[SOLVED] Software updates and mageia

[notzippy]

Hi

I decided to have a look at Mageia based off of distrowatch.

I used Ubuntu for a number of years, the reason I moved on from Ubuntu was that the software repository nightmare. Basically software packages were rarely updated between the release cycle of Ubuntu, so to get any software version updates between releases you need to point to another software repository. (Then there is the whole unity interface but whatever) .. The final push away from Ubuntu was that when there did do a new release it was a new install - you need to boot from the dvd and start the install from the dvd - this was a shaky process at best.

After Ubuntu I switched to Sabayon because weekly there was new updates, and kernel and OS upgrades were all the same process - like a software update. There are a few issues of course (being on the bleeding edge you tend to get a few scars) like occasionally I would replace a config file that I had modified for a reason, or some command needs to be worded differently because it is a newer version... The other issue is of course it is not a large community so not all new software releases are tracked as well as they could be. Meaning the user has to some times make a request for a newer version of the software to be added. (Which usually makes it out to the next weekly release)

So I am wondering were Mageia sits between these two - was the upgrade from v1 to v2 a straight update ? Was it a fresh install ? Are you getting regular updates of software between releases ? I have had Mageia 3 installed on a VM and I am seeing updates on a daily basis

thanks
Nz

[jkerr82508]

The policy of Mageia is to provide software version updates only with a new distro release. The "Mageia 3" that you are running is actually cauldron, the rolling development version, which is presently frozen, except for bug fixes, pending release of Mageia 3. Mageia 3, after it is officially released as stable, will receive only security and bug fix updates. There are occasional exceptions to this general policy, but they are few in number.

Cauldron is not recommended for normal use:
https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Cauldron

It is possible to upgrade from one stable release to the next, either using the installation DVD or online. The release notes will include instructions on any special procedures to follow. For example in the Mageia 3 Beta 4 Release notes:

https://wiki.mageia.org/en/Mageia_3_bet ... m_Mageia_2

Jim

[notzippy]

I thought that the beta may have been based on Cauldron - pity about the software version updates only occurring on new releases. I would have been more interested in seeing a regular flow - especially given that every software package has there own release schedule which does not necessarily match the OS release schedule..

Thanks
Nz

[tom_]

especially given that every software package has there own release schedule which does not necessarily match the OS release schedule.

..also every library has its own release schedule.
Do you know what happens when a new version of a package require a new version of a library
but the same library is used by other tasks?
you have to rebuild all the involved tasks and retest them one by one

[doktor5000]

Also basically the question is, do you want working software, or updates only for the sake of new versions?
If you want the latter, you can try cauldron, or any rolling release distro.