[SOLVED] Dilemma regarding whether to upgrade to KDE 4.7 and Xfce 4.8 or not?

Laxman_prodigy · 08-15-2011, 04:34 AM

Hi.

Okay, I have got full Slackware 13.37 64 DVD-install installed. Since, it is the KDE version 4.5.5 and Xfce 4.6.2 that is in the default install, I just saw today that I can upgrade to newer versions if I so desire.

But, there were many caveats along the instructions that made me thing maybe I am better off not screwing with already working system. But, then again, I have a backup Windows to work with and I am learning linux, I think maybe I should give it a go.

What are your experiences about upgrading? Please share.

P.S. I am already having a heck of linux experience with Slackware. I never thought working through basic command-line were so fool-proof and fun and it was only my fear of the unknown that I haven't yet tried Slackware.

sycamorex · 08-15-2011, 04:47 AM

As far as KDE is concerned, you MIGHT be better off upgrading first to -current. See the following note from Eric's blog:

Quote:

I want to stress the point that you have to be running Slackware 13.37 (32bit or 64bit) or (preferably) slackware-current in order to use these packages. The packages themselves were built on slackware-current. Note that between 13.37 and -current, there was an incompatible Perl upgrade which may cause some of the “language bindings” to fail on Slackware 13.37 (causing for instance plasmoids to break if those were programmed in perl).

http://alien.slackbook.org/blog/modu...for-slackware/

brianL · 08-15-2011, 05:36 AM

If you don't want to change to current, or don't want to chance 4.7 on 13.37, then Eric has KDE 4.6.5 that's OK for 13.37. See here:
http://alien.slackbook.org/ktown/4.6.5/

TobiSGD · 08-15-2011, 05:49 AM

Just my two cents: If you don't have any bugs in your current environment and are not lacking features that newer versions may have, why upgrade at all?
Wait until the next Slackware will be released, it will contain the newer software, and it will be very well tested.

Laxman_prodigy · 08-15-2011, 06:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TobiSGD

Just my two cents: If you don't have any bugs in your current environment and are not lacking features that newer versions may have, why upgrade at all?
Wait until the next Slackware will be released, it will contain the newer software, and it will be very well tested.

Hmm. Everything is working perfectly fine and am lacking no compelling features. Then, I think I am staying with the stock. I will test newer versions in virtual environment to take care of my urge to tinker.

Erik_FL · 08-16-2011, 11:04 PM

I had problems with KDE 4.5.5 crashing, so I upgraded to 4.6.5. I've been running that for a few weeks now and had no major problems. I do have to disable all 3D rendering to run in a VirtualBox virtual machine, but that's a problem I've had with VirtualBox for a while.

I tried to upgrade to KDE 4.7 but ran into problems because I wasn't sure how to deal with the 32-bit multilib and make the required updates for 4.7. I decided to stick to 13.37 and KDE 4.6.5 for now. Since XFCE has been working fine I haven't felt the need to update that. I'm still using the XFCE version released in 13.37.

In the past I haven't updated anything between Slackware releases. Updating KDE has been necessary to find stable versions that were not too out of date. KDE 4.6.5 is a good choice for a recent, stable version. I don't know about KDE 4.7.0 but it may be more likely to have problems since it's the first 4.7 version.

cwizardone · 08-17-2011, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erik_FL

...KDE has been necessary to find stable versions that were not too out of date. KDE 4.6.5 is a good choice for a recent, stable version. I don't know about KDE 4.7.0 but it may be more likely to have problems since it's the first 4.7 version.

Actually, KDE 4.7.0 is not bad for a "dot zero" release. I would go so far as to say it is the best release of 4.xx to date. Heck, it only took them what, 3 1/2 years to get it half as good as 3.5.10?

But, then, gee whiz, it sure is pretty, ain't it ma?

brianL · 08-17-2011, 05:23 AM

I'm still running Eric's 4.6.4 on 13.37. I was put off trying 4.6.5 & 4.7.0 by that "incompatible perl" warning. Getting over-cautious in my old-age (hey! who said I was old?).

george-lappies · 08-17-2011, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TobiSGD

Just my two cents: If you don't have any bugs in your current environment and are not lacking features that newer versions may have, why upgrade at all?
Wait until the next Slackware will be released, it will contain the newer software, and it will be very well tested.

+1, if it works let it be

yuuko · 08-17-2011, 01:19 PM

I've not seen major improvements in Xfce 4.8, I'd suggest to stay with 4.6. On the KDE side, it's worth to try out Eric's 4.6 packages.

Cheers,

sahko · 08-17-2011, 01:26 PM

The only compeling reason to upgrade to XFCE 4.8 is network share support in thunar.