI need to be
provided in the repo if there is no way around a package update that
provided in the repo if there is no way around a package update that
changes the ABI. Packages in the testing repo that contain dependency
changes the ABI. Packages in the testing repo that contain dependency
issues or where the maintainer doesn't feel they are stable will be
issues or where the maintainer doesn't feel they are stable will be
held back from the stable push.
held back from the stable push. Note that maintainers will need to request
their packages go to stable after 2 weeks or have sufficient karma in their update
to do so. No automatic promotions from testing to stable happen any longer.  


When a new quarterly update is released, EPEL will wait until the CentOS
When a new quarterly update is released, EPEL will wait until the CentOS
version of that update is available. At that time, a stable push will
version of that update is available.
be done to pull in tested packages from testing, and the stable repository
 
will be linked to the current quarterly release version.
=== Workflow examples / Information ===
 
* Maintainer builds the package normally using 'make build'
* The Maintainer submits an update request using bodhi ('make update' or via the web interface).
* The update MUST spend at least 2 weeks in testing, unless it's a security or critical bug fix.
* After 2 weeks, bodhi will mail the maintainer to let them know it's been 2 weeks.
* If the Maintainer requests stable at this point or the update has sufficient karma it will be pushed to stable in the next push.
* Testing pushes take place nearly daily. Stable pushes happen bi-weekly on Tuesdays.
* Updates never leave testing for stable unless the maintainer requests it, or there is sufficient karma. (NO auto promotion of updates).


=== Guidelines and Backgrounds for this policy ===
=== Guidelines and Backgrounds for this policy ===
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upstream developers now ship 1.0.2
upstream developers now ship 1.0.2


* build for the stable branch only if it fixes serious bugs
* build as normal, but wait at least two weeks and possibly more in testing.
* build for the testing branch is acceptable if the upstream release is mostly a bugfix release without new features and the package got run-time testing


===== A little bit bigger minor version updates =====
===== A little bit bigger minor version updates =====
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the existing config files continue to work
the existing config files continue to work


* build for the stable branch only if it fixes a really serious bug
* build as normal, but leave in testing until there is sufficient karma to go to stable.
* build for the testing branch is acceptable if it fixes serious bugs


===== A yet again little bit bigger minor version updates =====
===== A yet again little bit bigger minor version updates =====
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* build for the stable branch is normally not acceptable; a backport should be strongly considered if there are any serious bugs that must be fixed
* build for the stable branch is normally not acceptable; a backport should be strongly considered if there are any serious bugs that must be fixed
* build for the testing branch is also disliked; but it is acceptable if there is no other easy way out to solve serious bugs; but the update and the config file adjustments need to be announced to the users properly -- say in form of release notes that get published together with the quarterly announcement.
* build for the testing branch is also disliked; but it is acceptable if there is no other easy way out to solve serious bugs; but the update and the config file adjustments need to be announced to the users properly -- use the epel-announce list for this.
* leave in testing if at all possible.  


===== A major version update =====
===== A major version update =====
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* this update should be avoided if possible at all. If there really is no other way out to fix a serious bug then it rare cases it might be acceptable to build the new version for the testing branch and mention the update and the needed adjustments in the release notes for the next update. An additional compat- packages with the old libs is necessary if the ABI changed.
* this update should be avoided if possible at all. If there really is no other way out to fix a serious bug then it rare cases it might be acceptable to build the new version for the testing branch and mention the update and the needed adjustments in the release notes for the next update. An additional compat- packages with the old libs is necessary if the ABI changed.
===== Security Updates =====
Security updates should be marked as such in bodhi and will be pushed to stable.
Because of this you should always try and make as few changes as possible on these sorts of updates. Apply only the backported fix, or if you must, the
new version that provides only the fix. Try and avoid pushing other changes with a security update.


