[Eug-lug] Re: [linux] F+!*ing Gentoo...

[T. Joseph CARTER]

On Sat, Jan 15, 2005 at 04:43:00PM -0800, Bob Miller wrote:
> Debian is an example of exactly the opposite process providing exactly
> the opposite result.  If pkg X doesn't run on ARM or MIPS, then pkg X
> doesn't release.  If the new libc is incompatible with obscure app Y,
> then libc is held back until Y is fixed.  If a critical bug is open,
> the release is held back.  (again, my understanding, based on hearsay)
> Debian only releases twice a decade, but the resulting stable releases
> are completely bulletproof.

Debian's hit the three year mark between woody and sarge.  The latter has
yet to be released.  The time between releases is following a trend of
getting significantly longer.


> Other distributions use other policies which produce other results.
> But it takes a huge developer community to keep a general-purpose
> distro going, so there aren't very many other viable not-for-profit
> general purpose distros.  The commercial distros have to pay their
> developers, so they're manpower-limited too.

Ain't that the truth.