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GCMPACK CVS policies |
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o Introduction |
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This note describes policies that apply to the GCMPACK CVS repository |
<meta name="Author" content="Chris Hill"> |
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<title>MITgcm CVS policy</title> |
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o Why have a policy? |
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<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FF99FF" link="#0000EF" vlink="#51188E" alink="#FF0000"> |
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CVS itself is a liberal free-for-all product that can be used in a variety |
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of ways. It is designed to provide a system for storing arbitrary files |
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in a way that allows the change history of the individual files to be |
<h1> |
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tracked. If CVS is used without any other policy the result can be a |
MITgcm CVS policy</h1></center> |
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collection of files each of which has complex, multiply branched set of |
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interelated versions. This sort of CVS repository can be come like a |
<h2> |
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library where books are simply stored in a huge heap. Although nothing is actually lost, the task of finding a coherent collection of material soon |
Introduction</h2> |
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becomes impossible. |
This note describes policies that apply to the MITGCM CVS repository. |
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<h2> |
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The policies we employ address two areas |
Why have a policy?</h2> |
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1. Maintaining an orderly and easily identifiable, coherent set of |
CVS itself is a liberal free-for-all product that can be used in a variety |
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evolving "products". |
of ways. It is designed to provide a system for storing arbitrary files |
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2. Allowing concurrent, on-going development of products. |
in a way that allows the change history of the individual files to be tracked. |
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If CVS is used without any other policy the result can be a collection |
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o Development trees and checkpoint trees |
of files each of which has complex, multiply branched set of inter-related |
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versions. This sort of CVS repository can be come like a library where |
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A directory within the GCMPACK repository resides under either the |
books are simply stored in a huge heap. Although nothing is actually lost, |
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development branch or the checkpoint branch. Files within each branch |
the task of finding a coherent collection of material soon becomes impossible. |
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follow different policies. |
<p>The policies we employ address tree areas |
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<ol> |
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o Development tree policies |
<li> |
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Maintaining an orderly and easily identifiable, coherent set of evolving |
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Development trees are intended to be flexible areas where arbitrary files |
"products".</li> |
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can be stored with multiple versions, many branches supporting multiple |
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ongoing streams of development. Development trees have no policies in |
<li> |
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place to control complexity. Development trees might be associated with |
Allowing concurrent, on-going development of product components.</li> |
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a particular person, a certain project or a particular special piece of |
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work. These trees are intended to be useful areas for storing current |
<li> |
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work and for archiving partially finished work so that it doesn't get |
Making the integration of achieved developments easy, rapid, organized |
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mislaid and s that some record of the development history can be easily |
and clear.</li> |
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maintained. The only policy that applies to development trees is that |
</ol> |
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this style of tree is not intended to be used for providing a |
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"checkpoint" distribution. Tagged configurations of tools built from this |
<h2> |
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style of tree can be distributed, but because these trees do not have any |
Development trees and checkpoint trees</h2> |
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polcies regarding testing of functionality, platform coverage or |
A directory within the MITGCM repository resides under either the development |
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documentation these trees are not allowed to form the basis of |
branch or the checkpoint branch. Files within each branch follow different |
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"checkpoint" distrbutions or formal model releases. Other policies can |
policies. |
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be defined by individuals users of these trees but there are no further |
<h2> |
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global policies. The GCMPACK repository development/ subdirectory is |
Development tree policies</h2> |
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reserved for holding development trees. Development trees also serve as |
Development trees are intended to be flexible areas where arbitrary files |
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experimental areas for exploring new code management policies. |
can be stored with multiple versions, many branches supporting multiple |
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ongoing streams of development. Development trees have no policies in place |
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o Checkpoint tree policies |
to control complexity. Development trees might be associated with a particular |
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person, a certain project or a particular special piece of work. These |
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Checkpoint trees are intended to provide structured storage areas for |
trees are intended to be useful areas for storing current work and for |
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holding code that is intended for open distribution and is to be readily |
archiving partially finished work so that it doesn't get mislaid and so |
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downloaded. There are policies governing the operation of these trees |
that some record of the development history can be easily maintained. The |
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which are designed to ensure that distributed codes are clearly |
only policy that applies to development trees is that this style of tree |
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identified and meet certain levels of quality. |
is not intended to be used for providing a "checkpoint" distribution. Tagged |
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configurations of tools built from this style of tree can be distributed, |
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1. Check-out |
but because these trees do not have any policies regarding testing of functionality, |
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platform coverage or documentation these trees are not allowed to form |
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Just do it! Two mechanisms are available. cvsanon for read only access |
the basis of "checkpoint" distributions or formal "releases". Other policies |
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and regular cvs co .... for read/write access. |
can be defined by individuals users of these trees but there are no further |
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global policies. The MITGCM repository development_tree/ sub-directory |
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2. Check-in. |
is reserved for holding development trees. Development trees also serve |
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as experimental areas for exploring new code management policies. |
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The code check in procedure for a "checkpoint" tree is as follows |
<h2> |
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2.1 Check out the latest main branch revision. |
Checkpoint tree policies</h2> |
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2.2 Merge your changes into that revision. |
Checkpoint trees are intended to provide structured storage areas for holding |
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2.3 Build and validate new code. |
code that is intended for open distribution and is to be readily downloaded. |
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2.4 Check that there have been no further changes to the |
There are policies governing the operation of these trees which are designed |
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repository. Repeat from 2.1 if repository has changed. |
