Re: [PLANS] plans: add the "PLANS" directory

[Stefano Lattarini]

On 01/03/2013 12:19 PM, Stefano Lattarini wrote:
> Individual files or sub-directories about future and on-going
> development plans in Automake will be added in follow-up commits.
> 
> This new set of documents is meant to help ensure a more controlled
> and smooth development and evolution for Automake, in several ways.
> 
>  - Having the plans clearly spelled out should will avoid messy
>    roadmaps with no clear way forward or with muddy or ill-defined
>    aims or purposes; a trap this is too easy to fall into.
> 
>  - Keeping planned changes cooking and re-hashed for a while should
>    ensure rough edges are smoothed up, transitions are planned in a
>    proper way (hopefully avoiding debacles like the AM_MKDIR_PROG_P
>    deprecation and the AM_CONFIG_HEADER too-abrupt removal), and
>    "power users" have more chances of getting informed in due time,
>    thus having all the time to prepare for the changes or raise
>    objections against them.
> 
>  - Having the plans clearly stated and registered in a "centralized"
>    location should make it more difficult to them to slip through
>    the cracks, getting forgotten or (worse) only half-implemented.
> 
>  - Even for discussions and plans registered on the Bug Tracker
>    as well, a corresponding entry in the PLANS directory can help
>    in keeping main ideas summarized, and consensus and/or objections
>    registered and easily compared.
> 
> Motivation:
> <http://blog.flameeyes.eu/2013/01/autotools-mythbuster-automake-pains>
> Not a flatting picture for us (and maybe a little too harsh), but
> basically true and even spot-on in some regards.
> 
> * PLANS/README: New.
> * Makefile.am (EXTRA_DIST): Distribute the whole PLANS directory.
> 
> Signed-off-by: Stefano Lattarini <address@hidden>
> ---
> 
>  OK for maint?  I will push by tomorrow if there is no objection.
> 
Pushed now.  I've also pushed follow-up patches adding references
to the new plans that I've recently started on the bug-automake
list.  Fell free to take a look at them and report suggestions or
objections.

Regards,
  Stefano