[dpdk-dev] Process for removing __rte_experimental

[Thomas Monjalon]

25/05/2018 11:35, Shreyansh Jain:
> While reading through [1], I couldn't understand if __rte_experimental 
> and EXPERIMENTAL tag removed from code and map file, respectively, are 
> categorized under ABI breakage or not. Thus, whether deprecation for 
> them should be sent or not in a release cycle for removal in subsequent 
> release.
> 
> Logically, EXPERIMENTAL APIs are not part of stable APIs/ABIs and hence 
> they don't really break an ABI. Thus, deprecation for them doesn't make 
> sense. (or, as Luca noted on IRC, removing experimental is like 
> de-deprecation :) )

I agree, no need for prior notice, in my opinion.


> On IRC, Luca pointed out that in one of the Tech Board meeting minutes 
> [2], this was recorded but that too has slight ambiguity to it.
> 
> Any thoughts on this? Or, was this documented somewhere other than [1]?
> 
> [1] http://dpdk.org/doc/guides/contributing/versioning.html
> [2] https://dpdk.org/ml/archives/dev/2017-October/079961.html (Section 2-b)
>