[Solved] Current VS Stable VS Release

jemate18 · #1 May 3rd, 2009, 00:30

Hi guys!

I have a freebsd 7.1-RELEASE.

I have read the difference between STABLE VS CURRENT
found here: http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO...nt-stable.html

I want to know the difference of RELEASE VS STABLE
found something here: http://www.freebsd.org/relnotes.html
but I'm so sorry can't really find the exact answer to the difference between STABLE and RELEASE

So if I have a RELEASE is it possible to change/update it to STABLE?

Thanks and please bear with me.

Regards,

DrJ · #2 May 3rd, 2009, 01:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemate18

I'm so sorry can't really find the exact answer to the difference between STABLE and RELEASE

-STABLE is the development part of the -RELEASE branch. For example, when 7.1-RELEASE is brand new, development for 7.2 begins. That is 7-STABLE. Once 7.2 is released, then the development for 7.3 begins as 7-STABLE.

Quote:

So if I have a RELEASE is it possible to change/update it to STABLE?

Sure. Just change your default tag to RELENG_7, and go through the make buildworld, kernel and install both. Don't forget mergemaster to reconcile the various configuration files.

jemate18 · #3 May 3rd, 2009, 02:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrJ

-STABLE is the development part of the -RELEASE branch. For example, when 7.1-RELEASE is brand new, development for 7.2 begins. That is 7-STABLE. Once 7.2 is released, then the development for 7.3 begins as 7-STABLE.

Sure. Just change your default tag to RELENG_7, and go through the make buildworld, kernel and install both. Don't forget mergemaster to reconcile the various configuration files.

Wow thanks.

Another question, so which do you recommend

RELEASE for a casual home user?
STABLE for a server or an enterprise usage?

And also by saying that when 7.1-RELEASE is out, development for 7.2 which is called STABLE is done. Therefore the packages on the STABLE branch is more bleeding edge that 7.1 RELEASE.

I also use pkg_add -r package_name to install my programs, since I'm under RELEASE, then the fetched packages are under RELEASE,

If for example I opt not to upgrade to 7.1-STABLE as of this time, can I get the packages from that repository using pkg_add -r? How?

DrJ · #4 May 3rd, 2009, 02:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemate18

RELEASE for a casual home user?
STABLE for a server or an enterprise usage?

For any use where stability is critical, use -RELEASE. Period. Usually -STABLE is pretty good, but it does have bugs. That's the point, in a way. Whether you want to run -STABLE as a casual user depends on what you want. If you want the bleeding-edge features of this development branch (namely, not -CURRENT), then run -STABLE. There will be bugs and improvements along the way.

Quote:

Therefore the packages on the STABLE branch is more bleeding edge that 7.1 RELEASE.

Yes. They are not quite as recent as what is in ports, but the delay is not too bad.

Quote:

If for example I opt not to upgrade to 7.1-STABLE as of this time, can I get the packages from that repository using pkg_add -r? How?

Yes. You have to use the right "repository". You do it by setting an environment variable:
set PACKAGESITE to ftp://ftp.freebsd.org/pub/FreeBSD/po...stable/Latest/

jemate18 · #5 May 3rd, 2009, 02:52

Thanks.. Problem solved...

BeastieBoy · #6 June 27th, 2010, 21:09

Thanks, this thread helped me to stick to RELEASE.

fronclynne · #7 June 27th, 2010, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeastieBoy

Thanks, this thread helped me to stick to RELEASE.

It should be in the FAQ: "If you have any questions about whether you should be running -STABLE or -RELEASE, run -RELEASE. If you're still not sure, run -RELEASE. If after this you still think you might want to try -STABLE, go ahead and run -RELEASE. If you have an extra machine sitting around and you don't mind pulling half of your hair out trying to figure out why the sound suddenly stopped working last night at 3:04am, okay -STABLE might be interesting to you for a few minutes."

nekoexmachina · #8 June 27th, 2010, 21:49

Quote:

you don't mind pulling half of your hair out trying to figure out why the sound suddenly stopped working last night at 3:04am, okay -STABLE might be interesting to you for a few minutes."

just to be honest, nothing like that with -stable running on my desktop. I do an update when i feel like it, e.g. once per month or two.

fronclynne · #9 June 27th, 2010, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by nekoexmachina

just to be honest, nothing like that with -stable running on my desktop. I do an update when i feel like it, e.g. once per month or two.