===== Add more examples as they show up =====
===== Add more examples as they show up =====
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released; many packages that get build for RHEL5 can't be build for
released; many packages that get build for RHEL5 can't be build for
RHEL4 at this point of time already, as the RHEL4-gtk2-Package is two
RHEL4 at this point of time already, as the RHEL4-gtk2-Package is two
years old and is to old for many current applications, as they depend
years old and is too old for many current applications, as they depend
on a newer gtk2. So if even if we would try to have a rolling scheme
on a newer gtk2. So if even if we would try to have a rolling scheme
with with quite new package we'd fail, as we can't build a bunch of
with quite new package we'd fail, as we can't build a bunch of
package due to this dependencies on libs; in the end we would have a
package due to this dependencies on libs; in the end we would have a
repo with some quite new packages while others are still quite
repo with some quite new packages while others are still quite
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updates only" sides.  Remember, EPEL's support and updates cycle is
updates only" sides.  Remember, EPEL's support and updates cycle is
much longer then Fedora's.
much longer then Fedora's.
=== How will the repository actually look like? ===
Similar to what [ http://ftp-stud.fht-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/centos/ layout]  CentOS uses. Rough example:
<pre>
* epel/                        # topdir
* 4/                          # topdir for EPEL4
* 4 -> 4.5                    # symbolic link to latest version
* 4.1/                        # this tree of course will never exists, as this is history, and is here just to show the example
....                          # 4.2, 4.3, 4.4; those won't ever exists, too
* 4.5/                        # 4.5, latest version
* 4.6                        # not yet
* ....                        # time will come
* testing/                    # testing repo, all packages go here for testing. If no dependency issues or maintainer holds,
* 5/                          # topdir for EPEL5
* 5 -> 5.0                    # symbolic link to latest version
* 5.0/                        # 5.0, latest version
* 5.1                        # not yet
* ....                        # time will come
* testing/                    # testing repo, all packages go here for testing. If no dependency issues or maintainer holds,
</pre>
Each repo always has all the packages in it; hardlinks will be used to
keep the space requirements on the server-side limited, as most
packages won't change.


{{Anchor|nomaintainerresponse}}
{{Anchor|nomaintainerresponse}}
=== EPEL branching if Fedora maintainer does not react ===
If an EPEL maintainer wants to get a Fedora package into EPEL he should check the [[EPEL/ContributorStatus|  ContributorStatus]]  document.


If the Fedora maintainer of the package has indicated a desire not to participate in EPEL then the proposed EPEL maintainer can request the branch directly via the standard procedures (e.g. via bugzilla currently).  The proposed EPEL maintainer should CC the Fedora maintainer on the branch request, so the Fedora maintainer knows that the package is maintained in EPEL as well.
=== Getting a Fedora package in EPEL ===


If it is unclear if the Fedora maintainer of the package intends to participate in EPEL then the proposed EPEL maintainer should mail the Fedora
Look [[Getting_a_Fedora_package_in_EPEL|here for the procedure used to get a Fedora package in EPEL]].
maintainer and ask about their plans for EPEL in general and the package at hand.  If there is no answer within seven days the proposed EPEL maintainer
is free to request the EPEL branch and become the EPEL Maintainer (CC the Fedora maintainer here as well).  If the Fedora maintainer decides not to be
active in EPEL they should be added to the CC list for all bugs  so that collaboration can happen where a bug effects Fedora and EPEL.
 
If the Fedora maintainer later decides to participate in EPEL, Then the Fedora maintainer will become co-maintainer for EPEL. (Of course co-maintainership can be extended to Fedora)


=== Distribution specific guidelines ===
=== Distribution specific guidelines ===
The [[Packaging:Guidelines| Fedora Packaging Guidelines]] are written for current Fedora releases.  Sometimes there are changes in Fedora that cause the packaging guidelines there to not make sense for the older software being run in RHEL.  When that occurs, we document the differences with the Fedora Packaging Guidelines on the [[EPEL:Packaging]] page.


==== EL4 ====
[[Category:EPEL]]


* EPEL4 Python packages should manually depend on the proper python version that it was build for. Most old FC-3 python packages should still use this trick.
== Policy for Conflicting Packages ==


== Package Maintainer Details ==
* EPEL packages must never conflict with packages in RHEL Base (Including Advanced Platform).
* EPEL packages can conflict with packages in other RHEL channels.
* EPEL maintainers should be open to communication from RHEL maintainers and try and accommodate them by not shipping specific packages, or by adjusting the package in EPEL to better handle a conflicting package in a channel on a case by case basis.


This section covers helpful information and guidelines for package maintainers.
When a package is added to RHEL that is already in EPEL, we need to block it from being updated in EPEL. Follow these steps to do that:


=== Involve Employers: Packaging as a Job Duty ===
* 'dead.package' it in the cvs branch for the EL version where the package has been added
* retire in pkgdb for the same branch
* file a ticket with [https://fedorahosted.org/rel-eng rel-eng] to block it.


