Archlinux stable branch

archer42 · 2012-05-03 18:13:54

Hi,

Is there a stable branch for arch (extra) because I had major issues with the update to gnome 3.2 and 3.4 and I can't manage this anymore.

If there isn't a stable branch are there other ways to avoid issues when updating the gui?

magicalChicken · 2012-05-03 18:23:42

You can specify what packages not to upgrade in the pacman.conf file, just look on the pacman wiki article. However this causes partial upgrades to occur which is not always the greatest of ideas. I would recommend just waiting a few months after major upgrades come out before upgrading to give the devs a chance to work any potential bugs out. If you want something more stable and easier but still arch based try chakra, it is not as up to date as arch but it is pretty reliable.

archer42 · 2012-05-03 18:28:59

Hi,

switching distro would be to much but I think youre right with avoiding de upgrades until some weeks/months

Regards

DSpider · 2012-05-03 18:36:59

In my opinion, GNOME 3 is still pretty raw. Think of it as a Beta platform. They're trying something, and apparently some people like it. But most Archers don't. This much I am sure of. In fact, full DE's are a bit much and most only choose a wm, for simplicity's sake. You should know that Arch packages are as "vanilla" as possible. So the issues you're having will have to be fixed by upstream. I trust you have read the FAQ (specifically "Is Arch Linux a stable distro?").

Edit: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/FA … age_branch

Except that it's down at the moment. Try again maybe in a few hours.

Last edited by DSpider (2012-05-03 20:00:39)

sitquietly · 2012-05-03 20:10:37

archer42 wrote:

Hi,
Is there a stable branch for arch (extra) because I had major issues with the update to gnome 3.2 and 3.4 and I can't manage this anymore.
If there isn't a stable branch are there other ways to avoid issues when updating the gui?

I've been through the effort of making a stable release of Archlinux for in-house use. It's a lot of effort. But the easy way to get a stable release is to pick any point in time when everything is running nicely for you and then just stop upgrading! You'll get into trouble real soon if you try to hold only certain packages. It's all or nothing. Either upgrade properly or don't upgrade at all.

One thing you could do to manage your "release points" would be to use some tool like clonezilla to make a snapshot of your root partition (or your entire system disk) at the point when everything is "stable". Later when you do try to upgrade if you encounter any problems just restore that image.

Really, if you like how your system is running, your DE looks good, everything works ... why do you upgrade?? In his (or her) heart every Archlinux user wishes he could revert his sytem to the way it was some time ago.

DSpider · 2012-05-03 21:29:49

Really, if you like how your system is running, your DE looks good, everything works ... why do you upgrade??

Why use Arch Linux then? Why use a rolling release distribution? Install Debian and be happy with months old, nice and "stable" packages.

Of course, there's also a security issue, like using a months old browser version, kernel, etc., but what the heck... it's "stable", right? Why should you bother to fix or maintain your OS when everything should work out of the box. In which case, you haven't read the FAQ: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/FA … se_Arch.3F

Allan · 2012-05-04 00:00:09

archer42 wrote:

Is there a stable branch for arch (extra)

No.

archer42 wrote:

I had major issues with the update to gnome 3.2 and 3.4 and I can't manage this anymore.

You did file bug reports?

archer42 · 2012-05-04 09:50:43

Hi,

I have no power to creep into a custom fluxbox settings with panel and dock. That's why I stick to gnome

I don't have any issues with archlinux itself. I can't remember of any "standalone" packages which I had issues with. The only issues I have are minor gnome3.x updates. gnome 3.x.x updates also work properly.

So I think the best would be to just wait with upgrading the de. Maybe archlinux will get an stable repository for extra packages.

tomk · 2012-05-04 12:00:22

No, it won't.

Why don't you read something about Arch? You clearly are not familiar with the Arch way of doing things.

masteryod · 2012-05-04 12:38:44

archer42 wrote:

Maybe archlinux will get an stable repository for extra packages.

There is Arch Linux stable branch it's called... Arch Linux.
(Almost) all packages in core/extra/community/multilib are so called "stable" which means they are official upstream releases (with very little exceptions)

It goes pretty much like this:
1) Gnome team is hacking on next Gnome release - NOT in repos
2) Gnome Betas are being released - NOT in repos
3) Gnome is officially released - GOES to TESTING repos
4) IF there is no issues THEN it goes from testing to regular repos

Probably what you want is more conservative distribution or something with LTS... or just ditch Gnome3

PS if the problem is process of upgrade between major gnome versions you should think about cleaning configs etc. For instance early kde4 upgrades also required some interventions afterwards because to many things was changed (not fault of Arch)

Last edited by masteryod (2012-05-04 12:46:27)

ANOKNUSA · 2012-05-04 12:47:17

archer42 wrote:

Is there a stable branch for arch (extra)

If I can be blunt: I'm astounded it took you a year to ask that question, and that you had to come to the forums for an answer.

archer42 wrote:

switching distro would be to much

I'm not sure you have much choice, if this is a real problem for you. Ultimately, avoiding an upgrade for a month or more will only make things worse. If you want stable, go with something that isn't rolling-release.

Arch Linux

#1 2012-05-03 18:13:54

Archlinux stable branch

#2 2012-05-03 18:23:42

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#3 2012-05-03 18:28:59

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#4 2012-05-03 18:36:59

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#5 2012-05-03 20:10:37

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#6 2012-05-03 21:29:49

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#7 2012-05-04 00:00:09

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#8 2012-05-04 09:50:43

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#9 2012-05-04 12:00:22

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#10 2012-05-04 12:38:44

Re: Archlinux stable branch

#11 2012-05-04 12:47:17

Re: Archlinux stable branch

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