Latest OFBiz board report to the ASF about the health of the project

[Pierre Smits]

Hi All,

On September 9th our PMC chair published the latest report on the health of
the project. Interested in what it looks like?
Here you can find the document:
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBADMIN/ASF+Board+Report+2014-09

Best regards,

Pierre Smits

*ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
Services & Solutions for Cloud-
Based Manufacturing, Professional
Services and Retail & Trade
http://www.orrtiz.com

[Pierre Smits]

But how healthy is our project?

The report doesn't show mutations in user and dev mailing lists (joins and
leaves). For all we can tell, it could be the same few commenting and
contributing over and over?

Other Apache projects seem to be able to supply insights in this, see e.g.
the CouchDb board report:
https://blogs.apache.org/couchdb/entry/board_report_may_2014

The present mailing list stats each quarter.

Should your project do the same? What do you think?

Best regards,


Pierre Smits

*ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
Services & Solutions for Cloud-
Based Manufacturing, Professional
Services and Retail & Trade
http://www.orrtiz.com

On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 10:15 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> On September 9th our PMC chair published the latest report on the health
> of the project. Interested in what it looks like?
> Here you can find the document:
> https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBADMIN/ASF+Board+Report+2014-09
>
> Best regards,
>
> Pierre Smits
>
> *ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
> Services & Solutions for Cloud-
> Based Manufacturing, Professional
> Services and Retail & Trade
> http://www.orrtiz.com
>

[Pierre Smits]

On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 11:43 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> But how healthy is our project?
>
> The report doesn't show mutations in user and dev mailing lists (joins and
> leaves). For all we can tell, it could be the same few commenting and
> contributing over and over?
>
> Other Apache projects seem to be able to supply insights in this, see e.g.
> the CouchDb board report:
> https://blogs.apache.org/couchdb/entry/board_report_may_2014
>
> The present mailing list stats each quarter.
>
> Should your project do the same? What do you think?
>
> You may read 'our project' or 'this project' as well.

> Best regards,
>
>
> Pierre Smits
>
> *ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
> Services & Solutions for Cloud-
> Based Manufacturing, Professional
> Services and Retail & Trade
> http://www.orrtiz.com
>

[Tom Running]

I am new to the list. Have a few questions to ensure I am start out on the
right path.

*1. What is the different between base release 12.xx & 13.07 ?*
*2. Does the release 13 has more integrated components and features?*
*3. When will the base release for version 13.xx available and where? *
 *What is the best practice for keeping my custom\modified codes from over
written when receive new update from OFBiz? I would like to continue
receiving new release\update but at the same time do not want it effecting
the current environment. I am too new to OFBiz's framework, components to
know what and how it going to be update when try the SVN method. Any
recommendation will be great. *
 *Thank you.  Tom*

On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 5:59 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 11:43 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
> > But how healthy is our project?
> >
> > The report doesn't show mutations in user and dev mailing lists (joins
> and
> > leaves). For all we can tell, it could be the same few commenting and
> > contributing over and over?
> >
> > Other Apache projects seem to be able to supply insights in this, see
> e.g.
> > the CouchDb board report:
> > https://blogs.apache.org/couchdb/entry/board_report_may_2014
> >
> > The present mailing list stats each quarter.
> >
> > Should your project do the same? What do you think?
> >
> > You may read 'our project' or 'this project' as well.
>
>
> > Best regards,
> >
> >
> > Pierre Smits
> >
> > *ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
> > Services & Solutions for Cloud-
> > Based Manufacturing, Professional
> > Services and Retail & Trade
> > http://www.orrtiz.com
> >
>

[Anil Patel-3]

This document can be of your help,
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBIZ/Addressing+Custom+Requirements+In+OFBiz

Regards
Anil Patel

On Sep 12, 2014, at 10:27 AM, Tom Running <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I am new to the list. Have a few questions to ensure I am start out on the
> right path.
>
> *1. What is the different between base release 12.xx & 13.07 ?*
> *2. Does the release 13 has more integrated components and features?*
> *3. When will the base release for version 13.xx available and where? *
> *What is the best practice for keeping my custom\modified codes from over
> written when receive new update from OFBiz? I would like to continue
> receiving new release\update but at the same time do not want it effecting
> the current environment. I am too new to OFBiz's framework, components to
> know what and how it going to be update when try the SVN method. Any
> recommendation will be great. *
> *Thank you.  Tom*
>
> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 5:59 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 11:43 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> But how healthy is our project?
>>>
>>> The report doesn't show mutations in user and dev mailing lists (joins
>> and
>>> leaves). For all we can tell, it could be the same few commenting and
>>> contributing over and over?
>>>
>>> Other Apache projects seem to be able to supply insights in this, see
>> e.g.
>>> the CouchDb board report:
>>> https://blogs.apache.org/couchdb/entry/board_report_may_2014
>>>
>>> The present mailing list stats each quarter.
>>>
>>> Should your project do the same? What do you think?
>>>
>>> You may read 'our project' or 'this project' as well.
>>
>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>>
>>> Pierre Smits
>>>
>>> *ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
>>> Services & Solutions for Cloud-
>>> Based Manufacturing, Professional
>>> Services and Retail & Trade
>>> http://www.orrtiz.com
>>>
>>

