Annual version release for Distro's.

[Slug71]

Just curious to know what you guys think, if and when, Linux Distro's will get to the point where we will have annual version releases instead of 6 monthly one's.
Surely we must get to the point where the Linux kernel will be pretty well developed in terms of Hardware and software support that Distro's can start releasing annual versions and eventually probably even longer with LTS versions only.

[bruce89]

Once GNOME starts using a 12 month cycle (which they won't). GNOME is the thing they are targetting, not the Linux kernel.

If anything GNOME 3.x will use a 9 month cycle.

[LaRoza]

In addition to GNOME, why would they? It isn't like they don't develop until right before a release. Releasing early and often is the best way to make quality software. It doesn't do any good to wait until releasing it as software is a time bomb which needs feedback. The longer you wait, the bigger the BOOM. (Vista)

[bruce89]

It isn't like they don't develop until right before a release.

GNOME has a few freezes - http://live.gnome.org/ReleasePlanning/Freezes

[Slug71]

Thanks for the reply's guys. What about the Distro's that use KDE though or does KDE follow a similar pattern to Gnome?
Also its unlikely that there will be a 3.0 or 3.x.x kernel and LSB 4.0 is around the corner which is suppose to "tidy" things up in Linux so would it still be worth the Dev's time to still have 6 monthly releases just because of Gnome or KDE?