[fpc-devel] How about split core compiler and RTL/Packages?

[baldzhang]

My pain points and an idea

with 3.2.2 the openssl unit is for version 1.1.x, for now, lots of distro removed openssl 1.1, even in slackware-current
I can not upgrade to 3.2.4-rc1 just because it's come with openssl 3, I was stucked then...


my thinking:
is it possible to split to compiler and rtl/packages?
after certain period of a release, 6 months or 1 year or by devel team thought, release a updated rtl/packages only version

for example: if we got 3.2.4 in 2026.04, then we may get next sub-release 3.2.4-2026.10 or 3.2.4-2026.12 for rtl/packages update only.

reasons:
1) we need library bondings came with fpc release
2) libraries are updating qicker and sooner
3) for a certain fixes branch, ex fixes_3_2, language features not changed a lot
4) for a production usage, refactor to a new compiler version/features is not very much
5) compiler devel can be more time flexiable, no stress for a new/stable release

yes, i understand there will be more work for additional merging and branches managements.


I didn't read all mails in list, not sure anyone else metioned this already.

Just a *thinking*, not *asking*, please ignore if it's pointless.