Public bug reported:
Ubuntu's philosophy on freezing packages at each distribution release is
a controversial one, but does indeed have many benefits. Unfortunately,
it leads to a problem: Ubuntu's application pool becomes outdated a few
months after a distribution release. Whilst this does not affect all
users, it does affect a large portion of users, and indirectly, their
usage of Ubuntu.
Some problems that arise from this situation is where users are forced
to compile software from hand or (sometimes worse) search the internet
for precompiled software (which can introduce security risks). It
reaches the point where no package manager (as in the case of windows)
is better (in this situation) as a user is able to obtain official
installers for new software as they are released.
Linux should be about choice: it is freedom we seek after all, and
unfortunately Ubuntu is quite restrictive in this regard.
My proposed solution is that an official repository for Application
Software (as opposed to System Software like X.Org, gnome etc) be
created, i.e. non-critical, task-orientated software that is not crucial
to the running of an Ubuntu system, but is crucial to the accomplishing
of certain tasks. Examples of this type of software are: Blender 3D, The
GIMP, Pidgin, various games and so forth. Characteristic of this
software is usually the need for new features (and hence the need for
newer versions) over the need for security (which is a driving need
behind the choice to freeze the software repositories). 3D artists
require the new versions of Blender as they are released, and it is
usually this sort of user that is unhappy with the current system.
I understand that the maintenance of newer applications also entails the
maintenance of newer libraries, and in this regard we can either
maintain newer libraries as long as they don't conflict with the system
software in the main distribution's repository OR simply restrict new
software to that which compiles against the libraries frozen at
We can't be arrogant to the point where we expect every software project
to conform to a 6-month development cycle. It simply doesn't work for
all kinds of software. Perhaps differentiating between System Software
and Application Software, as outlined here, and maintaining different
repositories might be the next step.
Ubuntu's package manager is a great advantage over other Operating
Systems, and I believe that only through catering for all kinds of users
(which IS possible) can Ubuntu's potential be truly realized - such a
move as proposed here does not affect those that prefer to use the
frozen software (they do not.
NB: Backports is NOT a viable solution to this problem. As an example, at the
time of writing, Gutsy holds Blender version 2.44, whilst 2.45 IS available.
Gutsy is due for release very soon, and the software freeze has occurred
meaning 2.45+ will only find its way into Hardy...
if you don't view this as a problem, you obviously don't use Blender and do not
require the new features, but please try and see how this might be a problem
for other people who have different needs from you.
Yes, this is a bug... and it restricts users from using Ubuntu...
hardly and OS for humanity if it restricts a large portion of its users
** Affects: ubuntu
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
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Missing an up-to-date Application Software Stream
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/148976
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