When should a package be ubuntu-versioned?

[Stephan Hermann]

Hi,

On Tuesday 03 January 2006 19:23, Mike Bird wrote:
> On Tue, 2006-01-03 at 09:43, Stephan Hermann wrote:
> > On Monday 02 January 2006 21:28, Mike Bird wrote:
> > > On Mon, 2006-01-02 at 03:46, Ming Hua wrote:
> > > > IMHO this should be done by backporting/forward-porting, mixing
> > > > binary packages from different releases is just asking for trouble
> > > > (let alone mixing Debian and Ubuntu packages).
> > >
> > > Problems can arise, but usually it works.  Sometimes you need
> > > multiple library versions but that's not a problem - this isn't
> > > Windoze.  Testing will tell you what will work and what won't.
> >
> > Well, actually you are alone with the support of those systems. I don't
> > think that neither Debian nor Ubuntu or any other distribution is
> > supporting such a mess making.
>
> Filing a bug report is "a good thing" long term.  I generally file
> bug reports if I find a problem that has not already been reported.
> Usually I file upstream unless it's clearly a local packaging bug.
> AppleTalk is an exception though - I don't understand the protocols
> well enough to say more than "the Breezy version doesn't work in
> some situations where the Hoary version works well".
>
> However, filing a bug report doesn't get the system running today,
> tomorrow, or next week.  One does what is needed to keep the
> system running.  One of many possible solutions is to use packages
> from different releases.  Like other possible solutions, it works
> in some cases and fails in some cases.  It's neither a magic bullet
> nor inherently evil.

Well, it shows the lack of knowledge how to administrate a very simple or 
complex infrastructure. 
Before you upgrade your machines, the "real administrator" will test before he 
upgrades. And yes I know, many of the so called "admins" are eventually 
clicking their OS, or are only involved in 1 or 2 machines on their 
department level. But actually the reality shows us, that it's not wise to 
upgrade OSs on production machines  without testing.

So, as I said, mixing packages from different releases and different branches 
is not a good idea and will finally break upcoming upgrades.

You are alone when you do this, and you have to support your own mess. 

Regards,

\sh