[Jacques Le Roux]

Le 12/09/2014 16:27, Tom Running a écrit :
> I am new to the list. Have a few questions to ensure I am start out on the
> right path.
>
> *1. What is the different between base release 12.xx & 13.07 ?*
https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/OFBIZ/?selectedTab=com.atlassian.jira.jira-projects-plugin:changelog-panel
> *2. Does the release 13 has more integrated components and features?*
Yes for features in applications and framework, not for specialpurpose where all components have been removed but ecommerce
The removed specialpurpose components are still maintained and available in trunk
> *3. When will the base release for version 13.xx available and where? *
Before end of year
>   *What is the best practice for keeping my custom\modified codes from over
> written when receive new update from OFBiz? I would like to continue
> receiving new release\update but at the same time do not want it effecting
> the current environment. I am too new to OFBiz's framework, components to
> know what and how it going to be update when try the SVN method. Any
> recommendation will be great. *
https://cwiki.apache.org/confluence/display/OFBIZ/Addressing+Custom+Requirements+In+OFBiz

Jacques

>   *Thank you.  Tom*
>
> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 5:59 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 11:43 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> But how healthy is our project?
>>>
>>> The report doesn't show mutations in user and dev mailing lists (joins
>> and
>>> leaves). For all we can tell, it could be the same few commenting and
>>> contributing over and over?
>>>
>>> Other Apache projects seem to be able to supply insights in this, see
>> e.g.
>>> the CouchDb board report:
>>> https://blogs.apache.org/couchdb/entry/board_report_may_2014
>>>
>>> The present mailing list stats each quarter.
>>>
>>> Should your project do the same? What do you think?
>>>
>>> You may read 'our project' or 'this project' as well.
>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>>
>>> Pierre Smits
>>>
>>> *ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
>>> Services & Solutions for Cloud-
>>> Based Manufacturing, Professional
>>> Services and Retail & Trade
>>> http://www.orrtiz.com
>>>

[Jacopo Cappellato-3]

Welcome Tom!

Please see my questions inline:

On Sep 12, 2014, at 4:27 PM, Tom Running <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I am new to the list. Have a few questions to ensure I am start out on the
> right path.
>
> *1. What is the different between base release 12.xx & 13.07 ?*

All releases starting with 12.04.* are all based on the same branch, that was feature freezed in April, 2012.
The branch 13.07 has been created in July, 2013. No releases have been created yet.

> *2. Does the release 13 has more integrated components and features?*

The branch 13.07 is newer (because it was cut more than an year after 12.04) but it has *less* components than 12.04.
In particular all the experimental or special purpose components in the "specialpurpose/" folder are not included in the branch.
There is one exception, the specialpurpose/ecommerce component is still included in the release.
If you have to choose between 12.04.* or 13.07.* I would recommend 13.07 (especially if you do not need the specialpurpose components, that, by the way, can be rather easily checked out separately); but you will have to wait for the first release if you want an *official* release.


> *3. When will the base release for version 13.xx available and where? *

The first release for 13.07 will be released soon, in a few weeks probably, and for sure before the end of the year.

> *What is the best practice for keeping my custom\modified codes from over
> written when receive new update from OFBiz? I would like to continue
> receiving new release\update but at the same time do not want it effecting
> the current environment. I am too new to OFBiz's framework, components to
> know what and how it going to be update when try the SVN method. Any
> recommendation will be great. *

Rather than using an official release, several users follow this strategy:
1) select a branch they like: 12.04 (but I don't see many good reasons to select this at this point) or 13.07 or the upcoming new branch (no name at the moment) that will be very close to the trunk, or the trunk itself (but keep in mind that the current development happens in the trunk)
2) then they check out using svn
3) then the implement all the customizations in a custom component under "hot-deploy"; in this way the custom code will be physically separate from the OFBiz code
4) every now and then the OFBiz code is updated (svn up); if you are using a release branch like 13.07 this would be equivalent of getting hot-fixes because we usually only backport bug fixes to release branches
5) the jump from a release branch to the next would, on the other hand, be more difficult and require more planning; to avoid this there are users that use the trunk, with the added advantage that they also get new features (not just bug fixes) but the cons is that after every upgrade there may be more things that can go wrong.

I hope you'll find this information useful.

