Modularity/Adding New Modules and Managing Defaults

This proposal describes the processes for:

• adding new modules (and packages that are part of these modules) to Fedora including dist-git repository requests and reviews
• managing default module streams in Fedora

The process

The process has four main steps:

new repositories --> build it --> add it to the release --> set / change the default

Step 1: new repositories

This step includes creating new repositories or branches in dist-git for both RPM packages and modules.

Overview

Packages should be handled the same way as they are now. That means:

• When adding a new package (creating a new dist-git repository), the package goes through the Package Review Process. This is to check the compliance with the Fedora Packaging Guidelines.
• When adding a new branch to an existing package, no formal review is necessary.

Repositories and branches for modules should not require any review. This is because:

• At this point, modules are not included in any release.
• Modules themselves do not provide any content. New content is provided by packages that need to pass a review.

Of course, to request any repositories in the dist-git, one needs to be a Fedora packager.

What to do

Packages: Follow the Package Review Process for Contributors.

Modules: TBD (either filing a ticket somewhere, or using the fedrepo-req tool)

Step 2: build it

Overview

This step is about submitting a module build to the Fedora infrastructure. The resulting binaries will not be included in any release in this step. Anyone who is a Fedora packager should be able to build modules they own. There is no review or approval at this point.

What to do

Use the fedpkg module-build command inside your local copy of the module dist-git repository.

Step 3: add it to the release

Overview

In order to make a module available to the end user, it needs to be released. Technically, this means including the module in a compose.

No review is done at this point, as all the software that is being added already passed the Package Review Process.

What to do

Currently, adding a module is done by submitting a PR to the pagure.io/pungi-fedora repository to include your module in the compose. This is defined in the variants-fedora.xml file. Search for the "<modules>" element.

In the near future, the process will change to be a bit more pleasant experience. New modules will be added as updates through Bodhi.

Step 4: set / change the default

Overview

Setting or changing a default stream or a default installation profile of a module is in most cases similar to changing a major version of a package. An exception to this is setting a default stream of a new module which does not replace any packages in the base. Setting or changing the default stream requires a Fedora Change request when, and is only allowed in between Fedora releases.

What to do

Submit an issue to Fedora Releng in pagure.io/releng. You also need to submit a Fedora Change

To check the current defaults, have a look at the fedora module defaults repository.