[ILUG] Going to try debian

[Rick Moen]

Quoting Niall Walsh (linux at esatclear.ie):

> If you want a testing machine, then use testing!   If you want a sarge 
> machine, use sarge!   If you want a stable machine, use stable!

Fair enough.  I'm mainly arguing against people who rather irrationally
think that today's testing branch is great, but that (for unexplained
reasons) the post-release testing branch somehow won't be.  

> I would suggest most people installing Debian now for the first time 
> would want the next release (the RC candidate), and not the eternally in 
> progress testing.

So, you're saying testing is good today, but (for unexplained reasons)
won't be tomorrow (for post-release values of "tomorrow").  Ah.  Exactly
the sort of rubbish I'm trying to dispell.

This conversation recaps ones I've had during each of the last couple of
release cycles.  {sigh}  There's always someone. 


> In reality I would only really recommend people install stable, and 
> venture beyond that only if they are happy to accept that they are 
> walking into risky territory and should understand what they are doing 
> (like trying to track security issues).

"Tracking security issues" means skim-read an DSA announcement e-mail
maybe once a week on average, and for each e-mail either think "Nope,
doesn't apply" and delete, or type one of the following (after "apt-get
update"):

# apt-get install [packagename]
# apt-get  -t unstable  install packagename

...making sure you've, in fact, fetched the fixed version.  If it isn't
the fixed version, there's a remote chance you might need to ftp the
"stable" version, one in proposed-updates, etc., or take other
corrective measures as required.

In other words, pretty much what's normal on Linux distributions, generally, 
as opposed to being pampered by the Debian Security Team, as with
Debian-stable.  I say all that in order to restore (in my view) missing
perspective.

> I stick with my argument that NOW sarge is the way to go, sarge+sid with 
> apt-pinning if you want to get at the latest and greatest.

Fundamentally irrational.  My view, yours for a suitable fee and
disclaimer of reverse-engineering rights.  ;->