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Re: A question for the list:



In <[🔎] 20101106225444.0fb2698f@a45.fmb.no>, Arnt Karlsen wrote:
>On Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:57:28 -0500, John wrote in message
><[🔎] 87lj57y4x3.fsf@thumper.dhh.gt.org>:
>> Arnt Karlsen writes:
>> > ..IME, it's "Unstable", it and "Experimental" doesn't quite live up
>> > to the expectations of adrenaline kicks you want from these PR'y
>> > buzzwords. ;o)
>> 
>> Don't try to install Experimental, though.  It is not intended to be a
>> complete distribution: just an archive for experimental packages.
>
>..why not?  Progress takes _somebody_ pushing forward, and,
>Chuck Yeager made it thru ok in his Experimental rides. ;o)

Because not every package has a version in experimental.  It is structured 
like backports, packages are only added as needed.  This means that there may 
be times when either there there is no version of essential packages (think 
libc or dpkg) in experimental or that version is actually older than the 
version in unstable/Sid.

Just like backports, it is meant to be an addition to some other complete 
version of Debian.  Backports is usually mixed with stable.  Experimental is 
usually mixed with unstable/Sid.

While I don't recommend it, you certainly *could* install Sid and then pull in 
every package from experimental that had a version in experimental.  That 
would be roughly equivalent to flying an experimental plane.

What you can't do is install experimental.  That would be roughly equivalent 
trying to get airborne with just a set of experimental wings and control 
services but no fuselage or instruments.
-- 
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