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I want to use Debian for my desktop and laptop. What is best choose for me, Test version or Stable version?
Is there a lot of bug in test version like fedora?
And what version is best for using with a lot of software? I heard that It's very difficult to install some app in stable version (for example the last version of gcc need lot of per-installed pkgs and it's confusing)
If you need to ask, Stable is the right version for you... Add the backports repo if you really must have the latest, but that in itself introduces a (admittedly small) risk to stability...
Distribution: Debian Wheezy, Jessie, Sid/Experimental, playing with LFS.
Posts: 2,900
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Stable if you want Stability. Testing if you are willing to work through a small number of problems, file bug reports, and help with development of the next Stable release.
Distribution: Debian Sid AMD64, Raspbian Wheezy, various VMs
Posts: 7,585
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If you're willing to fix problems or reinstall when something goes wrong then you could always use Sid. You will get the most up to date Debian packages but things may well break but I have found it more stable than the warnings would have you believe, so far...
If you're willing to fix problems or reinstall when something goes wrong then you could always use Sid. You will get the most up to date Debian packages but things may well break but I have found it more stable than the warnings would have you believe, so far...
Someone that call Fedora buggy is not going to be happy with Sid especially when they have never used a Debian based system before. The OP would be better served with Stable at first then if he finds to tame then upgrade to testing. Plus it doesn't sound like siaswar has the much experience with Linux.
Debian always has at least three releases in active maintenance: "stable", "testing" and "unstable".
stable
The "stable" distribution contains the latest officially released distribution of Debian.
This is the production release of Debian, the one which we primarily recommend using.
The current "stable" distribution of Debian is version 6.0, codenamed squeeze. It was initially released as version 6.0.0 on February 6th, 2011 and its latest update, version 6.0.5, was released on May 12th, 2012.
testing
The "testing" distribution contains packages that haven't been accepted into a "stable" release yet, but they are in the queue for that. The main advantage of using this distribution is that it has more recent versions of software.
See the Debian FAQ for more information on what is "testing" and how it becomes "stable".
The current "testing" distribution is wheezy.
unstable
The "unstable" distribution is where active development of Debian occurs. Generally, this distribution is run by developers and those who like to live on the edge.
You could be split the difference and run stable on one computer and testing on the other.
The key is, do you wish to deal with weird?
I'm running Slackware-Current on two machines. Sometimes weird stuff happens; it generally clears up with the next update, but weird still happens.
For example, on one computer, after an update, the screen went blank during the boot process at the point when the resolution changed from 600x800 to a higher resolution. When the harddrive light stopped blinking, I could still login and startx and, from then on, everything was fine. After the next update, the problem disappeared. This did not happen on the other computer.
If you are willing to deal with weird, go with testing and don't panic when something breaks. Otherwise, otherwise.
Or Solusos, its based on Debian stable. atm it is #2 on distrowatch.
It very well could be a top of the line Distro but I have never used it. Being #2 on Distrowatch mean nothing to me as the the developers may just have a good marketing plan. I've used SalineOS and can say with confidence it works right out of the box.
You can mix the Debian distribution. My current setup is testing/unstable, as I have a few unstable packages. However, do NOT mix Stable/Testing or Stable/Unstable, lest you are headed for some frustration.
I one mixed a Stable/Testing/Unstable setup once, and then created a mess of conflicts that took some time to resolve. If I remember correctly, the problem package was aptitude... but the resolution really was a P.I.T.A. until I resolved it.
For the record, I would suggest with Stable, and when you feel that you are ready for it, then move over to Testing.
By the way, Downgrading from Testing to Stable isn't hard at all, so if you to eventually try Testing and am having difficulty, you can downgrade back to Stable without re-installing it.
Distribution: Debian Sid AMD64, Raspbian Wheezy, various VMs
Posts: 7,585
Rep:
I forgot to point out that the reason I mentioned Unstable, and the reason I use it, is that when using Testing I found some packages missing entirely which were in both Stable (as an old version) and Unstable. I don't know how often this happens and I don't recall the packages unfortunately but it was enough for me to make a move to Unstable.
Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me?
I forgot to point out that the reason I mentioned Unstable, and the reason I use it, is that when using Testing I found some packages missing entirely which were in both Stable (as an old version) and Unstable. I don't know how often this happens and I don't recall the packages unfortunately but it was enough for me to make a move to Unstable.
Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me?
Yes you are right about missing packages in Testing. Why that happens is beyond me but it does and it's one of the reasons I don't recommend Testing to new Linux users.
Personally I have never come across missing packages when using Debian Testing - and I use it all the time now. Agree with whats been said, if you're a new Linux or Debian user then use Debian Squeeze. If you have some experience then go with Wheezy/Sid.
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