[Openembedded-architecture] layers.openembedded.org - suggestion to remove obsolete layers

[Rich Persaud]

> On Dec 1, 2019, at 16:47, Mark Hatle <mark.hatle at kernel.crashing.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> I've been looking through the layer index (master primarly), and I think we need
> to figure out a policy of when to remove a layer from master indexing.
> 
> So I'd like to suggest the following policy:
> 
> - For released branches, we do not remove layers from the index unless the layer
> URL is no longer valid.  If it is not valid for more then 90 days, we should
> remove it.
> 
> - For master branch, we use a series of tests to determine if the layer is still
> actively maintained and useful to users:
> 
> 1. Is the layer URL valid?  If it has not been valid for more then 90 days,
> it should be removed.
> 
> 2. Does the layer claim to support any of the last three releases: the
> current (or planned release) or prior two releases?
>    i.e. LAYERSERIES_COMPAT does not have thud, warrior or zeus in it.
> 
>    This means the layer has not been updated within the last 18 months, and
> should be removed.

How about 90 days after a release date which crosses the threshold, or 90 days after a 1 week grace period for migration of the site hosting the layer?  That would give the maintainer a consistent 90-day notice for the two conditions which could trigger moving the layer to an "unmaintained" state.  

As Adrian said, unmaintained layers could be later adopted or forked by a new maintainer.  We may also want to archive layers for the historical record, e.g. at the time they are added to the index and/or periodically.

Rich