Re: testing and unstable packages?

[kamaraju kusumanchi <raju.mailinglists@gmail.com>]

Ishwar Rattan wrote:

> Does it make any sense to mix testing and unstable
> packages in updating the system (using apt-get)?
> Any potential problems??
>
>
> -ishwar
>
>  
Please do not hijack other threads. If you want to ask a question, open 
a separate thread of your own. For posting guidelines to debian-user 
please refer to

http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/kk288/du-guidelines.html

Coming to the question, right now it is not advisable to mix testing and 
unstable. Unstable is in pretty bad shape right now with C++ ABI 
transition, KDE transition, gcc4.0 transition etc. Certain programs like 
labplot, mayavi etc., could not be installed/unusable on unstable while 
they could be run (I think) on testing machines. You might also want to 
look at `man apt_preferences` if you want to run a mixed distribution. 
But it is generally believed that apt_preferences is for experts and can 
potentially screw up a system if one is not careful.

raju

--
Kamaraju S Kusumanchi
Graduate Student, MAE
Cornell University
http://www.people.cornell.edu/pages/kk288/