debian versions (was: package installation problem)

[ace]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

So, there isn't a way to upgrade packages in the stable version?  Like
if there is a new version of openssl, could one just do apt-upgrade or
something like that or are they stuck with the version included on the
CD?  If this is a case, then one can run a pretty up-to-date system with
the stable version, correct?  Also, how long has the current Sarge been
out?  Thanks for answering my questions.

Robby
On Wed, Apr 19, 2006 at 03:48:01PM -0400, Charles Hallenbeck wrote:
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
> Hash: SHA1
> 
> Hi Robbie,
> 
> I don't think Debian is available on CD's much beyond the stable release 
> (Sarge) or maybe an earlier stable one. I doubt you could keep it up to 
> date over a dialup connection. You would be spending lots of hours 
> retrieving stuff, at least with unstable you would.
> 
> There are always three versions of Debian available. Currently stable is 
> called Sarge, testing is called Etch, and unstable is always called Sid. 
> Stable remains fixed except for security updates. Etch is a sort of 
> staging area where the next stable release gradually takes shape. 
> Eventually it will be judged mature enough to replace Sarge as the 
> stable version, at which point Sarge becomes history, Etch becomes the 
> stable release, and a new name is thought up for a new testing release.
> 
> Meanwhile Sid exists (unstable) as a kind of rapid turnover beta testing 
> collection of things. New offerings appear in Sid first, where they 
> remain until the kinks are worked out. Users of Sid are warned that 
> things might sometimes break, but the fact is that when that happens, 
> they get fixed pretty quickly too. Packages are moved into testing from 
> unstable at some point, hopefully bug free, but of course occasionally 
> something show up in testing that had not been seen before. When that 
> happens, testing is generally out of luck until the cycle begins again. 
> The fix appears in unstable and is put through the mill again, 
> eventually returning to testing after a successful exposure in Sid. 
> 
> So you see, if you really to keep up with the latest version of things, 
> unstable is the place to be. If you want a rock solid release that will 
> not give you any surprises, then stable is the place to be. If you want 
> to be a little bit ahead of the game, but are afraid of being a beta 
> tester, then testing might be the place. The trouble with testing is 
> that broken packages stay broken until they pass the test of use in 
> unstable once more. 
> 
> HTH
> 
> Chuck
> 
> - -- 
> The Moon is Waning Gibbous (65% of Full)
> Get downloads from http://www.mhcable.com/~chuckh
>   and remember, INFORMATION WANTS TO BE FREE!
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
> Version: GnuPG v1.4.3 (GNU/Linux)
> 
> iD8DBQFERpPxXnuiIOyDVQURAqsOAKCLdRRCdTBppFDrAtm5c94rJukKtwCeOkZm
> eOT5fzF+sEev7xEkM+vNqd4=
> =3DM6
> -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Speakup mailing list
> Speakup at braille.uwo.ca
> http://speech.braille.uwo.ca/mailman/listinfo/speakup
> 
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.2 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQFERqUswamDI1Gy2GIRAov+AKCv1/hvjKTyR18vPbWyyJ0nCO6UswCgnqe1
CNSCsog4mSReS+Lsjwo5q6A=
=LWz4
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----