to ensure that distributed codes are early identified and meet certain |
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2.5 Get clearance from other developers to check in your changes. |
levels of quality. |
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2.6 Check in your changed main branch. |
<ol> |
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2.8 Build and validate the new changes. |
<li> |
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2.9 Tag code as "checkpointNN". Add records to docs/tag-index. |
Check-out</li> |
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2.10 Build and validate test cases (see testing). |
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2.11 Create and install checkpointNN.tar.gz |
<br>Just do it! Two mechanisms are available. cvsanon for read only access |
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and regular cvs co .... for read/write access. |
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3. Testing |
<li> |
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Check-in</li> |
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4. Checkpoint tagging |
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<br>The code check in procedure for a "checkpoint" tree is as follows |
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5. Release tagging |
<ol> |
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<li> |
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6. Branches |
Check out the latest main branch revision.</li> |
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Branches are to be used for bug-fixes and code patches to releases |
<li> |
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only. All other changes e.g. totally new features, bug-fixes to |
Merge your changes into that revision.</li> |
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checkpoints are introduced by moving checkpoint levels forward. The |
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only historical code maintenance that is employed is for fixes and |
<li> |
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patches to formal releases - not checkpoints. |
Build and validate new code.</li> |
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o These policies are causing me a big problem, what can I do? |
<li> |
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Check that there have been no further changes to the repository. Repeat |
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The policies are not enforced by any mechanism other than mutual |
from 2.1 if repository has changed.</li> |
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agreement! If you think the policies are not appropriate then let us know |
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and we can discuss changing them. However, if you simply ignore the |
<li> |
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policies regarding the checkpoint_release trees then your code may be |
Get clearance from other developers to check in your changes.</li> |
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removed and/or your access revoked. |
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o What about bitkeeper |
Check in your changed main branch.</li> |
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We are looking at bitkeeper (www.bitkeeper.com). It looks cool, but |
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policies are still important. Any experience, suggestions let us know. |
Build and validate the new changes.</li> |
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Watch this space! |
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<li> |
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Questions, comments e-mail: gcmpack.code.czars@mitgcm.org |
Tag code as "checkpointNN". Add records to docs/tag-index.</li> |
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Build and validate test cases (see testing).</li> |
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Create and install checkpointNN.tar.gz</li> |
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</ol> |
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Testing</li> |
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<br>Things in a checkpoint tree require a test case that can be used to |
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validate the component. |
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<li> |
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Checkpoint tagging</li> |
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<br>No code should be left in limbo (un-tagged) for extended periods. On |
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the other hand it's unnecessary to create a checkpoint tag for every little |
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change. Checkpoint tags should be made after a particularly significant |
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code modification or otherwise on a regular basis, say bi-weekly. Very |
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often we set a list of goals to be reached by the next checkpoint which |
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sometimes takes more than two weeks to achieve. Obviously, in this case |
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a bi-weekly checkpoint would not be useful. |
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<li> |
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Release tagging</li> |
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<br>Releases are only based on checkpoint tree code. Maintenance fixes |
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to releases are also maintained within the checkpoint tree. Files within |
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a release must have accompanying documentation. The form of this documentation |
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depends on the file type. |
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Branches</li> |
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<br>Branches are a useful tool for making changes prior to checkpoints |
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without breaking other working versions but it must be understood that |
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branches are short-lived and that releases and checkpoints not be made |
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from a branch. Branches are especially useful for adding totally |
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<br>new features. bug-fixes to checkpoints are introduced by moving checkpoint |
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levels forward. The only historical code maintenance that s employed is |
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for fixes and patches to formal releases - not checkpoints.</ol> |
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<h1> |
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Someone checked-in broken code so not my code doesn't work?</h1> |
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You have several options: |
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<li> |
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Politely email everyone at support@mitgcm.org asking what has happened |
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and that it be fixed?</li> |
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Figure out why the new code is broken, fix it, check it in and proudly |
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send a message to support@mitgcm.org to show how constructive you are.</li> |
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Complain that the quality of work is too low and then do nothing to fix |
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the code.<br> |
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<BR></li> |
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<br>We advise you to only use the third option if you are confident that |
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your own contributions to the code are bug-free, well written, documented |
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and fool proof. :)</ol> |
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These policies are causing me a big problem, what can I do?</h2> |
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The policies are not enforced by any mechanism other than mutual agreement! |
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If you think the policies are not appropriate then let us know and we can |
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discuss changing them. However, if you simply ignore the policies regarding |
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the checkpoint_release trees then your code may be removed and/or your |
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access revoked. |
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<h2> |
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What about bitkeeper</h2> |
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We are looking at bitkeeper (www.bitkeeper.com). It looks cool, but policies |
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are still important. Any experience, suggestions let us know. Watch this |
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space! |
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<p>Questions, comments e-mail: code.czars@mitgcm.org |
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<table CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 WIDTH="100%" NOSAVE > |
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<tr NOSAVE> |
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<td><font size=-1>Last modified on $Date$</font></td> |
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<div align=right><font size=-1>CVS: /u/gcmpack/mitgcm.org/../cvspolicy.html,v |
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$Revision$</font></div> |
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