Jacopo

> *Thank you.  Tom*
>
> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 5:59 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 11:43 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> But how healthy is our project?
>>>
>>> The report doesn't show mutations in user and dev mailing lists (joins
>> and
>>> leaves). For all we can tell, it could be the same few commenting and
>>> contributing over and over?
>>>
>>> Other Apache projects seem to be able to supply insights in this, see
>> e.g.
>>> the CouchDb board report:
>>> https://blogs.apache.org/couchdb/entry/board_report_may_2014
>>>
>>> The present mailing list stats each quarter.
>>>
>>> Should your project do the same? What do you think?
>>>
>>> You may read 'our project' or 'this project' as well.
>>
>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>>
>>> Pierre Smits
>>>
>>> *ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
>>> Services & Solutions for Cloud-
>>> Based Manufacturing, Professional
>>> Services and Retail & Trade
>>> http://www.orrtiz.com
>>>
>>

[Tom Running]

Jacopo , Jacques and Anil,


*Thank you very much for a great and very helpful information.*

*Tom*

On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 11:08 AM, Jacopo Cappellato <
[hidden email]> wrote:

> Welcome Tom!
>
> Please see my questions inline:
>
> On Sep 12, 2014, at 4:27 PM, Tom Running <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > I am new to the list. Have a few questions to ensure I am start out on
> the
> > right path.
> >
> > *1. What is the different between base release 12.xx & 13.07 ?*
>
> All releases starting with 12.04.* are all based on the same branch, that
> was feature freezed in April, 2012.
> The branch 13.07 has been created in July, 2013. No releases have been
> created yet.
>
> > *2. Does the release 13 has more integrated components and features?*
>
> The branch 13.07 is newer (because it was cut more than an year after
> 12.04) but it has *less* components than 12.04.
> In particular all the experimental or special purpose components in the
> "specialpurpose/" folder are not included in the branch.
> There is one exception, the specialpurpose/ecommerce component is still
> included in the release.
> If you have to choose between 12.04.* or 13.07.* I would recommend 13.07
> (especially if you do not need the specialpurpose components, that, by the
> way, can be rather easily checked out separately); but you will have to
> wait for the first release if you want an *official* release.
>
>
> > *3. When will the base release for version 13.xx available and where? *
>
> The first release for 13.07 will be released soon, in a few weeks
> probably, and for sure before the end of the year.
>
> > *What is the best practice for keeping my custom\modified codes from over
> > written when receive new update from OFBiz? I would like to continue
> > receiving new release\update but at the same time do not want it
> effecting
> > the current environment. I am too new to OFBiz's framework, components to
> > know what and how it going to be update when try the SVN method. Any
> > recommendation will be great. *
>
> Rather than using an official release, several users follow this strategy:
> 1) select a branch they like: 12.04 (but I don't see many good reasons to
> select this at this point) or 13.07 or the upcoming new branch (no name at
> the moment) that will be very close to the trunk, or the trunk itself (but
> keep in mind that the current development happens in the trunk)
> 2) then they check out using svn
> 3) then the implement all the customizations in a custom component under
> "hot-deploy"; in this way the custom code will be physically separate from
> the OFBiz code
> 4) every now and then the OFBiz code is updated (svn up); if you are using
> a release branch like 13.07 this would be equivalent of getting hot-fixes
> because we usually only backport bug fixes to release branches
> 5) the jump from a release branch to the next would, on the other hand, be
> more difficult and require more planning; to avoid this there are users
> that use the trunk, with the added advantage that they also get new
> features (not just bug fixes) but the cons is that after every upgrade
> there may be more things that can go wrong.
>
> I hope you'll find this information useful.
>
> Jacopo
>
>
> > *Thank you.  Tom*
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 5:59 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> On Fri, Sep 12, 2014 at 11:43 AM, Pierre Smits <[hidden email]>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >>> But how healthy is our project?
> >>>
> >>> The report doesn't show mutations in user and dev mailing lists (joins
> >> and
> >>> leaves). For all we can tell, it could be the same few commenting and
> >>> contributing over and over?
> >>>
> >>> Other Apache projects seem to be able to supply insights in this, see
> >> e.g.
> >>> the CouchDb board report:
> >>> https://blogs.apache.org/couchdb/entry/board_report_may_2014
> >>>
> >>> The present mailing list stats each quarter.
> >>>
> >>> Should your project do the same? What do you think?
> >>>
> >>> You may read 'our project' or 'this project' as well.
> >>
> >>
> >>> Best regards,
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Pierre Smits
> >>>
> >>> *ORRTIZ.COM <http://www.orrtiz.com>*
> >>> Services & Solutions for Cloud-
> >>> Based Manufacturing, Professional
> >>> Services and Retail & Trade
> >>> http://www.orrtiz.com
> >>>
> >>
>
>