What kinds of changes need a JEP?

[mark.reinhold at oracle.com]

2017/11/8 17:58:57 -0800, david.holmes at oracle.com:
> On 9/11/2017 4:58 AM, Volker Simonis wrote:
>> ...
>> 
>> This would make it clear that a JEP is a more heavy-weight project
>> than a simple enhancement and that we expect a fully working and
>> tested implementation before we consider to integrate it into the
>> "always feature complete" main line. It would also keep people from
>> "cheating" by implementing parts of a JEP incrementally in the main
>> line.
> 
> It is perfectly reasonable for JEP work to identify cleanups and 
> refactorings that aid the JEP work, but which can be putback to the 
> mainline as a standalone change. Without such enabling changes we would 
> greatly increase the difficulty of integrating the JEP work when it is 
> ready. I don't consider this "cheating".

Agreed.  If a preparatory change for a JEP can be justified on its
own, without a separate JEP, then you can merge it before that JEP
is targeted.

- Mark