Online Developer Meeting (2023-10-24)

• Date: Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 @ 18:00 UTC Convert timezones here!
• Location: https://meet.jit.si/octave-dev
• Someone has to join as a "moderator", for example by logging in with Gitlab.com or another OAUTH provider

Today's topics

• Release activities
  • Final release of Octave 8.x before merging default to stable? (23 commits to stable since Octave 8.3.0) Agreed
  • Merge default to stable in early November? Agreed
  • Major bugs? Blockers? None mentioned
• November online event? Nothing new mentioned
• GSoC payment timeline? Same status as a month ago, no change
• What can be done to improve distribution for macOS?
  • references:
    • https://wiki.octave.org/Octave_for_macOS
    • https://github.com/octave-app/octave-app-bundler
  • Need Mac users to test Octave installation process, and use that feedback to improve the Octave wiki page on installing Octave on Mac.

• Future of the bytecode interpreter (https://octave.discourse.group/t/future-of-the-bytecode-interpreter/4940)
  • Make them both converge in future. Keep both lines of development open in parallel for now. Don't merge too quickly. Be prepared for having to port features from one to the other. Make the bytecode interpreter NOT call the tree evaluator at all.

Previous topics

• Releasing Octave 9
  • Merge default to stable in early November. OK with everyone? Yes
  • Any new features to add between now and feature freeze? None named
  • Major bugs to work out in the next month or two? Continue progress
  • Switch to Qt6 by default? (Some pressure starting from rolling release distributions.) Agreed, testing in progress
  • VM discussion in connection with Octave 9: Arun to add documentation on VM to Octave manual and the wiki

• GSoC roundup, things learned.
  • GSoC was successful for both projects this year
  • Select only those applicants who have projects in mind already, they seem more motivated
  • Nicholas J will check with GSoC re payment schedules, to ensure we didn't miss any

• November event
  • Rik will post a callout on Discourse

See also

• Next meeting: Online Developer Meeting (2023-11-28)
• Last meeting: Online Developer Meeting (2023-09-26)