Deprecated Packages Being Removed

[sebrowne]

As the configure and build-time warnings have indicated for some time now, Trilinos has scheduled removal of the Epetra-based packages for 2025. The time is now upon us to remove the deprecated packages. #14300 implements this in a step-by-step approach that is explained in the PR.

An attempt has been made to remove all code in non-deprecated packages that relied upon the removed packages, but feedback and review from maintainers of the individual Trilinos packages would be welcome to ensure code quality.

We are planning on releasing v16.2 of the code immediately prior to merging that PR, with 17.0 following that PR. Trilinos 16.2 will be the last release to include the deprecated packages. Trilinos 17.0 will remove all capability related to the deprecated packages, but will otherwise be functionally identical to 16.2.

17.0/16.2 are tentatively planned for 2025/10/21

This announcement serves as a place for any discussion that is not relevant to the Pull Request itself.

[alanw0]

What is the intended timeframe for releasing 16.2 and 17.0?
I'm just considering whether we want to try to get a stk update into either of those.
Thanks!

[sebrowne]

Good catch, I added the anticipated date (2025/10/21) to the announcement. Thanks Alan!

[ccober6]

The hope is the only difference between 16.2 and 17.0 is the Epetra removal, thus we will want to have these to be very close in time without any other commits. The biggest time delay between them might be the completion of a master merge, if deemed necassary.

[alanw0]

ok, yes that makes sense. So any stk update will be before 16.2 or after 17.0. No problem. And October is far enough out for good planning. Thanks!