Re: [gentoo-user] How can I know which package needs to upgrade without using emerge --sync?

[Fabio]

Well, when I started with Gentoo Linux almost a year ago, I emerged
--sync more than twice per week. I never experimented any damage or
error. However, I do not advise people to do it so frequently just
because they will not find updated versions of their favorite packages
as often as I thought initially. Today I emerge --sync once every
week.

Now I advise people to keep their systems synced at least once a
month, not because their machine necessarily needs to, but because
after much time with no emerging --sync, you'd see your computers
spending one or two days downloading and compiling the updated
packages, and that is really annoying.

Here is a suggestion to have painless updates:

emerge --sync
emerge --update --deep world

the --deep flag will ensure a throughly revision of dependencies.

> How can I know whether I really need a sync and upgrade my system if a new kernel or glibc is released?

There are several guidelines no one really invented, but may be handy:
o Whenever you find a bug in your favorite programs, there will be a
big chance they are fixed in the latest versions;
o Whenever you navigate a forum or post in a mailing list asking for
help with your favorite programs, there is a low-to-moderate chance
you get the answer "That only works with version x.x.x or above" or so
o From time to time, new programs are added to the Portage tree and
someday you will find yourself wanting to give a try to a program you
do not have in your machines' tree.
o If you need to have your machine secured against vulnerabilities,
you definitely need to emerge --sync every two weeks at least.
o When a new kernel version is released, there is no need to update
everything. Actually, what I remember is that I just emerge the new
kernel version, compile and reboot.
o When a new glibc version is released, there is a number of packages
directly depending on it being updated, but no so many. So this one is
not really a guideline.

Sascha's method is easier. Credits to her.

Sincerely,

-- 
Fabio A. Correa D.

Physics Dept, Universidad Nacional, Bogota, Colombia
facorread@×××××.com
ffaaccdd@××××××××.uk         facorread@××××××××.co
My webpage and OpenPGP key at http://facorread.150m.com
My alexandria.cc address is not available anymore.
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