A new update channel

Summary

A new dedicated OTA update channel - security, in addition to the two existing user-facing channels beta and stable

Can also expand the ideas to apps later (Chromium comes to mind) if needed.

Details

We're often faced with the dilemma of whether to test OTA updates for longer and delay the security update, or release it ASAP to fix the security issues.

Let's have a new channel for OTA updates, called security. It'll strictly be for monthly ASB releases, and occasionally other security fixes as needed on a case-by-case basis.

For the user, 3 channels will be available:

• Security Express
• Stable (default)
• Beta

We've had 4 updates in March so far, and they all got to stable on Friday and Saturday, and there have been issues reported.

Instead, we would've pushed it to Security and Beta - so those who want the updates faster still get it, but those who don't mind waiting can get something that's tested more and has bug fixes.

Then, once we fix the issues reported in it, it'd have gone to Stable. Or directly if no major issues were reported.

The Beta channel would still be used for feature testing - for example, some of the upcoming updates would go to beta first, and then stable (and security) together.

It may turn out that a majority of users prefer stable or security - but this is basically free to implement for us (a few lines of changes), and should lead to a better UX