Delete changelog sections from all SPKG.txt files

[mkoeppe]

They only cover ancient history.

CC: @jhpalmieri @dimpase @fchapoton @slel @williamstein

Component: build

Author: Matthias Koeppe

Branch/Commit: 079224e

Reviewer: Dima Pasechnik

Issue created by migration from https://trac.sagemath.org/ticket/29636

[mkoeppe]

Branch: u/mkoeppe/delete_changelog_sections_from_all_spkg_txt_files

[mkoeppe]

Author: Matthias Koeppe

[mkoeppe]

Commit: 079224e

[mkoeppe]

New commits:

aa9ada9	Delete changelog sections from all SPKG.txt files
079224e	Remove remaining SPKG.txt changelog sections manually

[mkoeppe]

comment:3

It's critical to remove these sections because they make look Sage's packages much more outdated than they are.

[dimpase]

comment:4

I agree that something needs to be done, but not this way - these changelogs may hold sentimental value for people involved (especially as Sage used to be developed using patches rather than commits to a VCS).

How about moving these sections into separate files named
old_changelog.txt or something like this? (each of them may start with a notice like

Historical - check git logs for recent changes

[mkoeppe]

comment:5

We do have historical changelogs on the website, listing individual contributions of authors. http://www.sagemath.org/changelogs/index.html
I would think that it is sufficient.

Keeping this in the source tree can't be the right solution.

In particular, if we keep the old spkg changelogs in the tree, then the contributions of newer contributors are not represented.

[dimpase]

Reviewer: Dima Pasechnik

[dimpase]

comment:8

OK, then perhaps something like mentioning a git incantation to use to see the data removed here, in https://wiki.sagemath.org/ReleaseTours/sage-9.1
(or perhaps just copy it there, under a separate heading)

[mkoeppe]

comment:9

See #29640 - Create an AUTHORS.md file with links

[mkoeppe]

comment:10

I have also added a "Spring cleaning" section to https://wiki.sagemath.org/ReleaseTours/sage-9.1 which mentions this removal

[vbraun]

Changed branch from u/mkoeppe/delete_changelog_sections_from_all_spkg_txt_files to 079224e