long term support release

[Jeff Spaleta]

On Jan 22, 2008 6:16 PM, David Mansfield <fedora at dm.cobite.com> wrote:
> Say the LTS cycle is one release every two years (every fourth Fedora
> release), and that the 'long term' for support only lasts for two years
> (which is pretty short to use the term long for, I realize), then there
> would only be one LTS release, and also the most current release to
> worry about at any given time.
>
> If there is simply not enough teampower to do this, then that's
> understood.


This has come up a lot recently. it seems the LTS acronym has gained
an impressive foothold in the collective psyche.  I think its time I
put things in perspective for people who are requesting that Fedora as
a community project make the investment in this sort of thing.

There seems to be a general lack of understanding that the Ubuntu LTS
exists ONLY because there is a business entity which is attempting to
make money from selling support services around the LTS release. That
entity is called Canonical. Canonical has a direct and compelling
business interest in selling support services for the Ubuntu LTS
release.
That LTS offering is NOT a community volunteer coordinated offering.
This not so subtle fact is very important to consider when making a
request to see a similar offering in the Fedora space.  Especially
considering that Fedora Legacy was charted to feel this very void.
Here's what we learned, demand doesn't match willingness to
contribute.  And thus, business opportunity is born.

Is there room in the Fedora project for an LTS release? I can say with
utmost sincerity that yes there is room. As a board member I would
very much welcome it to expand the depth of Fedora ecosystem.  Making
room for this has never been an issue.  The real issue is who has a
compelling interest in doing the work necessary for it to flourish.

The is a harder question, that none of the requests like yours for a
Fedora LTS have even thought to ask is this: Where is the business
interest that will drive an LTS release in the Fedora ecosystem?   So
far Red Hat isn't the business entity, they charted a course that
doesn't include a Fedora LTS.  That is Red Hat's call and if you have
a problem with that, I'm pretty sure Red Hat has some sort of sales
structure through which you can attempt to convince them to change
their sales offerings by madly waving money in front of them while you
talk about what you'd like to see them sell you in terms of services.

But failing that, If you want an LTS in Fedora space, patterned on the
LTS that Canonical is offering then you need to find a business
interest willing to support it and make it happen.  If you can find an
entity who wants to make a serious effort at building a business on a
Fedora LTS, point me to them and I'll do my best to bring them in to
the Fedora process so they can get a running start on it.  I challenge
you to find that entity.

-jef"branes"spaleta