Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

Thanks for reminding us all of the original intent of having extras-testing. Unfortunately, that intent has now been replaced with "to have a repository where developers can upload their work for everyone to use", i.e. the original goal of Extras. This resulted from the non-functional promotion process and passive refusal by maemo.org admins to change it.

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

just wait a while. there has been major leaps after kisstester came out....

I think the problem is lack of tools, not some criteria which all make sense.

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

I will repeat myself once more. "to have a repository where developers can upload their work for everyone to use" is extras-devel. Devs upload, and whoever wants to, uses, no guarantees or strings attached. If it burns your house down, too bad. Extras is "to have a repository where end-users can download reasonably functional/safe software from. It doesn’t mean of course that it is foolprof (even commercial QA isn’t that), but it means at least someone bothered to install it and see what it does.

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

Actually, no. Quoting from http://wiki.maemo.org/Extras-devel :

So, Extras-devel is not for everyone to use. It is only for people who really know what they are doing. As it stands now though, Extras-testing and Extras-devel are being used to just about everyone, because the actual repository destined for that use (Extras) has been rendered useless by obstructive promotion policies (i.e. QA guidelines and the number of required approvers) and mechanisms (i.e. the hideous web site UI).

We can argue about this topic forever, but you only need to relate to the definitions in the Wiki to see what the original purpose of each repository has been. Please, do so.

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

Okay, without making this a terminology debate, let's get a little more factual. First, I know first hand plenty of people not using it so it would be prudent to have at least some numbers before blanket statements to the contrary are made. Second, the super-tester effort is exactly reducing the number of required approvers (based on their previous input). Third, you don't need to use that hideous web site UI, I personally encourage you to use (and contribute to) kisstester.

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

yes and no. yes you can add it easily to your repository list and it works just like any repository. don't get distracted by the warnings, those are there for the people who don't bother to do any research.

just tell me then how you would deal with repos? please keep in mind that in order extras to be enabled by default, the contents has to be tested and controlled.

I know devs don't want to write stuff that makes ones device to freeze but one guy can never test an app such thorougly unless he/she has dozen devices wirh different apps etc installed....

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

After a bit of pondering - this will be very hard to analyse. Comparing direct numbers is not really possible, as the download numbers do not reflect the ratio of users that have extras-devel enabled on a regular basis (e.g. if you install a version that is present in Extras, that will count as extras even if you have extras-devel enabled, but error is possible the othey way, too - just because someone turned extras-devel on for a single package doesn't mean he keeps it turned on constantly).

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

Rather than ponder about it so extensively, why not compare the total numbers of downloads from Extras, Extras-Testing and Extras-Devel? That will give you an overall figure of how popular each repository is.

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

sounds like people are thumbing up things that work for them rather than things that pass all specific testing criteria.


roll on KISSTester!
http://maemo.org/packages/view/kisstester/

Re: [extras-testing QA] giving thumbs up in testing without following QA
 

As I said, unless you're able to link the number of downloads to number of users, it's pointless. As they get updates more often and will try out more packages, people tracking extras-devel are bound to have more downloads 'per person'. As we don't know HOW much more (2:1 ? 10:1 ? 100:1 ?), comparing number of downloads mean little with regard to comparing number of users (which would define 'repository popularity').

But all that is besides the point - as long as there ARE people who require such a safe-zone (and there are, even in this thread), if we can, we should provide them with such thing. If these people are not your target audience, why push software onto them by force ? Note that Harmattan will be even more susceptible to this - my bet would be that the vast majority of users of that device will be completely clueless when it comes to extras-devel type of stuff.