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I want use Ubuntu with the latest stable software instead of latest stable packages. As far as I'm aware the Debian equivalent is the Debian Unstable version.

  • Is the daily live images released by Ubuntu equivalent?
  • Does it continue updating with the latest stable software after a new stable Ubuntu version is released? As in, with the daily live installation of Trusty, does it continue updating with development software after Trusty goes golden?

I'm not sure, but I think I read on Mark Shuttleworth's blog that the development version of Ubuntu is stable enough to use on desktops. I'm neither trusting nor doubting the statement, but that post seemed to imply of continuous development releases like a rolling release.

Please enlighten me.

Oxwivi
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  • I believe the live images would indeed be equivalent to unstable. Also, I wouldn't say that the development version of Ubuntu (as in Trusty or the U-Series when Trusty is released) is stable enough to use on a needed desktop. – saiarcot895 Apr 01 '14 at 18:27
  • @saiarcot895 It's stability is not my primary concern. I just regular sstable software updates. Do you know if it'll continue updating after Trusty is released? And will the current beta 2 release behave the same? – Oxwivi Apr 01 '14 at 18:38
  • If it's just software updates, I would instead use PPAs or install software outside of the repos. The development version will also involve updates to more critical components of Ubuntu/Linux itself, which may or may not bring problems (inability to use Ubuntu). Also, there is no guarantee that the software updates will work correctly, as there may be bugs. Also, I don't see how stability of the system as a whole is not a concern when you need stable software updates; if you can't use the system, what's the point of having the latest LibreOffice? – saiarcot895 Apr 01 '14 at 18:43
  • Upgrading to Trusty now won't automatically move you over to U-series. Using the daily images and upgrading for each image might, I think, keep you on the latest development version. – saiarcot895 Apr 01 '14 at 18:45
  • @saiarcot895 You see, system updates (kernel, drivers, etc) is precisely the sort of updates I'm looking for, and I'm unlikely to find everything in PPA (yes, I'm aware of Ubuntu Mainline PPA and Oibaf PPA). This is for testing purposes, so I'm not about to upgrade from an existing installation. So if installing a daily image keeps me up-to-date beyond T-series, I'm ready to do a fresh install immediately. – Oxwivi Apr 01 '14 at 18:48
  • Ah, ok, if it's purely for testing purposes, then it's fine, but I believe you will have to keep installing daily images (or maybe the do-release-upgrade -d can take care of a transition from Trusty to U-series). – saiarcot895 Apr 01 '14 at 18:50
  • @saiarcot895 I don't mean to discredit your statements, but do you have anything more concrete? I always try to do something after ascertaining that I'll be able to do exactly as I want. Also, you're welcome to post an answer. Can't mark it solved without any. – Oxwivi Apr 01 '14 at 18:55
  • If I had something concrete, I would post it as an answer. :) – saiarcot895 Apr 01 '14 at 19:02
  • Mark's interview about release updates all the time. – Sylvain Pineau Apr 01 '14 at 20:20
  • Packages are software, so it makes no sense the way you seem to differentiate the two. – psusi Apr 01 '14 at 22:51
  • im using 14.04 and I have to run updates and upgrade multiple times per day, seems kinda a rolling release. It's just a beta and things will change. I wish ubuntu was a rolling release, that thing got me thinking to go for debian, like solydk – Lynob Apr 01 '14 at 23:06
  • @psusi You're incorrect. Package is more than the software, it contains the the initial configuration and set up scripts for the software it installs. Sometimes software with their stock configuration may not play well with an OS, the packages are configured to take care of that. You'll notice there's ubuntu and some numbers at the end of package names. Those are package versions, created for Ubuntu. – Oxwivi Apr 02 '14 at 05:26
  • @Oxwivi, sure, but it still makes no sense to differentiate them the way the OP did. If you want the latest software, then you want the latest package of that software. – psusi Apr 02 '14 at 14:37
  • Welcome to Ask Ubuntu. Please, could you put some of your time to read What should I do when someone answers my question? – Sylvain Pineau Apr 18 '14 at 15:46
  • @SylvainPineau I'm no longer as active on AU as I used to be for various reasons, but thank you, I'll read that when I someone does answer my question. – Oxwivi Apr 19 '14 at 20:29

2 Answers2

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For developement releases, the vast majority of Ubuntu packages are imported from Debian Unstable/Testing:

Prior to DebianImportFreeze, new versions of packages will be automatically imported from Debian where they have not been customized for Ubuntu, that is when the version number of the package in the current Ubuntu development branch does not contain the substring "ubuntu" and there is a newer version in Debian. Imports from Debian are either from the unstable or testing branch, depending on the release (see "Derives from:" field on http://launchpad.net/ubuntu/ for more information).

For LTS releases, not only there are SRU for important bug fixes but point releases are also a way to get new hardware support, new drivers:

On a regular basis, the LTS release gets a point update which includes access to a new, current kernel (supporting new hardware without regressing the old hardware on the previous kernel, which remains supported), new OpenStack (via the Cloud Archive), and various other elements.

Sources:

Community
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Sylvain Pineau
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To answer your question directly: there is no equivalent to unstable ( where developers upload new packages all the time and you get them right away, never having to dist-upgrade ) in Ubuntu. The closest thing is the current development release, which behaves as unstable does, until it becomes a stable release, at which point, you have to dist-upgrade to the new development release if you don't want to remain stable.

psusi
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  • So, no automatic transition to new development release? :( – Oxwivi Apr 02 '14 at 05:29
  • @Oxwivi, right.. of course it isn't that hard to manually transition once the new development release opens. – psusi Apr 02 '14 at 14:35
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    I think you use /devel/ instead of the animal name in your sources.list you just keep upgrading. – Jorge Castro Apr 07 '14 at 17:30
  • @JorgeCastro Is there any ISO preconfigured to do that? I know how to edit sources.list, but just asking. Feel free to post an answer. – Oxwivi Apr 19 '14 at 20:28