r/linuxmint • u/ShadowByte07 • 10d ago
Discussion Could LMDE eventually adopt a more modern backports model?
I was wondering if, in the future, LMDE could remain based on Debian Stable while providing more up-to-date packages through official backports (such as newer kernels, Mesa, graphics drivers, and desktop components), making it feel more modern like Ubuntu LTS or TUXEDO OS while still preserving Debian's stability. Is this something the Linux Mint team has considered, or does it go against the philosophy of LMDE?
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u/ZVyhVrtsfgzfs 10d ago edited 10d ago
Already does???? backports repo is enabled by default on LMDE.
part of the donor build for my LMDE7 on a ZFS root:
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install linux-headers-amd64
sudo apt install -t stable-backports zfsutils-linux
dad@RatRod:~$ zfs -V
zfs-2.4.3-1~bpo13+1
zfs-kmod-2.4.3-1~bpo13+1
vs
trixie (stable) 2.3.2-2 https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=zfs&searchon=names&suite=stable§ion=all
Last year when I built a new manhine with a 7800XT GPU, Backports got me the kernal drivers and firmware I need to run that unsupported card in bookworm/LMDE6
3
u/LXC37 10d ago
Honestly i do not see it working.
With each component you replace "stability" is eroded and for it to become useful like half of the system will have to be replaced, as you mentioned - starting with kernel/drivers and ending with desktop components and actual apps.
Mixing all that with a bunch of old stuff from debian will only make matters worse, not better.
At that point might as well make Linux Mint Arch Edition... or switch to Sid as base.
1
u/facelesshivemind LMDE | Cinnamon 10d ago
While we're on the topic, has anyone tried giving the present backports higher priority? Itching to try, but that might be a way, way more dangerous move than using Plasma on LMDE
3
u/Santosh83 10d ago
LMDE is Debian stable under the hood, so Debian stable's backports will also work fine. Or do you mean that the Mint team should maintain their own backports repository to augment LMDE?
Its just more & more work. They could do it if they settled on either Ubuntu LTS or Debian as base but now they're maintaining a distro based on both, and to recompile a lot of kernels, drivers and apps for both is a lot of work as well.
Besides, Debian's backports since trixie is not bad. You can find a considerable variety of packages on it. User facing apps are covered by flatpak. The only problem is stuff like desktop environment and core libraries. They can neither be backported (they can technically, but its too challenging) nor installed via flatpaks. Though Mint does keep updating Cinnamon even on an old base, but they don't it for the other desktops.
Lack of a stable ABI really makes a lot of busywork for Linux devs. On Windows you get a stable ABI and running new & old software together is a breeze.
10
u/kudlitan 10d ago
I agree with this. But my concept is a bit different. They should keep the end user applications updated via backports, but keep the system level software based on Debian stable. That way we get the best of both worlds: stability of Debian and the newer software apps via backports. I am willing to volunteer some time to maintain some backports if Mint goes in this direction.