On Sun, 2003-01-26 at 02:26, Osamu Aoki wrote: [***SNIP!!!***]
> ========================================================================== > What Debian is best for me? > > Debian is available in 3 major flavors - stable, testing, and unstable - > for practically all CPU architectures. Here is a guideline for the choice. > > +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ > | | | Recommended | | > | User type | Criteria | Debian | Note | > | | | Flavor | | > |---------------+---------------+-------------+--------------------------| > | | First time | | You have much to learn | > | | using Debian | stable + | before playing with the | > | Total Newbie | with no | security | testing flavor. Buy a CD | > | | previous | fixes | set of the stable | > | | GNU/Linux | | version. | > | | experience. | | | > |---------------+---------------+-------------+--------------------------| > | | | | Learn how to use | > | | First time | | Debian-specific things | > | | using Debian | stable + | first with a small | > | Debian Newbie | with good | security | install to become a | > | | previous | fixes | Power User. Please do | > | | GNU/Linux | | not think about | > | | experience. | | downloading big | > | | | | ISO-images. | > |---------------+---------------+-------------+--------------------------| > | | | | Watch the release cycle | > | | Experienced | | and use APT pinning. | > | | Debian user | testing | Prepare to get your | > | | who wants to | (unstable, | hands dirty with package | > | Power User | run latest | stable, | bugs. Read at least | > | | version of | security | "debian-devel-announce | > | | GNU/Linux | fixes) | at lists.debian.org". | > | | desktop. | | Most people belong here | > | | | | :-) | > |---------------+---------------+-------------+--------------------------| > | | Debian user | | | > | | who needs to | stable + | If you need the latest | > | | have a | security | packages, backport them | > | Professional | rock-solid | fixes (may | from the source, | > | User | Debian server | use testing | unstable, or testing by | > | | in the | only after | yourself. | > | | production | freeze) | | > | | environment. | | | > |---------------+---------------+-------------+--------------------------| > | | Debian user | | | > | | who wants to | | | > | | be a Debian | any flavor | Do not expose yourself | > | DD Wannabee | Developer and | but with | to unnecessary risks. | > | | needs an | chroot | pbuilder is your friend. | > | | unstable | unstable | | > | | flavor | | | > | | environment. | | | > |---------------+---------------+-------------+--------------------------| > | | | | Have fun with broken | > | | | | glibc, bash, ... :-) | > | | | | Sh--t happens every few | > | | | | months. Read | > | | Debian user | | "debian-devel-announce | > | | who refuses | | at lists.debian.org" and | > | Debian | to lag behind | unstable | "debian-devel at | > | Diehard | the bleeding | | lists.debian.org". | > | | edge. | | (Having said this, it is | > | | | | quite usable if you know | > | | | | what you are doing. It | > | | | | is much easier than | > | | | | compiling everything by | > | | | | yourself.) | > +------------------------------------------------------------------------+ When commenting on "Unstable" aka Sid, I'd compare it to running a common commercial microcomputer operating system and related commercial user applications, and on that evaluation, Debian still comes out far, far ahead, as many commercial packages and even o/s releases and service packs have shipped broken or with significant flaws. It is just that with Debian, things actually get fixed if they break ;) All that said, I'd suggest that things like production servers have no business running stuff outside of stable except for things that might be absolutely necessary, such as needing functionality of a more recent release of a key system. However, from a workstation perspective, it is a function jointly of skills brought in and focus on the system - if you are running the workstation in order to push and tweak it and know what is likely going on with most tasks of the machine, you probably look upon "Stable" as legacy software ;) If you are using a Linux workstation as a graphics or a/v editing machine, or typesetting engine, however, Stable is more likely appropriate for predictable performance. That's just what is said above :) -- Mark L. Kahnt, FLMI/M, ALHC, HIA, AIAA, ACS, MHP ML Kahnt New Markets Consulting Tel: (613) 531-8684 / (613) 539-0935 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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