Many packagers maintain packages that are useful for their employer.  EPEL encourages these maintainers to get their packaging role including in their job description.  Having it in the job description means the packaging role can survive a packager changing jobs and not taking the package along.  To help with this, EPEL has written a [[EPEL/PackageMaintainer/GenericJobDescription| generic job description]]  that you can use as the basis for amending other job descriptions.
=== Conflicts in compat packages ===


 
Due to the EPEL policy of maintaining backwards compatibility, EPEL has a greater need for forward compat packages than Fedora.  When creating, a compat package, note that it is okay to set a Conflicts between them as noted in the [[Packaging:Conflicts#Compat_Package_Conflicts |Conflicts Guidelines]].  At this time, this is only allowed for packages overriding packages in EPEL, not in RHEL Base.
----
[[Category:EPEL]]

Revision as of 17:35, 27 March 2013

Packaging Guidelines and Policies for EPEL

The packages in EPEL follow the Fedora Packaging and Maintenance Guidelines -- that includes, but is not limited to the packaging guidelines , the package naming guidelines , the package review guidelines and the packaging policies that are designed and maintained by the FESCo and Packaging Committee . There are however some EPEL-specific exceptions, which you can find below.

Please note that the sections "Guidelines" and "Policies" use their names on purpose. Consider the guidelines as something that should be followed normally, but doesn't have to if there are good reasons not to -- please ask the EPEL SIG members in case you are in doubt if your reasons are good. The word policies has a stronger meaning, and what is written in that section should be considered rules that must always be followed.

Package maintenance and update policy

EPEL wants to provide a common "look and feel" to the users of our repository. Thus the EPEL SIG wrote this policy that describes the regulations for package maintenance and updates in EPEL, that are a bit more strictly regulated then they are in Fedora now.

Digest

The goal is to have packages in EPEL that enhances the Enterprise Linux distributions the packages were build against without disturbing or replacing packages from that distribution. The packages in the repository should, if possible, be maintained in similar ways to the Enterprise Packages they were built against. In other words: have a mostly stable set of packages that normally to not change at all and only changes if there are good reasons for it -- so no "hey, there is a new version, it builds, let's ship it" mentality.


Policy

EPEL packages should only enhance and never disturb the Enterprise Linux distributions they were build for. Thus packages from EPEL should never replace packages from the target base distribution - including those on the base distribution as well as layered products; kernel-modules further are not allowed, as they can disturb the base kernel easily.

The packages in the repository should, if possible, be maintained in similar ways to the Enterprise Packages they were built against. In other words: have a mostly stable set of packages that normally does not change at all and only changes if there are good reasons for changes. This is the spirit of a stable enterprise environment.

The changes that cant be avoided get routed into different release trees. Only updates that fix important bugs (say: data-corruption, security problems, really annoying bugs) go to a testing branch for a short time period and then are pushed to the stable branch; those people that sign and push the EPEL packages to the public repo will skim over the list of updated packages for the stable repo to make sure that sure the goal "only important updates for the stable branch" is fulfilled.

Other updates get queued up in a testing repository over time. That repository becomes the new stable branch after at LEAST 2 weeks of testing. But even these updates should be limited to fixes only as far as possible and should be tested in Fedora beforehand if possible. Updated Packages that change the ABI or require config file adjustments must be avoided if at all possible. Compat- Packages that provide the old ABI need to be provided in the repo if there is no way around a package update that changes the ABI. Packages in the testing repo that contain dependency issues or where the maintainer doesn't feel they are stable will be held back from the stable push. Note that maintainers will need to request their packages go to stable after 2 weeks or have sufficient karma in their update to do so. No automatic promotions from testing to stable happen any longer.

When a new quarterly update is released, EPEL will wait until the CentOS version of that update is available.

Workflow examples / Information

  • Maintainer builds the package normally using 'make build'
  • The Maintainer submits an update request using bodhi ('make update' or via the web interface).
  • The update MUST spend at least 2 weeks in testing, unless it's a security or critical bug fix.
  • After 2 weeks, bodhi will mail the maintainer to let them know it's been 2 weeks.
  • If the Maintainer requests stable at this point or the update has sufficient karma it will be pushed to stable in the next push.
  • Testing pushes take place nearly daily. Stable pushes happen bi-weekly on Tuesdays.
  • Updates never leave testing for stable unless the maintainer requests it, or there is sufficient karma. (NO auto promotion of updates).

Guidelines and Backgrounds for this policy

Some examples of what package updates that are fine or not

Examples hopefully help to outline how to actually apply above policy in practise.

