Which Linux Distro Updated Most Often ?

[EMCGFX]

Here is one question, to think about it.. Don't be fixated on one linux distro because you simply love it. Please be honest here.

:lolflag:

Recently I've noticed that Ubuntu repositories are not up to date. Since I am kind of new to ubuntu, I thought I would ask if Fedora updated more often, or any other linux distro.

For example in Ubuntu 8.04 x64 repos there is only VLC v0.8.6e deb but in Fedora or rpm's in general there is VLC 0.8.6f (the latest) release of VLC. I wonder, how often does ubuntu update there repositories ?

Nothing against Ubuntu, don't get me wrong :) Just want to know.

[Twitch6000]

Here is one question, to think about it.. Don't be fixated on one linux distro because you simply love it. Please be honest here.

:lolflag:

Recently I've noticed that Ubuntu repositories are not up to date. Since I am kind of new to ubuntu, I thought I would ask if Fedora updated more often, or any other linux distro.

For example in Ubuntu 8.04 x64 repos there is only VLC v0.8.6e deb but in Fedora or rpm's in general there is VLC 0.8.6f (the latest) release of VLC. I wonder, how often does ubuntu update there repositories ?

Nothing against Ubuntu, don't get me wrong :) Just want to know.
well it depends what you mean by updated.If you mean updated like version then I would say Ubuntu or Fedora.For packages though that is a tough one I guess I would say dream linux or debian testing.

[Dr Small]

With Arch, you can install things in the [Unstable] repositories. You could check that out, if you wanted. There is also the AUR (Arch User Repository), maintained by the community. Lot's of good applications in there, built by users.

[init1]

Out of date?! I always thought Ubuntu was rather cutting edge. That's probably because I'm used to Debian Etch though.

[Joeb454]

Repositories won't get updated for a minor update such as the one you mentioned ;)

You may want to try a rolling release distro (I believe Arch & Gentoo are rolling-releases) but they both require a lot of work

[EMCGFX]

@Twitch6000, First of all I mean the repository, and second one the distro it self ;)

@Dr Small, Yeah, I've seen Arch Linux. I kind of like it since, you compile all the stuff from the source. I guess that would be the latest versions ;) I will defently try it.

Also, I forgot to mantion it that I prefer GNOM or XFCE desktop. I don't use KDE.

[EMCGFX]

LOL, VLC 0.8.6h came out, and f is steel not in repositories. O_O
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/VLC_VideoLAN_for_Linux/1034861925/2

[myusername]

i would say that the distro that gets the most updates is....any beta or release candidate distro

[jacksaff]

Debian sid. It doesn't release - packages get updated pretty much as soon as the new versions get to the packagers. Some things that have never yet had stable versions get left out (kde4 for instance) but you can get these from the experimental repos.
Sidux is sid with a few scripts that allow users to report back things that break so that everyone else doesn't automatically update to these. You get pretty good reliability and you're always up to date. Sidux also allows you to install sid directly rather than install testing first and upgrade.

[ThrobbingBrain66]

LOL, VLC 0.8.6h came out, and f is steel not in repositories. O_O
http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/VLC_VideoLAN_for_Linux/1034861925/2

VLC 0.8.6f, g, or h will never be in the Gutsy repositories. Once a release goes gold, package versions are locked-in except for security fixes and MAJOR bug fixes.

[madjr]

ubuntu can be kept up to date if you look hard enough (outside the official repos).

you can add repos or get some new packages at getdeb.net

[Barrucadu]

Arch or any other rolling-release distro is pretty up to date.

[shifty2]

Everything is not compiled in arch - that may be gentoo your thinking off? Archlinux has the AUR which is a collection of scripts (contributed by users) that makes it easy to compile packages not in the official repositories. This means that in the AUR there is almost always an up to date version of the package.

Searching the AUR for vlc i get:
1 extra/libdvbpsi4 0.1.5-1
MPEG TS and DVB PSI tables library (needed by vlc for streaming)
2 extra/vlc 0.8.6f-3
A multi-platform MPEG, VCD/DVD, and DivX player
3 aur/freeplayer 0.8.4a-2
FreePlayer is a customized version of vlc designed to work with freebox (www.free.fr) freeplayer
4 aur/libdvbpsi 20041028-1
MPEG TS and DVB PSI tables library (needed by vlc for streaming)
5 aur/vlc-3gp 12964-1
A multi-platform MPEG, VCD/DVD, DivX player with .3gp support enabled
6 aur/vlc-git 20080520-1
VideoLAN Client is a multi-platform MPEG, VCD/DVD, and DivX player.Development GIT Version.
7 aur/vlc-nightly 20080524-1
Bleeding-edge version of VideoLAN Client the multi-platform MPEG/VCD/DVD/XviD/DivX player.
8 aur/vlc-plugin 0.8.6g-2
A multi-platform MPEG, VCD/DVD, and DivX

[Ub1476]

The repos gets updated while the next Ubuntu version is in alpha/beta stage, and freeze around a month before release so they can do bug fixing.

