[mythtv-users] Trunk or built

[Robert McNamara]

On Fri, Dec 19, 2008 at 10:48 AM, Paulin <paulin at spextreme.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> I'm looking to get the latest trunk version of Myth (Mainly for the VDPAU
> support).  I'm wondering if anyone already has it compiled and available as
> a .deb package or available in an apt-get repository.  If so that would be
> appriciated since I'm not sure how to build it (haven't looked yet).



Okay, I want to address some things that have been brewing for a while, and
I hope that you don't feel like I am jumping down your throat, it's just an
opportunity to try to get some information out there.

Trunk isn't the released version + new features.  It is a *highly unstable*
development snapshot that can and often is broken in multiple horrible ways
that may end in your cattle dying, crops withering, and your teenage
daughter having morning sickness.  Humor aside, and there is no shame in
your situation, if you do not know how to build trunk, you really *should
not* be running it.  While trunk has VDPAU video output, it is *not* a
supported feature and in general bug reports about it are being closed as
invalid.  The support burden on the users list has gradually grown since the
release of the HD-PVR (and moreso since VDPAU video out has been added) with
people asking how to build trunk, about issues pertaining to trunk, and in
general complaining about things that are obvious to anyone doing their
"homework" when it comes to running trunk.

So, you might ask, who should be running trunk?

Myth developers, people interested in writing patches/adding functionality,
and people who are none of the above but who *can* both write fixes to
address issues they find and require *no additional support*.  People are
constantly asking when .22 will be out, and that date is only extended by
the added burden of answering questions for people who need support for
trunk.  People using trunk *must* follow the -dev and -commits lists closely
(even religiously) to understand the current state of things.  They must be
able to build (and troubleshoot build issues) without help.  They must be
capable of and willing to track down *why* things don't work (and not simply
report that they don't) and submit fixes where possible.  It's really gotten
to be a problem that people who don't meet these requirements are running
trunk.  Because of massive DB changes, switching to trunk is a one-way trip.

I am well aware that I'm throwing myself into the fire with this message,
and that I'm likely to get a variety of irritated responses.  But I also
know that I am not alone when it comes to feeling this way.  We all want to
see .22 come sooner than later, and each support request and clueless bug
report (for a known issue or issue that is not actually an issue were
someone to follow the lists) extends that date further into the future.


> Secondary question is, where can I get the source (Where is the
> repository?) and is there any information available on how to build it.
>

http://svn.mythtv.org/


>
> Thanks
> steve
>


I genuinely hope that this is taken in the way it's intended.  I *know*
everyone is eager to play with new features, we all are, and we're all
hobbyists.  Part of being the same community is trying our best to avoid
being a hindrance.  That's not to say that *you* specifically would be, I
just want to get that information out there so that maybe some people will
be given pause before rushing headlong into trunk.

Robert
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