[SOLVED] Is this the correct/good way to upgrade to Sid?

[soaringowl2145]

So after running a dist-upgrade with the following source.list file, begin to change from this:

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch main
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch main

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates main
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates main

deb http://security.debian.org/ stretch/updates main
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ stretch/updates main

===================================================

To simply:

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian testing main
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian testing main

#deb http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates main
#deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian stretch-updates main

#deb http://security.debian.org/ stretch/updates main
#deb-src http://security.debian.org/ stretch/updates main

Then run apt-get update then upgrade followed by dist-upgrade.

==================================================

Finally change to something like this:

deb http://deb.debian.org/debian sid main
deb-src http://deb.debian.org/debian sid main

Then run apt-get update then upgrade followed by dist-upgrade.

==================================================

Can someone please verify that this is indeed a good/correct way of going from stable to Sid?

Thanks in advance!

[Wheelerof4te]

You have to change all names to first testing, dist-upgrade then change them to Sid, dist-upgrade again.

Keep in mind it's not something newbies should do. If you have to ask, then don't do it. Sid is for developing and playing with only.

[dasein]

Keep in mind it's not something newbies should do. If you have to ask, then don't do it. Sid is for developing and playing with only.

+1

@OP -> You've already been steered away from Unstable, and this is only one of the many good reasons why you really should heed that advice. If you choose to proceed anyway, realize that you are pretty much on your own. Debian's development branches (Testing and Sid) are meant for users who can diagnose/solve their own problems and file the necessary bug reports.

[Lysander]

Keep in mind it's not something newbies should do. If you have to ask, then don't do it. Sid is for developing and playing with only.

+1

@OP -> You've already been steered away from Unstable, and this is only one of the many good reasons why you really should heed that advice. If you choose to proceed anyway, realize that you are pretty much on your own. Debian's development branches (Testing and Sid) are meant for users who can diagnose/solve their own problems and file the necessary bug reports.

I think the point is further bolstered by the fact that the OP considers moving to sid an 'upgrade'. I would personally not consider moving from a distro which is clearly labelled "stable" to one clearly labelled "unstable" an upgrade.

OP take note:

https://www.debian.org/releases/sid/

sid is subject to massive changes and in-place library updates. This can result in a very unstable system which contains packages that cannot be installed due to missing libraries, dependencies that cannot be fulfilled etc. Use it at your own risk!

Or maybe the OP does not fully understand a] the concept of an upgrade or b] the nature of sid. Both of which may indicate that moving to sid would not be a good idea.

[jheaton5]

I haven't posted here in years but was once a regular. I read the comments in this thread with much amusement. You see, I have used Sid exclusively on all my machines, except my server, for almost 10 years. I don't think Sid is something to be afraid of but I also don't think it's for the faint of heart. Actually, I started out using stable as any newbe should. But I wanted to explore and learn. I quickly learned the forum's motto: RTFM (Read the F'n Manual). So I did. While using Stable (Woody?) for all my regular computing, I took an old computer out of mothballs, installed Debian and upgraded it through testing to Sid, just as it has been explained here. I used that machine to learn the nuts and bolts of Debian. When it broke, as it frequently did, I would search for and implement solutions until I got the system up and running. I learned how to do what I call preventive maintenance to keep the system running. After a couple of years I just abandoned stable just like I abandoned Windows.

I guess the takeaway from all this is "DON'T use Sid for your production machine until you learn to use it well, but if you want to learn how Debian works by trial and error, Sid is a good way to learn."

[dilberts_left_nut]

+1

Stable is a tool - Sid is a hobby.

edit: nice to see you again

[dasein]

Yeah, what d_l_n said. Good to see you.

[soaringowl2145]

So I managed to find the correct way to "upgrade" to testing here, confirming I did this correctly.

https://wiki.debian.org/DebianTesting

This issue is now solved.