If you want to stay up-to-date all the time, you most use a rolling-release distro. They update as quick as the devs get to compile the program and add it to the repos.

[K.Mandla]

Moved to Other OS Talk.

[madjr]

Everything is not compiled in arch - that may be gentoo your thinking off? Archlinux has the AUR which is a collection of scripts (contributed by users) that makes it easy to compile packages not in the official repositories. This means that in the AUR there is almost always an up to date version of the package.


how easy is to install programs in arch with AUR and how long it takes?

[Antman]

If you want GNOME try Fedora. If you want KDE go with Sidux.

[ugm6hr]

Ubuntu repos will never be more up-to-date than the release date. Hence Hardy is reasonable, but Gutsy etc are now 6 months+ behind. This applies to all but a few specific packages (Firefox being one).

If you want the newest - Gentoo's rolling release is as up-to-date as any (generally within a day of package release).

[smartboyathome]

how easy is to install programs in arch with AUR and how long it takes?

For me the longest a package install on Arch has taken half an hour. It is really easy to install programs from AUR usually, but you sometimes need to get your hands dirty because there are bugs with the AUR repo. To use it, you just install yaourt, and can use the web interface (http://aur.archlinux.org/packages.php) to find the packages. Then just type yaourt -S packagename. It will compile the package for you. To get stuff in the official and community repos, you can use pacman. I like to use gtkPacman though, so I installed it (can't remember where I got it :(), and now I have a synaptic-like interface for pacman.

[EMCGFX]

Thank You guys, for all this recomendations ;) I think I will try Fedora Core 9 and Arch Linux in VirtualBox. On my main box will stick to Ubuntu 8.04 x64, and on my mini-server will stick to CentOS 5.1 x32. In the future I am planing on having, quadra network (as I call it) ;) Four boxes connected with network and running diferent distros; #1,Ubuntu - #2,Fedora - #3,Source Linux (any) - #4,Web Server running on CentOS. hehe

[SunnyRabbiera]

I personally advise against "bleeding edge" stuff, more trouble then they are worth.

[happy-and-lost]

Debian Experimental is probably the most up to date, but it's almost completely unusable!

[MONODA]

i think debian sid or sidux since the packages are barely tested before they are sent to the repos

[cardinals_fan]

I've got to say Arch.

[init1]

I personally advise against "bleeding edge" stuff, more trouble then they are worth.
Yeah I value my system's stability. That's why I won't use Lenny until it becomes stable.

[smartboyathome]

Arch is generally stable from me, unless you go experimental. :p

[madjr]

sabayon is based on gentoo, but i think is more user friendly...

[kpkeerthi]

Arch is a rolling release distro but unlike debian sid, only stable and tested packages get into main repositories.

If you want to roll with Arch akin to sid, use testing repository. Packages get into testing repo as soon as there is an upstream release.

Arch favors only stable packages.

[MONODA]

yeah my arch installation has almost never crashed (I got a kernel panic once :X (bluetooth driver) but that isnt unusual considering I get those on almost every distro I have used extensivley.

[handy]

My Arch install has only ever crashed on the Openbox end, & that was completely due to user intervention!

Arch seems to me to be the most consistently up to date Linux distro', which is reliable to boot. (pun intended)

Any time I want the latest & greatest all I have to do is type:

sudo pacman -Syu

The more often I do it the less time it takes.

I left it for a couple of weeks & it took 10 minutes the other day.

[kpkeerthi]

+ 1 for Arch stability.

I get nervous everytime I see kernel updates in ubuntu as it tends to break X and nvidia driver (installed using restricted drivers manager). Never happenned to me in Arch. Never.

[mips]

+ 1 for Arch stability.

I get nervous everytime I see kernel updates in ubuntu as it tends to break X and nvidia driver (installed using restricted drivers manager). Never happenned to me in Arch. Never.

True. Never actually crossed my mind. In Ubuntu I used to cringe when the kernel updates came along and a few times I had reason to cringe. The first kernel update I did in arch I also cringed because of experiences but lo and behold to this day I have never had a problem. Kernel updates are as routine and uneventfull as changing your underwear.

I think Arch gives you peace of mind :)

[Novega]

Kernel updates are as routine and uneventfull as changing your underwear.


Every 30 days whether I like it or not? :p

[Infra]

In general I think Fedora is more bleeding edge than Ubuntu right from the release, as you can see from 8.04 vs Fedora 9.

And top of that, Fedora updates it's packages, which is very good if you use it as a desktop.

Of course Arch / Gentoo are almost up to date. Except Arch has only few developers so some packages can be old for a "long" time. But then there's aur.

[techmarks]

:oops:Sorry post was meant for the other thread.

[Majorix]

If you need bleeding edge, east-to-use Linux distro, I would say go with Ubuntu Alpha/Beta.

I don't use Arch but I won't tell the reasons so this thread doesn't go off-topic :)