[Solved] Right way to install sid?

[dilberts_left_nut]

Last, *do not* use apt's dist-upgrade or full-upgrade with Testing or Sid unless you know exactly what you're doing. Plain old apt upgrade will hold back packages that aren't ready for release.

I disagree with this.

"full-upgrade" is *required* with testing/sid as it will remove packages when necessary to upgrade/install new versions with different depends/package names, which happens a lot.

If you just run standard upgrades, your system will get out of sync with "current" and there will be a growing list of "held back" packages, eventually creating an "impossible" situation.

Both methods call the apt-listbugs hooks, when installed, to warn of packages with open bugs.

[dilberts_left_nut]

That's why I said "unless you know exactly what you're doing".

Which you should if running testing / sid.

[arochester]

I like this. Careful. Belt and braces: http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php? ... bl#p633248

[GarryRicketson]

It is funny though, how sometimes what starts out as a experiment, and even using a VM, after awhile the experiment is really working good, and one has
a lot of work into it,... one mistake and all that work lost. I make a copy/snapshot of the VM before doing anything that might change that.
Same if it is real hardware,.. and that applies to even if it is a "stable" version.
good habit to get into.

[michapma]

I like this. Careful. Belt and braces: http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php? ... bl#p633248

I like it too. Best readme I've seen on the subject.

Thanks for posting that, arochester. Gave me some new ideas for good practice. I've only been using a reduced version by carefully observing packages to be removed and reading the output of apt-listbugs. Pretty sure I won't drop down to the terminal for every dist-upgrade, though.