Bug#764982: Backports removed from sources.list ;-(
Op 19-04-15 om 18:12 schreef Cyril Brulebois:
> Paul van der Vlis <paul@vandervlis.nl> (2015-04-19):
>> I saw backports has been removed as default setting from sources.list in
>> Jessie RC3. I am very disappointed by this last minute change, without
>> much discussion so far I know. I did not know about this bug.
>
> Not knowing about this bug report doesn't mean there were no arguments
> given; quite the contrary actually, since nobody opposed them.
Some arguments:
The biggest argument against backports in sources.list is, that a user
could install a new package by accident from backports without knowing
it comes from backports.
I think the correct way to fix this is, to inform the users by putting
this information into the release notes.
Most people who want to install a package what's not in main, will
install it from backports when it's available only there. People who do
not want to use packages from backports, can remove backports from
sources.list. Do you know any serious Debian sysadmin who does not
change sources.list? I don't.
So it's for the users who are not so experienced. I think very many
users don't know about backports at all. Putting backports default in
sources.list makes it a lot more normal to use backports.
One of the biggest arguments against Debian is that the software is so
old. With backports enabled, that's not true. Most software what's in
backports is newer then in e.g. Ubuntu. True, you normally don't use it.
But when you need it, it's there.
In my opinion packages like Iceweasel don't belong in main, they belong
in backports. That's another discussion, but backports default enabled
makes this possible.
Another argument against removing: This is not a RC bug, so it's to late
to fix it.
With regards,
Paul van der Vlis.
--
Paul van der Vlis Linux systeembeheer, Groningen
http://www.vandervlis.nl
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