Scheduled Maintenance: We are aware of an issue with Google, AOL, and Yahoo services as email providers which are blocking new registrations. We are trying to fix the issue and we have several internal and external support tickets in process to resolve the issue. Please see: viewtopic.php?t=158230

 

 

 

[SOLVED] Confused reg documentation on backports

If none of the specific sub-forums seem right for your thread, ask here.
Post Reply
Message
Author
bmickey
Posts: 15
Joined: 2018-01-20 20:42

[SOLVED] Confused reg documentation on backports

#1 Post by bmickey »

Hi. I use stretch and I need to use VirtualBox for a project for school.

I'm not sure I fully understand what the documentation is saying regarding backports and I was hoping someone could help me interpret some of it.
I've read https://backports.debian.org/Instructions/ https://backports.debian.org/news/stretch-backports/ and https://wiki.debian.org/DontBreakDebian.

So as I understand it, backports from testing for stable are packages that still have some bugs however they're relatively safe to install because their dependencies, for the most part, are available in stable?

If I want to install a stretch-backport I add it to my sources and override the default deactivation like so,

Code: Select all

apt-get -t stretch-backports install "package"
Now assuming what I've said so far is correct here's where my understanding gets fuzzy, when a new stable is eventually available will I or will I not have problems preforming a full-upgrade?

The reason I'm confused and the part I really don't understand is the "sloppy distribution" section of the doc right here https://backports.debian.org/Instructions/#index4h2 which comes right after the "Install a package from backports" section.

I've read this section many times and I don't understand what its saying.
To guarantee a clean upgrade path from a previously stable distribution to the next stable it is not allowed to upload packages from the current testing to that backport distribution. To allow some newer packages for those systems we create so called sloppy distributions.
Does that mean I will have trouble upgrading? Does that mean my installation is now sloppy? Or is it talking about something else entirely?

Thanks!!
Last edited by bmickey on 2018-10-19 04:19, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
bw123
Posts: 4015
Joined: 2011-05-09 06:02
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 28 times

Re: Confused reg documentation on backports and need virtual

#2 Post by bw123 »

To me, it means they don't backport from testing directly to oldstable, they create a fuzzy thing called "sloppy" to fill the gap. Since you're on stretch, I wouldn't worry about it. But pick backports with care like the instructions say, just install what you need.
resigned by AI ChatGPT

User avatar
stevepusser
Posts: 12930
Joined: 2009-10-06 05:53
Has thanked: 41 times
Been thanked: 71 times

Re: Confused reg documentation on backports and need virtual

#3 Post by stevepusser »

Standard backports add a "~" to the version to make them lower than the version in the next stable, allowing for a smooth upgrade. To be honest, I don't think I've encountered any packages in stretch-backports-sloppy myself, since packages are still being updated in Buster.
MX Linux packager and developer

bmickey
Posts: 15
Joined: 2018-01-20 20:42

Re: Confused reg documentation on backports and need virtual

#4 Post by bmickey »

Thank you. I think I get it now.

Post Reply