To benefit from newer packages you typically have to wait until your distribution vendor releases an entirely new distribution that incorporates newer packages.
However what often occurs is the latest release of a distribution includes a KDE desktop that is already outdated and it will remain stuck at this version until the distribution vendor in question releases their next release.
Or a Linux kernel that is several version behind the latest stable release.
If you were to install openSUSE 11.3 this very moment you would get KDE 4.4.4 and Linux kernel 2.6.34
The latest stable KDE is 4.5.5 and Linux kernel is 2.6.37
But here is another problem, to benefit from newer software packages you typically have to install your distribution again using the latest release.
So if you wish to benefit from newer packages, as a Ubuntu / Fedora user you have to perform a distribution install every 6 months. 8 months for openSUSE users.
Given the choice most of us would rather not have to bother but as a Linux user this is the Linux way.
Or was the way?
Distributions like Gentoo and Arch have an advantage in that they are already rolling release distributions.
This means to benefit from newer packages you do not need to reinstall the system from scratch but just perform a simple online update which will download newer packages.
The convenience a rolling release distribution can provide is simply something that all distribution vendors should seriously consider. I believe it is a major step in the right direction for Linux if all distributions were rolling release distributions.
There has already been talk from the Ubuntu crowd about a rolling release but that is all.
openSUSE however has made a big leap forward and taken the initiative to get the roller coaster rolling.
The goal of the Tumbleweed project is to create a ‘rolling release’ version of openSUSE. A rolling release distribution (like Arch Linux or Gentoo) always offers the latest stable versions of a package as updates so that when a new release of any upstream software surfaces, users actually don’t have to do a distribution upgrade. The packages will simply be part of the usual updates.
http://news.opensuse.org/2011/01/03/opensuse-finished-2010-big/
The openSUSE tumbleweed project is the first steps towards making openSUSE a rolling release distribution.
But was it the first steps?
Interesting question and in my view no. openSUSE already took the first steps towards moving to a rolling release months ago when they announced the KDE 4.5 stable repository for openSUSE 11.3.
With KDE development moving so quickly between distribution releases, users don’t want to be stuck with the distro release version of KDE. The much requested 4.5.* stable repo has now been provided for openSUSE 11.3 users.
http://news.opensuse.org/2010/09/12/forum-users-benefit-from-opensuse-kde-repository/
The KDE 4.5 repository has by far been the most welcoming move for openSUSE KDE 4.x users, bringing many bug fixes and performance enhancements.
The announcement of the Tumbleweed project could not come at a better time for openSUSE. I had my doubts about the future of openSUSE since the Attachmate deal but developments like this demonstrate openSUSE is a very active project with huge potential.
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar