466977 - Symbian Incubator Repository Request

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(mozilla.org Graveyard :: Server Operations, task)

Description

[Christian Sejersen]

In Q2 2008 Symbian had 57% of the total smartphone marketshare (Gartner) compared to 12% for Windows Mobile and 7% for Linux. So in order for Mozilla to be relevant in the smartphone space we need to have a presence on the Symbian platform. We have worked with Symbian to understand and scope the size of the project and Symbian are supporting this with engineers to start working on this project so far. At the same time, several Symbian houses are interested in contributing work either for free or at some kind of discounted fee if we should need it. There is a huge developer community for Symbian and the goal is to also get people there involved as soon as possible. So besides having people being involved in this project that don't have commit rights to Mozilla, the actual work will most likely include changes to large parts of the build configuration, so in order to move the project forward as fast as possible, I would recommend we create an incubator repository for it.

Currently 3 module owners have vouched for the repository: Benjamin Smedberg, Ted Mielczarek and Mike Connor.

The high-level plan (that needs to be refined as we move forward) is split into 5 phases:

1) Fennec compiling and linking
	- Planned completion date: end of December
2) Basic/limited browsing possible
	- Planned completion date: end of January
3) Full browsing
	- Planned completion date: end of April
4) Fennec ready for initial testing
	- Planned completion date: TBD
5) Bug fixing and productisation of Fennec
	- Planned completion date: TBD

The plan would be to start moving code into mozilla-central after the first phase and then depending on how many large changes need to be done, start moving the development to mozilla-central.

Comment 1

[Reed Loden [:reed]]

Incubator repositories are for people who don't already have commit access. Are you expecting external contributors to come in and work using this repository?

Comment 2

[Christian Sejersen]

Yes that is the plan. As I mentioned in the description, Symbian is supporting this with engineers plus a few Symbian houses are interested in contributing as well.

Comment 3

[Aravind Gottipati [:aravind]]

Would hg.m.o/incubator/symbian work for you?

Comment 4

[Christian Sejersen]

Sounds good.

Comment 5

[Reed Loden [:reed]]

This hasn't been approved yet, so please hold off on creating it. I'll take it until it has been approved.

Comment 6

[(not currently active) Ted Mielczarek]

I'll vouch (as stated in comment 0).

Comment 7

[Mike Connor [:mconnor]]

I'll vouch as well.

Comment 8

[Christian Sejersen]

What's the next step now?

Comment 9

[Reed Loden [:reed]]

Ok, over to IT for creation of a blank repo at "hg.mozilla.org/incubator/symbian" with hg_mozilla as the controlling group.

Comment 10

[Stuart Parmenter]

a=me for creation...

> 1) Fennec compiling and linking
>    - Planned completion date: end of December

Is this 2009?

Comment 11

[Stuart Parmenter]

(sorry, more questions just to help sort through first real incubator repository questions.  IT please go ahead and create it)

Are the sponsors for this planning on mentoring those working on this repository?  While not directly in the policy document, it was the intent that those who sponsor it be directly involved in the work happening in the repository.

> 1) Fennec compiling and linking
>     - Planned completion date: end of December
> 2) Basic/limited browsing possible
>     - Planned completion date: end of January
> 3) Full browsing
>     - Planned completion date: end of April
> 4) Fennec ready for initial testing
>     - Planned completion date: TBD
> 5) Bug fixing and productisation of Fennec
>     - Planned completion date: TBD

Thinking more about this, it seems like we're running out of time in December with the holidays coming up, and with a substantial amount of work left.  Do you still this this schedule is accurate?  I like having a rough schedule like the one you've proposed but I'm not sure I think it is accurate.

Comment 12

[Christian Sejersen]

I will post a more detailed schedule later this week, but basically the completion dates will need to be pushed 1 month out each.

Comment 13

[(not currently active) Ted Mielczarek]

Stuart: I intend to be be as available as the people working on it would like me to be, as always.

Comment 14

[Stuart Parmenter]

ok, cool, sounds good.

Comment 15

[Aravind Gottipati [:aravind]]

Done.  hg.m.o/incubator/symbian should now be live.

Comment 16

[Christian Sejersen]

Great, thanks

Comment 17

[Christian Sejersen]

Is it possible to get mozilla-central cloned into this repository?

Comment 18

[Benjamin Smedberg]

anyone with access can do that, it's just pull/push