Mark A. Hershberger wrote:
MZMcBride z@mzmcbride.com writes:
Even if we could say that most users downloading from SVN are interested in development, I don't see how that extends to saying that test suites are required for development. You've lost me.
If a developer breaks a test, ze[1] should fix it. As the tests cover more and more of the code, the tests should be considered more integral to development since they provide a nice sanity check on any changes a developer is likely to make.
I think the idea that only people intending to do development work on MediaWiki download from SVN is a bit insane. And as you note, these tests are only going to grow in size over time.
The maintenance directory has maintenance tools in it. I don't think test suites fall within the category of "maintenance." Like large artwork files, these seem to be "development" tools that shouldn't be downloaded with every phase3 checkout.
[...]
That is, the tests directory is only 1/4 of the size of the entire maintenance directory. The includes directory is almost 15 times larger than the tests directory and, yes, languages tops them all.
You seem to be making an argument that other parts of phase3 need examination and possible trimming. I agree.
Since we have some developers actively working on the test suite, it appears that you are more annoyed with the noise during ³svn up² rather than any actual ³bloat².
I wouldn't say it's noise. But checkouts take longer and there are more files to deal with in the directory. When I see them filling up space on my servers (admittedly not a lot of space), I think it's reasonable to ask why everyone is downloading these tests when relatively so few people will ever run them or need them.
I've come to accept that downloading from SVN is just going to include these tests. As I wrote on the bug[1] earlier today, there seems to be consensus to keep the tests directory in phase3, though perhaps move it a directory up.
The larger question now is whether to include the tests in the released tarbells.
MZMcBride