[Pkg-javascript-devel] libv8 versions and abi

[Jérémy Lal]

Hi,
it's now clearer [1] to me how upstream v8 release their library :
1 - They start a new branch, say 3.10
2 - the first minor versions can break API (3.10.2, 3.10.4, 3.10.6)
3 - at some point they only make patch-level versions, keeping API,
    and very probably ABI compatibility too. (3.10.8.x)
    The only proof i have of that is the analysis done in [1].

I suggest libv8 debian package reflects this by:
* start packaging a new branch only when upstream is at stage 3
* having a soname libv8.so.3.10.8 instead of libv8.so.3.10.8.12

That will have the nice effect of being able to update patch-level
versions without having to recompile reverse dependencies each time.

The risk is letting an ABI incompatibility slip in. It would however
be caught quite early by the reverse dependencies anyway, so it seems
okay unless it happens often...

Any advise on this please ?

Jérémy.

[1]
http://www.upstream-tracker.org/versions/v8.html