[Springframework-developer] Current release plan

[Trevor C. <pr...@se...>]

I haven't seen this addressed recently, so I'm just curious on the current
status.  The most recent "detailed" info I could find was from Juergen's
email on June 25
(http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/message.php?msg_id=5357667), just before
the 0.9 release.  I have a few questions, partly to figure out if there's
anything I'll be able to help with now (before September :) ) and also to
gauge what to use for a project I'm starting.  Anyway, here's my list of
questions :)

1. What still needs to be done for 0.9.1.  From that list, what is currently
"assigned" to someone and what still needs help?
2. Same as #1 but for the 1.0 release.
3. What is the target time-frame for the 0.9.1 and 1.0 releases (obviously
this is sketchy since it's "volunteer" work, but "gut guesses" - probably
from Juergen :) - based on work left is what I'm hoping for.  The previous
estimate was the 1.0RC1 by now.
4. From Juergen's email which I referenced, it states "As far as I see, we
don't need additional functionality for 1.0".  The main thing holding me
back from adopting the current code base (I'm currently using a
personally-modified version of 0.8) is the amount and frequency of changes
to core functionality and the public api.  Some new features or minor bug
fixes are ok/normal, but these sweeping changes are destructive to
production code.  How close are we to finalizing the public api and the core
code?  Is it likely that these major changes should be done for 0.9.1?

To expand on my fourth question with a recommendation (hopefully it makes
sense to everyone).  If possible we should finalize the public api for
version 0.9.1 rather than at the 1.0RC1.  This will allow usage in new
development without fear of incompatibilities in the next couple months.
Personally this means I can use the current code base for development which
will benefit me with the new features and bug fixes, it would benefit Spring
by additional testing and use, and (on a personal note) it would allow me to
start contributing again sooner (I don't have "spare time" until September,
but I can use some "work time" once I'm using the current Spring version
rather than 0.8).  I believe I'm not alone in this, so hopefully a "mostly
finalized" core will attract a bunch of new developers (either users or
contributors) as well.  Obviously this finalization would allow changes
where required due to major gaffes and bugs (which I don't expect there will
be too many of, but there's always some :) ).

Trevor D. Cook