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Mozilla Tries New "Lorentz" Dev Model

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the does-it-provide-synergistic-roi dept.

With the recent release of Firefox 3.6, Mozilla has also decided to try out a new development model dubbed "Lorentz." A blend of both Agile and more traditional "waterfall" development models, the new methodology aims to deliver new features much more quickly while still maintaining backwards compatibility, security, and overall quality. Only time will tell if this is effective, or just another management fad. "If the new approach sounds familiar, that's because Unix and Linux development has attempted similar kinds of release variations for iterating new features while maintaining backwards compatibility. HP-UX, for example, is currently on its HP-UX 11iv3 release, which receives updates several times a year that add incremental new functionality. The Linux 2.6.x kernel gets new releases approximately every three months, which include new features as well."

11 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Chaotic releases? by Vornzog · · Score: 3, Funny

    Is this chaotic release schedule supposed to be more attractive?

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    -V-

    Who can decide a priori? Nobody.
    -Sartre

    1. Re:Chaotic releases? by TheLink · · Score: 4, Funny

      Was that a butterfly wooshing by? ;)

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    2. Re:Chaotic releases? by Eudial · · Score: 3, Funny

      Again, I request a "+1 Badum-tish"

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      GAAH! MY PRINTER IS ON FIRE!!! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!
    3. Re:Chaotic releases? by morgan_greywolf · · Score: 2, Funny

      Releasing when a feature is ready sounds both chaotic and reasonable. Chaotic is not neccessarily bad.

      Three words: Duke Nukem Forever.

      *ducking*

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      My blog
    4. Re:Chaotic releases? by oGMo · · Score: 4, Funny

      So what you're saying is that this model is chaotic good instead of chaotic evil ...

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      Don't think of it as a flame---it's more like an argument that does 3d6 fire damage

  2. Pointless, unles... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Can I use the theory of special relativity to get out of missed deadlines? Sure, we are way behind in this frame of reference. But as viewed from a different frame of reference traveling near the speed of light relative to us we shipped yesterday!

  3. And they are moving their servers to Amman by BancBoy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Management has dubbed the new scheme - Lorentz of Arabia!

    Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all week! Try the lamb!

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    [UID-HeinzIntel]
  4. Scheduling by jpmorgan · · Score: 5, Funny

    Plus, with the "Lorentz" transformation, time dilation makes it a lot easier to hit release dates. But there has been some concern over the developers' sudden weight gain.

  5. We use the "Homer" Methodology... by bodland · · Score: 2, Funny

    All deployments end with "Doh!" and are fixed and redeployed.

  6. Re:Oh god, the still use Waterfall? by Angst+Badger · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh, pfft. The thing that killed Duke Nukem Forever was the decision to implement it in Perl 6.

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    Proud member of the Weirdo-American community.
  7. the universe is predjudiced! by Thud457 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Obviously, DNF, if completed, would have had some sort of feature that generated Higgs bosons.

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    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff