[7u communication] Schedule and release renumbering update

[Seán Coffey]

Hi,

In line with the updates for JDK 8 [0], here's a proposed update of
plans for the next release of the JDK 7 Updates Project.

Here at Oracle we've been very busy accelerating the development and
release of security fixes and new security features to address issues
with Java in web browsers.

With the recent JDK 7u21 security release [1], we need to examine the
impact on the schedule [2] for the next JDK 7 Updates release.

For past releases developed within this Project, like 7u4, our
approach to schedule them has been to put them a few months apart from
Oracle Java SE Critical Patch Updates [3] in order to minimize the
number of concurrent code lines, and the related synchronization and
administrative efforts.

Looking at the the next scheduled dates for Oracle Java SE Critical
Patch Updates [3], the next opportunity that fits that description is
in August.

Therefore, I would like to open the following proposal for discussion:

   * The next release of this Project will be in August
   * Stabilization forests for that release will not be created this
     month

Meanwhile, please continue to deliver fixes to jdk7u-dev.

In addition, as announced earlier [4], we need to adjust the version
numbers of future releases.

In order to avoid going through the effort of renumbering releases
again at some point in the future, which involves adjustments to bug
database records, Mercurial repositories, and a number of other
administrative tasks, I'd like to open the following proposal for
discussion:

   * The next release of this Project will be called 7u40
   * Starting with the next release, JDK 7 Update release numbers will
     be multiples of 20, in order to leave ample room for other kinds
     of releases should the need arise.

Both proposals are open for discussion for one week until Thursday,
April 25th.

Regards,
Sean.

[0] 
http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/jdk8-dev/2013-April/002336.html[0]
[1] http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html[1]
[2] http://openjdk.java.net/projects/jdk7u/releases/7u14.html[2]
[3] http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/alerts-086861.html[3]
[4] 
http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/jdk7u-dev/2013-February/005725.html[4]