Arch Linux keeps falling behind in package updates, basic packages like gdb and LLVM are newer in Fedora then in Arch, and Bash is newer in DEBIAN then in Arch. Why have package updates fallen so far behind?

  • Molecular0079@lemmy.world
    26·
    1 year ago

    Those are packages that lot of other packages rely on and so as a result just needs more testing. Sometimes Arch is faster, sometimes other distros are faster. This is relatively normal.

    • Maxy@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      9·
      1 year ago

      To add to this, all of the packages mentioned have a -git version in the AUR. The people who really need the absolute newest version can always install these packages. The rest of the people (those who prefer stability) can continue using a slightly older, but well-tested versions of these programs.

      • UnfortunateShort@lemmy.world
        2·
        1 year ago

        And you can also install packages from the Arch testing repos - which I really wouldn’t want to - but it’s entirely up to you.

        I appreciate the work that goes into testing and patching stuff for Arch a lot. I don’t want my OS to break for no good reason. Getting an update a month earlier is no good reason.

        • rodneyck@lemmy.world
          9·
          1 year ago

          No what you want is unstable Arch which you can freely do by changing the repos, but your user experience will be fraught with pain and issues. You can move to Debian and do the same by running their unstable branches, same results though, most likely a broken system.

          Both will get you the newest releases.

        • Thurstylark@lemm.ee
          7·
          1 year ago

          The only way to get it stable is to work out the kinks before releasing it to your user base and breaking their stuff in the process.

          They’re a small group of volunteers. It’s amazing that they keep up as much as they already do.

    • djsaskdja@reddthat.com
      3·
      1 year ago

      Wasn’t Python being behind the reason GNOME 44 took a little while to come out? It does seem like things move a little slower than they used to. Might be a good thing for stability in the long run. Think people need to be reminded that Arch is community run too. So updates might lag behind compared to these distros with big corporations behind them.

      • TableCoffee@lemmy.ca
        5·
        1 year ago

        I believe I read there was only one package maintainer for Gnome on Arch, which is why the release took longer. We have to remember it’s often just regular people, or in that case, person, who maintains this stuff for free or very little. And just because upstream made a release doesn’t mean it’s a simple drop-in to our distro of choice.