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Refresh the existing Snapd special case documentation#542

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ernestl wants to merge 5 commits intoubuntu:mainfrom
ernestl:ernestl/update-snapd-exceptions--modifications
Open

Refresh the existing Snapd special case documentation#542
ernestl wants to merge 5 commits intoubuntu:mainfrom
ernestl:ernestl/update-snapd-exceptions--modifications

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@ernestl
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@ernestl ernestl commented Apr 14, 2026

Description

BACKGROUND:

Snapd team was asked to refresh the existing Snapd special case documentation (last updated 2016-05-12).

We have now completed the refresh, and completed snapd internal reviews as well as reviews by select members of the Ubuntu Development Team and SRU team.

As documented, the Technical Board delegated approval of Snapd SRU Special Case Documentation to the SRU team.
See: https://documentation.ubuntu.com/sru/en/latest/reference/package-specific/#snapd

However, we have been advised that it would be best again run it past the Technical Board for approval to be sure everyone remains up to date with the exceptions and its implications which is discussed in more detail in the updated document.

REQUEST:

We have been advised to open a documentation PR, as a good way to present the replacement document to all reviewers and the Technical Board.

Initial work was done in launchpad:

This rendering of V2 shows the conceptual changes relative to V1 highlighted: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fPx1niZlmx4PtgCLgIzb7HidL8PacXv5/view?usp=drive_link

Snapd Jira: https://warthogs.atlassian.net/browse/SNAPDENG-36648

Needs internal approval from:

  • ahasenack
  • enr0n
  • pedronis
  • mwhudson

Requires external approval from:

  • robie (first)
  • other TB members

Issue

#543


Checklist

  • I have read and followed the Ubuntu Project contributing guide
  • My pull request is linked to an existing issue (if applicable)
  • I have tested my changes, and they work as expected

Additional notes (optional)

Add any extra information or context that reviewers may need to know. This could include testing instructions, screenshots, or links to related discussions.


Thank you for contributing to the Ubuntu Project documentation!

@ernestl ernestl requested review from rkratky and s-makin as code owners April 14, 2026 08:27
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The path is docs/SRU/reference/exception-Snapd-Updates.rst, and not docs/reference/exception-Snapd-Updates.rst. Maybe that's why there are conflicts, could you please rebase/pull/refetch?

@s-makin s-makin added the TB For the attention of the Technical Board label Apr 16, 2026
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I left an initial, incomplete review.

I have a couple of general impressions that apply to the whole document, and may not be explicitly called out already:

  1. There is a lot of additional information that is outside the scope of SRU. E.g. about development releases, point releases, sponsorship, etc. I am not sure this belongs. The larger this document is, the harder it is to review and agree on exactly what exceptions have been granted.
  2. Certain information seems duplicated or redundant in places. E.g. the point about a single SRU bug. It would be helpful to try and consolidate information and not repeat things.

All SnapD releases, regardless of the exact category, are required to comply
with the same thorough QA process.

Deviations requiring sign-off
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When you say "requiring sign-off" here, do you mean "needs an approved SRU exception" (i.e. this document)?

- Flexibility during the development cycle (LTS or otherwise) to release major
or minor releases between feature freeze and BETA freeze. In general SnapD
releases may land in stable Ubuntu releases at any time which makes strictly
adhering to the feature freeze counterproductive.
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The development cycle is out of scope for SRU. I don't think this should be mentioned in this document. It might give the impression that this document is granting a standing freeze exception, which the SRU team does not have authority over.

Comment on lines +208 to +210
- Flexibility with `LTS point releases
<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PointReleaseProcess>`_ to release up to the release
date minus 14 days.
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Ditto here. Point releases are out of scope of the SRU team, and are handled by the release team.

Comment on lines +211 to +212
- The SRU will be done with a single process bug, instead of individual bug
reports for individual bug fixes.
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As a point of clarity - any bug that you include the changelog for the upload is expected to have an SRU template, and is expected to be verified in the normal process.

Having a single bug for snapd SRUs seems reasonable though. I just want to point this out because it was a source of confusion on the recent SRU.

I am not sure the document needs to be changed to reflect this point, but maybe it would be helpful to say "The SRU may be done with a single process bug. Any additional bugs referenced in the changelog are expected to follow standard SRU procedure" or something. Up to you.

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Hm, maybe this is already explained below. But then it makes me wonder if there is some redundancy throughout this document related to process.

Comment on lines +213 to +218
- Sponsors must review the SnapD source package and resulting deb packages in the
SnapD Team owned *ppa:snappy-dev/image* and sponsors upload to *-unapproved*
queue from where the SRU team takes over, including further reviews.
- Sponsors, the Ubuntu Release Team, and the SRU Team are not required to review
all source changes, only those related to packaging and systemd/service
integration. These changes must be clearly identified in the SRU bug.
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Similar to above. Since this document is about SRUs, we should keep the scope limited to SRU.


.. _ref_sru_template:

SRU Template
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The below doesn't look like a typical SRU template. Please be sure to use the standard sections (Impact, Test Plan, Where problems could occur).

Of particular importance in this case, in my opinion, is the test plan. I would like it to be very clear what testing exactly the SRU team should expect, and how/where we can see the results.

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I guess that's below in "Final Testing Feedback." So, please re-format it in the usual SRU template for clarity.

Comment on lines +434 to +438
The SRU should be done with a single process bug, instead of individual bug
reports for individual bug fixes. Individual bugs should be referenced in the
changelog, and each bug needs to be independently verified and commented on for
the SRU to be considered complete. Refer to the :ref:`SRU template
<ref_sru_template>` for details about the required documentation.
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This information (the note about a single process bug) is mentioned a few times. Can we try to consolidate?

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4 participants