Arch Linux

ret

Member

Registered: 2009-04-16

Posts: 4

Where do I find info on what was changed in an updated package?

Hi, I'm fairly new to Arch (first install 2 weeks ago). My question is where do I find info on why/what was updated in a package? E.g. there is an available update to the kernel (kernel26 2.6.29.2-1) and I want to know what changed and why it was updated. I've checked the mailing list archives but didn't really find info. Thanks in advance for any help you could provide.

stefanwilkens

Member

From: Enschede, the Netherlands

Registered: 2008-12-10

Posts: 624

Re: Where do I find info on what was changed in an updated package?

This is not really arch specific but has to do with development of the packages. Refer to change logs on the developer's website

For the kernel:
http://kernel.org/ (note the change log links)

Humanly readable change log for the kernel (less specific / up to date):
http://kernelnewbies.org/LinuxChanges

For, for instance, pidgin:
http://developer.pidgin.im/wiki/ChangeLog

Last edited by stefanwilkens (2009-05-02 02:22:21)

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Arch i686 on Phenom X4 | GTX760

jordz

Member

Registered: 2006-02-01

Posts: 250

Re: Where do I find info on what was changed in an updated package?

Some packages have a ChangeLog which you can check with pacman -Qc <pkgname>
For example pidgin:

pacman -Qc pidgin

2009-01-31  Andreas Radke  <andyrtr archlinux.org>

  * pidgin-2.5.5-1:
  New upstream release.

2009-01-31  Alexander Fehr  <pizzapunk gmail com>

  * pidgin-2.5.4-1:
  New upstream release.

2008-12-21  Alexander Fehr  <pizzapunk gmail com>

  * pidgin-2.5.3-1:
  New upstream release.
  Enabled Cyrus SASL support.
  Added dependency on python.
  Replaced make dependency on perlxml with intltool.

2008-10-25  Andreas Radke  <andyrtr@archlinux.org>

  * pidgin-2.5.2-1:
  New upstream release.

2008-08-31  Alexander Fehr  <pizzapunk gmail com>

  * pidgin-2.5.1-1:
  New upstream release.

2008-08-25  Alexander Fehr  <pizzapunk gmail com>

  * pidgin-2.5.0-2:
  New upstream release.
  New maintainer.
  Changed license to GPL.
  Use NSS instead of GnuTLS for SSL.
  Added dependency on hicolor-icon-theme.
  Added make dependency on perlxml.
  Removed make dependency on intltool.
  Replaced install message with optdepends.
  Added optional dependency on tk.
  Made dependency on ca-certificates optional.
  Removed provides and conflicts gaim.
  Removed libtool hack.
  Corrected configure option for certificates directory.
  Added --disable-doxygen configure option.
  Added ChangeLog.

Snowman

Developer/Forum Fellow

From: Montreal, Canada

Registered: 2004-08-20

Posts: 5,212

Re: Where do I find info on what was changed in an updated package?

there's also the svn log messages or you can subscribe to the arch-commits ML (high email volume) depending on how much you want to keep cureent on repo changes. The dev public ML is also an alternative if you're mostly interested in core packages and important changes.

ret

Member

Registered: 2009-04-16

Posts: 4

Re: Where do I find info on what was changed in an updated package?

Thanks for everybody's helpful info, I appreciate it!

pogeymanz

Member

Registered: 2008-03-11

Posts: 1,020

Re: Where do I find info on what was changed in an updated package?

Some packages have a ChangeLog which you can check with pacman -Qc <pkgname>

Wow. I've been using Arch for well over a year and didn't know about that. That's awesome.

thoffmeyer

Member

From: 127.0.0.1

Registered: 2006-07-27

Posts: 91

Website

Re: Where do I find info on what was changed in an updated package?

Some packages have a ChangeLog which you can check with pacman -Qc <pkgname>

Wow. I've been using Arch for well over a year and didn't know about that. That's awesome.

Same.. :-/

sand_man

Member

From: Australia

Registered: 2008-06-10

Posts: 2,164

Re: Where do I find info on what was changed in an updated package?

Too bad most packages don't have a changelog associated with them.

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