I know, I've run -CURRENT on my laptop when I needed a certain network driver, but there's still no guarantee. -STABLE has broken or incomplete drivers from time to time, and driver updates can cause breakages (& I know this from personal experience), and while they're usually fixed in pretty short order on -STABLE, it's still a good idea to stay away unless you're sure you need to use it.

Back when I did run 8-CURRENT, I would csup the latest tree, watch freebsd-current@freebsd.org for at least two days in case something funky was going on, and then buildworld. Even then I had to back out a kernel at least once.

**SirDice** · #10 June 28th, 2010, 11:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by fronclynne

-STABLE has broken or incomplete drivers from time to time, and driver updates can cause breakages (& I know this from personal experience), and while they're usually fixed in pretty short order on -STABLE, it's still a good idea to stay away unless you're sure you need to use it.

In the 10+ years I've been running -STABLE (3-STABLE, 4-STABLE, 5-STABLE, 6-STABLE, 7-STABLE and currently 8-STABLE) it never broke once.

**phoenix** · #11 June 29th, 2010, 05:29

You've been lucky. Spend a year or two on the freebsd-stable mailing list, and you'll see that it breaks fairly often.

It really all depends on how often you update your sources.

**DutchDaemon** · #12 June 29th, 2010, 13:53

I update all -STABLEs I have about once per 1-2 months. Saw maybe three or four breakages in 15 years? Usually solved by a re-c(v)sup or by pulling in a source tree of the day before. Hardly any drama in running -STABLE

**SirDice** · #13 June 29th, 2010, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchDaemon

I update all -STABLEs I have about once per 1-2 months. Saw maybe three or four breakages in 15 years? Usually solved by a re-c(v)sup or by pulling in a source tree of the day before. Hardly any drama in running -STABLE

Exactly. I probably update a little more often but never had any major issues. Nothing a csup and a rebuild didn't fix. The only other issues were mainly due to changed functionality and it broke because I didn't read UPDATING.

oliverh · #14 June 30th, 2010, 15:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by phoenix

You've been lucky. Spend a year or two on the freebsd-stable mailing list, and you'll see that it breaks fairly often.

It really all depends on how often you update your sources.

That's true. But on the other hand you have to wait a looong time to get the fixes. And if your server doesn't run, well, then stable is the only alternative. And in reality I have got the most problems with realeases since 7 and 8.

terietor · #15 July 1st, 2010, 21:13

just a few more questions.

is there FreeBSD 8-current??? or the FreeBSD-current is FreeBSD 9?

what is freebsd head?

thanks for the great topic

P.S.:sorry if i shouldn't post here,but i thought that my question i relevant to the specific topic if not my apologies.

BeastieBoy · #16 July 1st, 2010, 21:31

I think FreeBSD Current is called a rolling version, it is continuously evolving and will never have an end. It's the latest bleeding-edge freebsd code committed by developers.

zeiz · #17 July 1st, 2010, 21:49

http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO...nt-stable.html
- the same as in the first post.

sistematico · #18 October 15th, 2012, 12:04

First, sorry for very old thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by DutchDaemon

Usually solved by a re-c(v)sup or by pulling in a source tree of the day before.

Second, how to do this?

Thank you.

jb_fvwm2 · #19 October 15th, 2012, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by sistematico

First, sorry for very old thread

Second, how to do this?

Thank you.

Best to post the results of

Code:

 df -aH

so persons who may wish to reply would know whether to suggest using svn (subversion) or cvsup. Or, search other threads with the word 'supfile' ... I presume at least a few have the answer.

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The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to DrJ For This Useful Post:
BeastieBoy (June 27th, 2010), carlton_draught (December 12th, 2010), jemate18 (May 3rd, 2009)

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to fronclynne For This Useful Post:
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