Live GIS Disc Press Release 75

=Reducing scope of OSGeo-Live for next 11.0 release=

17 April 2017

For our next OSGeo-Live release, 11.0, we propose to reduce the number of packages included, and only support a 64 bit distribution, (32 bit will be built but not tested or officially supported).

Factors leading to this suggestion include:
 * 1) Some projects have dwindling communities and momentum.
 * 2) Increased OSGeo-Live scope has increased our core maintenance and testing.
 * 3) Reduced engagement from projects (partly due to less core time spent reaching out to projects)
 * 4) Missing our first release milestone in 9 years.

From our options of reduce quality, become more efficient, increase volunteer engagement, find a sponsor to support core activities, and reduce scope, reducing scope is our most viable and acceptable option. Other ideas are welcomed.

Questions we will ask in assessing which projects to keep include:
 * 1) Is there an ACTIVE OSGeo-Live liaison person/people for the project? Prior list is copied to "Contact" column at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Q5BaEgQtgw4O1bXyeWMlM8XtAOhUgcjZ7Y2O0FZc2H0/edit?hl=en_GB#gid=2014800150
 * 2) Has the Project Overview and Quickstart been reviewed and are they current and complete?
 * 3) Do OpenHub metrics reflect an active and healthy community: https://live.osgeo.org/en/metrics.html
 * 4) Is the project being updated on OSGeo-Live with each release?

Key Milestones

 * 5-Jun-2017	OSGeo-Live Feature Freeze (final application versions installed)
 * 19-Jun-2017	OSGeo-Live delivered to UAT (final application versions installed - Beta stage)
 * 24-Jul-2017	OSGeo-Live Final ISO
 * 14-Aug-2017 FOSS4G 2017 Boston

[http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Al9zh8DjmU_RdE1SYUN3YWJ2N1NpSUczbW9IRWZNclE&hl=en_GB ... full schedule]

About OSGeo-Live
OSGeo-Live (http://live.osgeo.org) is a Lubuntu based distribution of Geospatial Open Source Software, available via a Live DVD, Virtual Machine and USB. You can use OSGeo-Live to try a wide variety of open source geospatial software without installing anything.