Hi all,
I am trying to configure Apt to follow a "stable where we can, unstable where we must" logic. On the "Stable+Backports - Testing - Unstable - Experimental" stencil, I would like to - install left-to-right (the stablest version available), - upgrade right-to-left (the stablest newer version available, but never less stable than the one currently installed). I have already achieved the desired Install behaviour with Pin-Priorities, but upgrade is more challenging. For example, if I have foo=2 installed from testing, and the newer versions available are foo=3 in stable and foo=4 in testing, apt seems to go for testing, whereas I would prefer the stabler though not-so-much-newer version by default. Furthermore, I would like to keep the aforementioned stencil fixed on my current release until and unless I'm ready for an upgrade. I imagine this can be achieved by sticking explicit names (e.g. bookworm/trixie in place of stable/testing) everywhere, but maybe there is a nicer, DRY-compliant method? Perhaps, something involving APT::Default-Release or similar, though I will admit I have no clue how this setting actually works... Hoping for advice/clarifications, thanks!
