[Zope-dev] Re: Proposal: Rename zope package

[Jim Fulton]

Philipp von Weitershausen wrote:
> Jim Fulton wrote:
> 
>> Philipp von Weitershausen wrote:
>>
>>> Why would they switch to Zope 2.8 if not for the component architecture? 
>>
>>
>> To stay current? To get MVCC? To get new-style extension classes, and
>> thus access to many modern Python features. Later releases will provide
>> benefits beyond just the Z3 features.
> 
> 
> But, if they are willing to investigate into new features, new-style 
> extensions classes and all that, a small package rename from Zope to 
> Zope2 should be just as manageable.

My point was that Zope 2 will make advances independent of Zope 3.
Zope 3 technology isn't the only reason for people to upgrade.

Also, sometimes, people *need* to upgrade to retain support. That may
be the only reason to upgrade for some folks.  (Perhaps we, the community,
need to provide better management of old releases, but that's a different topic.)

We need better ways to manage change. Up to now, Zope 3 has established
a culture of embracing change and damning backward compatibility. That was
exactly the right culture for Zope 3.  When Zope X3.0 enters beta, however,
we'll need to shift to embrace change *and* backward compatibility through an
orderly change process.  We will need to figure out what that process is.

Up to now, Zope 2 hasn't managed change very well. Historically, Zope 2
has put expediency and backward compatibility before cleanliness and elegance.
I'm a major offender here.  We will often pile hacks on top of hacks to
retain backward compatibility.  This was driven to an extensive degree
by practical realities, but it was also a result of a lack of appreciation
of the benefits of architectural restructuring and the lack of a change process.
We didn't so much evolve as accumulate.  We must learn to evolve.

I'm optimistic that, as Zope 3 stabilizes and begins to merge with Zope 2, we
will establish a new healthier culture of change and compatibility.

Jim


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