Re: [dpdk-dev] [PATCH v3] doc: policy on the promotion of experimental APIs

[Tyler Retzlaff <roretzla@linux.microsoft.com>]

On Fri, Jul 09, 2021 at 11:46:54AM +0530, Jerin Jacob wrote:
> > +
> > +Promotion to stable
> > +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > +
> > +Ordinarily APIs marked as ``experimental`` will be promoted to the stable ABI
> > +once a maintainer and/or the original contributor is satisfied that the API is
> > +reasonably mature. In exceptional circumstances, should an API still be
> 
> Is this line with git commit message?
> Why making an exceptional case? why not make it stable after two years
> or remove it.
> My worry is if we make an exception case, it will be difficult to
> enumerate the exception case.

i think the intent here is to indicate that an api/abi doesn't just
automatically become stable after a period of time.  there also has to
be an evaluation by the maintainer / community before making it stable.

so i guess the timer is something that should force that evaluation. as
a part of that evaluation one would imagine there is justification for
keeping the api as experimental for longer and if so a rationale as to
why.