[josm-dev] new package repository for Ubuntu

[Dirk Stöcker]

On Sat, 21 Jan 2012, Matthias Julius wrote:

>> Debians stable policy is based on the wrong assumtion, that for stable
>> the bugs are fixed and no features are added. But as for most packages
>> bug-fixes aren't done, the "debian stable" simply is a "debian old".
>
> Just to clarify: Debian stable does not mean it is running very stable.
> Stable means it does not change.  No new features and no incompatible
> changes.  Serious bugs are fixed in Debian packages, even if they are
> not in the upstream sources.
>
> Some people appreciate this feature of Debian.

I do the same for openSUSE regarding GEO applications. There are 
repositories in the build service which provide packages for old 
revisions. Updating old packages is only stopped when it is no longer 
useful (i.e. because software needs to many new base libraries like Qt, 
...). This is a nice compromise between requirement to update the system 
and the possibility to update applications. Though lots of applications 
don't compile on systems older than 2 years. And real effort to get them 
running is only put into a chosen few (mostly the GIS applications)

But regarding long-time openSUSE is not really good. I would wish Debian 
could see its policy a little more relaxed. But it seems Debian always 
goes to the limit when policies are involved (be that updates, license 
issues, installation rules or whatever).

Ciao
-- 
http://www.dstoecker.eu/ (PGP key available)