[DNKK]

At some point, one has to stop supporting 18 to begin forcing the hand.

IMO it is a shame that we have to leave users with bugs that we could fix with a backport just to "force" addon devs to be interested in Kodi. Even if we had not done a single backport or point release, v19 would be no nearer release. Every fix was needed for v19 has been applied to master first, it has not been wasted effort.

I guess I would like to know from users if they would have prefered v18.0 was frozen 17 months ago, and access to the fixes provided via 18.1 to 18.7 was only via using the v19 nightlies? That information can inform how the release cycle is managed in future.

That not only will get add-on developers to jump on-board who haven't already as well as create more enthusiasm with possible new developers to help with 19 as a core. Just my observations.

Great if it can attract new core devs, with the skills, enthusuiasm, persistence and patience to climb the mountain that is Kodi. We will see soon as an alpha release is imminent.

I used the nightlies in the manner you speak of (fixes), traditionally. With the RERO approach, I believe it gets messy in that sense. Personally, a stable 18 via nightlies with hands forced to fix their add-ons as fixes and updates are applied (which is still RERO in my book) is a logical path. You say alpha is imminent? This year?

One problem I see that you guys should look into is separate signing code for android nightlies for kodi 19. I normally like to test beta or alpha versions of software but as you cant install 2 versions in parallel in android I didn't install and try kodi 19 till recently even that was forced as I installed a v19 by mistake instead v18 while testing a pr. As my settings were hosed anyay and all the plugins I use had v19 versions available I switched over to v19.