[Python-Dev] Looking for VCS usage scenarios (original) (raw)

Cosmin Stejerean cstejerean at gmail.com
Wed Nov 5 21:00:25 CET 2008

On Nov 5, 2008, at 12:16 PM, skip at pobox.com wrote:

I apologize that I haven't read whatever Brett's written so far, but I just haven't had time, and don't know if there's a PEP yet (and if so, what its number is). I did want to get my questions/confusion on the record though. What DVCS fits my poor brain best? I feel I'm like a dinosaur not being able to figure out how I'm supposed to contribute changes to the system. Do I: * commit my changes to some central branch?

Not exactly. If you had commit access to the central repository you
could commit then push, which would be the DVCS equivalent of
committing to a central branch.

* commit my changes locally then create diffs I then submit to the tracker?

Possible.

* commit locally then push them somewhere?

If you have commit access this would be the way to get your changes in.

* commit locally then ask someone to pull?

Often preferred way to submit patches, as you can continue to maintain
the patch locally against newer versions of trunk so that the patch is
not obsolete by the time people finally get around to it.

* Not commit anything anywhere but just submit patches to the tracker?

Likely possible, but it's good to have the patch committed locally so
you can modify it or continue to build upon it until it gets accepted.

In addition:

* Will there be a central repository?

Generally there should be a central authoritative repository where
people can turn to for the official version.

* How will I know which of possibly many repos is "authoritative"?

The authoritative repo should generally be linked to from the website
so that people can easily find it.

* How will I discover other repos? For example, if the safethread stuff is sitting somewhere in a repository can I find it on my own somehow?

I'm not aware of any decentralized system for discovering
repositories. Something like github or bitbucket could be used which
help you discover repositories, but a wiki page with a list of
alternative repositories and their purpose should suffice.

* Will a DVCS allow simpler operation as if we are still using a centralized system like CVS or Subversion?

I think commit locally then push (if you have commit access) or email
a patch (or upload to tracker, etc) can work almost exactly as the
subversion workflow (the only differences being possible slight
variations on the command line interface). DVCS should enable more
interesting workflows (like working against multiple remote
repositories), but it shouldn't prevent the simple uses cases that
people are used to from a centralized VCS.

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