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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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322

Realizing Arch isn't for me after updating broke VLC (lemmy.sdf.org)

submitted 6 days ago by makeitwonderful@lemmy.sdf.org to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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I realized my VLC was broke some point in the week after updating Arch. I spend time troubleshooting then find a forum post with replies from an Arch moderator saying they knew it would happen and it's my fault for not wanting to read through pages of changelogs. Another mod post says they won't announce that on the RSS feed either. I thought I was doing good by following the RSS but I guess that's not enough.

I've been happily using Arch for 5 years but after reading those posts I've decided to look for a different distro. Does anyone have recommendations for the closest I can get to Arch but with a different attitude around updating?

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[–] eugenia@lemmy.ml 14 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (3 children)

I prefer Debian-Testing. Basically, a rolling release, but not unstable. Arch is akin to Debian -Sid, which is unstable. The latest packages are brought in to -Sid after some rudimentary testing on -experimental. But only the stuff that make it and are solid on -sid, make it to -testing. Basically, Debian has 2 layers of siphoning bugs before they even make it to -testing. And that's why the -stable branch is so solid, because whatever makes it there, has to go through the 3 branches.

So if you like rolling releases with much newer packages, consider -testing. The easiest way is to wait for the Trixie release, and then do the manual update to -testing by changing the repository names (there are online tutorials about it). The other way is to get a -testing iso, but these usually are broken because most people "upgrade" their installed distro to testing instead of just install it outright.

I've been using -testing for over a year now with 0 problems. Even Google is using -testing internally! I also have had Arch installed and endeavouros, and have had 3 problems that I had to fix in 5 months.

[–] debil@lemmy.world 1 points 5 days ago

The old preferred way is to run testing/unstable with apt-pin (testing repos with higher priority). This way, if a package causes breakage, it's a quicker fix from unstable than from testing. Also, security patches come to unstable first.

[–] mina86@lemmy.wtf 2 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The other way is to get a -testing iso, but these usually are broken because most people “upgrade” their installed distro to testing instead of just install it outright.

I’ve installed Debian testing from ISO a handful of times and never had any issues.

[–] eugenia@lemmy.ml 3 points 6 days ago

Very often it's broken. I had two such instances. Even Debian recommends that you just upgrade from stable.

[–] drspod@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 days ago (2 children)

What do you do for security updates?

[–] eugenia@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 days ago

There are security updates on testing. Maybe not as fast as they're on Sid, but they are.

[–] mina86@lemmy.wtf 0 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

What do you mean? They are included in the updates to -testing.

[–] drspod@lemmy.ml 4 points 6 days ago

They are included in the updates to -testing.

Only after they meet the requirements to be moved from unstable.

From the wiki:

It is a good idea to install security updates from unstable since they take extra time to reach testing and the security team only releases updates to unstable.

and

Compared to stable and unstable, next-stable testing has the worst security update speed. Don't prefer testing if security is a concern.

- https://wiki.debian.org/DebianTesting

There is some advice on that page about how to deal with security updates for testing and I'm wondering how people who use testing take that advice, and what changes they make to get security updates. Or maybe you don't bother. That's what I mean.