This is not really a problem but i am still curious. I was wondering how come even though i've updated urpmi to mirror sites on the web, it still displays old versions of kde (e.g. i have 3.3.2 but 3.4.2 is out) and other programs? Shouldnt it pick up the newest? Is is just because the mirror sites are not updated as regularly as the program homepages?

No, it's my understanding that unless someone else releases the updated version i.e. a third party packager like "the plf", then thats how it stays until the next version is released.

Otherwise you'd need to get into the realms of installing it from source. If you don't know how to do that then you're stuffed. I sort of do, but never used to do that, as I always used to get into a state when i tried.

Hence, if you go to easy urpmi and set your sources for just about everything i.e. contrib, main, etc etc and make sure that you also have the plf sources, when you go into the MCC and do the software update or install (rpmdrake+), you'll sometimes see identical or very closely named/numbered packages. I always used to use the plf sourced packages, as they'd often be a little more up to date, but if it requires something as a dependency I would also pick the plf package (if one was suggested).

I read a recent interview with Gael Duval, and his comments reflected that when the 2005LE was released, that was just as a "united" version to tie the knot of mandrake/connectiva. Hence you'll see the main stuff says mandriva but the lesser stuff still branded with mandrake.

Maybe that helps some ?

regards

John

If you are in the Mandriva Club, you can access the latest KDE and GNOME versions and get the latest Mandriva isos before everyone else.

I'm afraid i'm not, but this still doesnt answer why most of the homepages of the prgrams have updated version far superior to the version numbers on RPMDrake even after setting up URPMI. Surely the development isnt that furious? Just curious...

Because unless theres a very good reason i.e. a security hole is found, then it's as above. If you looked at the PCLinuxOS distro, you'd see that one of the people involved is called "Texstar". He used to be one of the main people who did third party packaging for mandrake apps i.e. like you've asked but for example, he'd package up kde 3.4.X and then put it up on one of the mirrors, so you could get it quicker than you'd normally expect (he also used to do lots of eye candy stuff-which was excellent).

But no more. Hence, once Gael Duval and the team make the decision about whats going into a version, that's how it stays unless theres very specific reasons. It costs money to do anything else.

If you want "very up to date", then you should download the install handbook for gentoo. The base version is very up to date, and because of the way that the portage package manager works, it's apparently quite easy for them to include the latest version i.e. cutting edge. If you want "bleeding edge", then still gentoo, but find out about then you'll know what it REALLY IS to be mega mega up to date.

regards

John

Once Mandriva (and most distros) release a stable version of their OS, most upgrades are essentially security updates. You won't get the latest and greatest packages if you are not willing to tinker. Obviously if you are a Mandriva Club member you will always have access to the latest and greates packages. I use the latest Mandriva packages by using Cooker the development branch of Mandriva. The only probem with Cooker is that it can be very unstable so if you are not good at toubleshooting and solving problems, then its not the Mandriva version for you.

Cool guys, thanks for explaining. Still getting used to the world of linux.

It's really cool how the community works. Hope i can add to it one day when i know enough lol.

Thanks for the prompt replies.