Re: Debian Backports are inconsistent - any ideas ?

[Ben Armstrong <synrg@sanctuary.nslug.ns.ca>]

On 02/01/2012 12:54 PM, Alexander Wirt wrote:
> I updated the instructions page.

Thanks!

Some of the helpers on irc had a discussion just now about the "bdo" 
factoid itself and have updated it accordingly:

13:14 <dpkg> backports.debian.org (formerly backports.org) is an
             official repository of <backports> for the current stable
             distribution, prepared by Debian developers.  Ask me
             about <backport caveat> and read
             http://backports.debian.org/Instructions/ to enable and
             use.  See also <bdo kernel> <bdo mirrors> <bdo contents>
             <bdo list> <bdo bugs> <bdo pinning> <bdo key>
             <backports-sloppy> <bdo xorg>.

And <backport caveat> is an old factoid that we haven't made any changes 
to that says:

13:09 <dpkg> Remember that in installing backports, you will be using
             an unusual configuration of packages that has not been
             tested as thoroughly as Debian stable and that newer
             packages have both newer features and newer bugs.  Ask me
             about <version chasing>.  Also note that you can't rely
             on backports to patched quickly if vulnerabilities are
             discovered.

It was also observed in that discussion that we perhaps are not careful 
enough to caution about mixing sources other than stable including (but 
not limited to) backports and should take care to do so. We'll do our 
best. Even with all this extra care to warn of the risks, there *still* 
will be people who don't get it, but these recent improvements should 
help at least some more people make the decision to add backports to 
their sources fully informed of the risks.

Thanks again,
Ben