RFC: PHP 5.6 Support Timeline

-----Original Message-----
From: David Zuelke [mailto:dz@heroku.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2015 5:19 PM
To: Zeev Suraski
Cc: PHP internals
Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] RFC: PHP 5.6 Support Timeline

It just occurred to me (too late :D sorry Zeev) that it might make sense
to
split this into two RFCs:

• to define the active support end date for 5.6 (e.g. "2016-08-28" or
  "2016-
  12-02" or "2016-12-31")
• to define the security support end date for 5.6, and specify that
  relative to
  the active support end date only (e.g. "12 months after active support end
  date" or "24 months after active support end date")

That would also allow us to, if the need arises, change the active support
end date sometime next year (for whatever reason; let's hope it is not
necessary!) without having to open up a discussion about the security end
date again ;)

I think we can do it within the framework of a single RFC - simply make it
clearer in the RFC text that the Security Support term begins when the
Active Support term ends. That way if we want to change the Active Support
term in the future (with another RFC), it won't alter the Security Support
term we agree on here, unless that future RFC explicitly deals with changing
the Security Support term as well.

Makes sense?

Zeev

P.S.: I really hope we can come to a final conclusion as a result of this
RFC, and not have to change it in the future. That's another reason why 1+2
years makes sense - it's far enough in the future to give mostly everyone
enough time to migrate on their own terms, and equally important, for us to
be able to say this publicly, as in "People, we're giving you enough time -
there won't be any additional extensions, plan your migration accordingly".

BTW, to be clear, this is really about "PHP 5 Support Timeline"

(so not about a "minor" version timeline, but really about a "major"
version one, the reason why I will +1 option #1)

That’ a very good point also raised by Ferenc in his review. I amended it
further and actually changed the title to 'PHP 5 Support Timeline'.

Zeev

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Ferrara [mailto:ircmaxell@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2015 6:09 PM
To: Zeev Suraski
Cc: PHP internals
Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] RFC: PHP 5.6 Support Timeline

Zeev,

Following the initial discussion, I prepared an RFC that proposes to
extend the support periods for PHP 5.6:

https://wiki.php.net/rfc/php56timeline

Thanks to Ferenc Kovacs and David Zuelke for reviewing it for any
glaring omissions.

Let the discussion continue…

I'd prefer it if the RFC took a stance and made a recommendation to one of
the options.

It does, perhaps not in a strong enough way:
"Further, given the 5.6 -> 7.0 upgrade is more difficult and time
consuming - our recommendation is option #1".

I shuffled things around a bit to make it clearer. Let me know if that
answers your concern.

Overall, I fall into the 1 year maintenance, 2 year security camp.
That would put 5.6 EOL when 7.3 is out (approximately).

Same here!

Zeev

See my suggestion to split it into two separate votes ;)

Following the initial discussion, I prepared an RFC that proposes to extend
the support periods for PHP 5.6:

https://wiki.php.net/rfc/php56timeline

Thanks to Ferenc Kovacs and David Zuelke for reviewing it for any glaring
omissions.

Let the discussion continue…

I think you're making the voting too complicated :-) In the case that I
don't want to extend it, I can only pick "no"... but can I still make a
preference for +1 or +2 years? I don't really know...
Better make it a three way choice, where you just tally up the two
"extend please" votes to be over 50%?

cheers,
Derick

-----Original Message-----
From: Derick Rethans [mailto:derick@php.net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 08, 2015 6:11 PM
To: Zeev Suraski
Cc: PHP internals
Subject: Re: [PHP-DEV] RFC: PHP 5.6 Support Timeline

I think you're making the voting too complicated :-) In the case that I
don't
want to extend it, I can only pick "no"... but can I still make a
preference for
+1 or +2 years? I don't really know...

Technically you could, but you're not supposed to:

Proposed Voting Choices:

1. Extend the lifetime of PHP 5.6 yes/no
2. -->If you chose to extend it<---, extend it to

• year of Active Support + 2 years of Security Support
• year of Active Support + 1 year of Security Support

Better make it a three way choice, where you just tally up the two "extend
please" votes to be over 50%?

That would effectively be the same thing as it is now, if I'm understanding
correctly. I'm fine with either approaches.

Zeev

#3 all the way. Extending support only extends the excuse of poor habits
and encourages those habits.

On Tue, Dec 8, 2015 at 2:13 PM, Scott Arciszewski scott@paragonie.com
wrote:

Following the initial discussion, I prepared an RFC that proposes to
extend
the support periods for PHP 5.6:

https://wiki.php.net/rfc/php56timeline

Thanks to Ferenc Kovacs and David Zuelke for reviewing it for any glaring
omissions.

Let the discussion continue…

Zeev

I still have no idea how to vote, but I'd prefer option 2 the most, option
3 as a backup, and strongly advise against option 1.

Scott Arciszewski
Chief Development Officer
Paragon Initiative Enterprises https://paragonie.com/
​