*** DRAFT DOCUMENT ***


Icebound Linux.

An Arch Linux (or derivative) based PC operating system using a timed (non-rolling) release method matched against the longterm (LTS) Linux kernel releases.
( https://www.kernel.org/category/releases.html )

The 2013 release is to be based on Manjaro Linux, which is derived from and binary compatible with Arch.

i686 and x86_64 architectures supported.

Icebound Linux is intended to be an Arch Linux based installation and repository that will operate consistently day after day, without the reliability risks associated with a rolling release.

Each year, as soon as possible after the Linux kernel developers declare a new LTS kernel, a 'snapshot' (clone) of the parent distribution repositories is taken. This static snapshot of the repositories will become the next Icebound Linux release, but before that it spends a minimum of 2 months as the "cooling" branch, where capable users test upgrading from the previous Icebound release and generally stabilise & bugfix. After this 2 months, that snapshot becomes the "iced" branch, which is the release branch.

The iced branch can receive point release updates for the included LTS kernel series and web browser version updates (minor or major).
All other software does not get updated unless a bug is found, at which time the preferred solution is to use per-issue patches against the source code of the originally included software version and/or modifications to the PKGBUILD/scripts/etc. However, *minor* (bugfix) upstream version updates that address a *present* bug (not just for the sake of it) will be considered if it's, for whatever reason, better or more viable than per-issue patching.

The LTS Linux kernels are usually supported by upstream for approximately 2 years, and thus will receive bug/security fixes for the lifetime of the Icebound release they're included in.

Major upstream version releases that introduce big new features are strictly prohibited and if that is the only place a bugfix is present, the only option is backporting a patch.


NOTE: Unless/until we get a lot more manpower for monitoring and acting upon security bulletins, Icebound is not recommended for internet facing servers.