RE: [sdd] Requirement 2.1.5.2

["Patton, John H" <John.Patton@ca.com>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Josh Allen [mailto:jallen@macrovision.com] 
> Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 4:43 PM
> To: sdd@lists.oasis-open.org
> Subject: [sdd] Requirement 2.1.5.2
> 
> I had an action item to send a rewording of requirement 
> 2.1.5.2 which relates to superseded & obsoleted fixes.
> 
> The text currently reads: "The SDD specification must support 
> the ability for the author to define information about the 
> fixes superseded or obsoleted by the deployment of a fix or fixes."
> 
> First, I agree with the definitions that Debra sent in her 
> recent document of superseded (replaced by approximate 
> functionality) and obsoleted (no longer necessary at all).  I 
> wonder if we need both concepts for fixes.  It seems that 
> they may have the same semantics:
> "this fix has what you need."  I'd recommend that we only 
> have the concept of superseded fixes.  I think obsoletion is 
> a great concept to apply to other things than fixes (like 
> package content).
> 
> Second, my issue with this requirement was that I felt it was 
> too restrictive.  By saying "...by the deployment of a fix or 
> fixes," we imply that past fixes can only be 
> superseded/obsoleted by other fixes (as opposed to new 
> versions).  I don't think we want that.
> 
> I would recommend that the phrase read:
> "The SDD specification must support the ability for the 
> author to define information about the fixes superseded or 
> obsoleted by the deployment of
> fix(es) or updated versions."
> 
> Would love to know the thoughts of the group.
> 
> Thanks,
> Josh
> 

I like the rephrasing that you suggest.  The only question that I have
is with the word "Fix".  Should we use this word, or should be use
"patch" or "update" or "upgrade"?  They all seem to have different
meanings, and I think those meanings need to be defined.  We could all
agree that "fix" means any of "patch" "update" or "upgrade" and I'd be
happy with that.

Nice work on this!

Cheers,

/john patton/