Re: When is PostgreSQL 8.3 slated for release?

Keaton Adams wrote:
> I am being asked by management when PostgreSQL 8.3 will become generally
> available. Is there an updated timeline for 8.3?
>

You know the answer is supposed to be "when it's ready" but we all know
Management doesn't like that kind of an answer.

Of course, you could just pull the same thing a proprietary software company
does. Make up a date based on some WAG and then excuse the delays for years
afterwards by citing all the really great features that are going to be included
and how wonderful it's going to be when it's finally released.

Here's my WAG:

Release 8.0 Release date: 2005-01-19
Release 8.1 Release date: 2005-11-08
Release 8.2 Release date: 2006-12-05

I wouldn't expect anything earlier than say...
2008-01-12

I am purely guessing here and I haven't sat down and read through all the change
notes to see what really happened with PostgreSQL but based on other projects....

x.0 to x.1 is a lot of relatively easy things to address from a major point release.
As time progresses -- the time between these sub point releases (x.1->x.2->...)
will increase slightly as the level of effort to identify and resolve any issues
increases based on a "low hanging fruit" and "severity" approach.
There may be a significant reduction in point releases at the end of the cycle
as there is a lot of "cleanup" activity before the next major release. So the
x.9 to x.10 time might be reduced before you get to 9.0.0

So I would expect the next release (8.3) to not be any sooner then January 2008
at best. Anything before that could be considered a gift and anything beyond
that shouldnt' be considered "bad".

If management is the type who prefers to wait until the ".1" release, then it's
going to be a bit longer. Me? I tend to be a ".1" guy much of the time.

And this is just a guess.