Minor version updates

Let's assume package foo is shipped in EPEL 5.0 as version 1.0.1; upstream developers now ship 1.0.2

  • build as normal, but wait at least two weeks and possibly more in testing.
A little bit bigger minor version updates

Let's assume package foo is shipped in EPEL 5.0 as version 1.0.1; upstream developers now ship 1.2.0; the ABI is compatible to 1.0.1 and the existing config files continue to work

  • build as normal, but leave in testing until there is sufficient karma to go to stable.
A yet again little bit bigger minor version updates

Let's assume package foo is shipped in EPEL 5.0 as version 1.0.1; upstream developers now ship 1.4.0; the ABI is compatible to 1.0.1, but the config files need manual adjustments

  • build for the stable branch is normally not acceptable; a backport should be strongly considered if there are any serious bugs that must be fixed
  • build for the testing branch is also disliked; but it is acceptable if there is no other easy way out to solve serious bugs; but the update and the config file adjustments need to be announced to the users properly -- use the epel-announce list for this.
  • leave in testing if at all possible.
A major version update

Let's assume package foo is shipped in EPEL 5.0 as version 1.0.1; upstream developers now ship 2.0.0; the ABI changes or the config files need manual adjustments

  • this update should be avoided if possible at all. If there really is no other way out to fix a serious bug then it rare cases it might be acceptable to build the new version for the testing branch and mention the update and the needed adjustments in the release notes for the next update. An additional compat- packages with the old libs is necessary if the ABI changed.
Security Updates

Security updates should be marked as such in bodhi and will be pushed to stable. Because of this you should always try and make as few changes as possible on these sorts of updates. Apply only the backported fix, or if you must, the new version that provides only the fix. Try and avoid pushing other changes with a security update.

Add more examples as they show up

If to many show up put them into a separate document.

Still unsure if a package is fine for EPEL?

Just ask on EPEL developers mailing list or #epel on freenode.org for opinions from EPEL SIG members.

Why not a rolling release with latest packages like what was in Fedora Extras?

Why should we? That would be what Fedora Extras did and worked and works well for it -- but that's mainly because Fedora (Core) has lots of updates and a nearly rolling-release scheme/quick release cycle, too. But the Enterprise Linux we build against is much more careful with updates and has longer life-cycle; thus we should do the same for EPEL, as most users will properly prefer it that way, as they chose a stable distro for some reasons -- if they want the latest packages they might have chosen Fedora.

Sure, there are lots of areas where having a mix of a stable base and a set of quite new packages on top of it is wanted. *Maybe* the EPEL project will provide a solution (in parallel to the carefully updated repository!) for those cases in the long term, but not for the start. There are already third party repositories out there that provide something in this direction, so users might be served by them already.

Further: A rolling release scheme like Fedora Extras did is not possible for many EPEL packages for another reason, new packages often require new versions of certain core libraries. This will cause problems in EPEL because we won't be able to provide updated libs as it would replace libraries in the core OS.

Example: This document was written round about when RHEL5 got released; many packages that get build for RHEL5 can't be build for RHEL4 at this point of time already, as the RHEL4-gtk2-Package is two years old and is too old for many current applications, as they depend on a newer gtk2. So if even if we would try to have a rolling scheme with quite new package we'd fail, as we can't build a bunch of package due to this dependencies on libs; in the end we would have a repo with some quite new packages while others are still quite old. That mix wouldn't make either of the "latest versions" or "careful updates only" sides happy; so we try to target the "careful updates only" sides. Remember, EPEL's support and updates cycle is much longer then Fedora's.

Getting a Fedora package in EPEL

Look here for the procedure used to get a Fedora package in EPEL.

Distribution specific guidelines

The Fedora Packaging Guidelines are written for current Fedora releases. Sometimes there are changes in Fedora that cause the packaging guidelines there to not make sense for the older software being run in RHEL. When that occurs, we document the differences with the Fedora Packaging Guidelines on the EPEL:Packaging page.

Policy for Conflicting Packages

  • EPEL packages must never conflict with packages in RHEL Base (Including Advanced Platform).
  • EPEL packages can conflict with packages in other RHEL channels.
  • EPEL maintainers should be open to communication from RHEL maintainers and try and accommodate them by not shipping specific packages, or by adjusting the package in EPEL to better handle a conflicting package in a channel on a case by case basis.

When a package is added to RHEL that is already in EPEL, we need to block it from being updated in EPEL. Follow these steps to do that:

  • 'dead.package' it in the cvs branch for the EL version where the package has been added
  • retire in pkgdb for the same branch
  • file a ticket with rel-eng to block it.

Conflicts in compat packages

Due to the EPEL policy of maintaining backwards compatibility, EPEL has a greater need for forward compat packages than Fedora. When creating, a compat package, note that it is okay to set a Conflicts between them as noted in the Conflicts Guidelines. At this time, this is only allowed for packages overriding packages in EPEL, not in RHEL Base.