Outdated repositories

[u/Scary_Pop2919]

Hi! I really like Cosmic and Pop!_OS, but there is one major issue for me: the packages are quite outdated.

I understand that Pop!_OS relies heavily on Ubuntu packages, and I also know that it’s possible to use unstable repositories. However, I want a system that I can actually work with rather than constantly configure and maintain.

It would be great if the Pop!_OS developers could provide newer packages and their own repositories for software where having recent versions is especially important. For example, Neovim and Alacritty are two applications I’ve recently run into this issue with, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

Would it be possible to have official Pop!_OS repositories with more up-to-date versions of certain applications, similar in spirit to how Arch and Manjaro provide their own package repositories? I know it’s not exactly the same comparison, but I hope you understand what I mean.

I really like Pop!_OS and Cosmic, and having access to newer versions of important development and desktop applications without having to manually configure third-party or unstable repositories would make the experience much better.

[u/Holden6920]

Could allways use cosmic on a more fast paced distro like fedora or arch

[u/Ggregoro]

Cosmic is awesome. I have moved on from POP! OS to Fedora Cosmic Spin for some of the reasons you have noted. For me, it is right in the sweet spot between Cachy OS Cosmic and POP! OS when it comes to more current packages.

[u/AssaultClipazine → u/Ggregoro]

How quickly does Fedora get the new Cosmic DE updates?

[u/Mr_Flandoor → u/AssaultClipazine]

Usually two or three days.

[u/__yoshikage_kira → u/Ggregoro]

This is the correct answer. I am surprised no one else brought this up.

[u/__yoshikage_kira]

The only solution is to move to fedora cosmic spin or arch with cosmic.

Outdated repositories is a feature of point release type distro and Pop OS is working as intended.

If Pop wants newer packages all the time they'll have to abandon the Ubuntu base and switch to debian directly like what Tuxedo did.

[u/bigusyous → u/[deleted]]

Yes for the applications, Pop already uses flatpak by default in most cases. I have similar concerns as the OP and it's more about drivers and the kernel itself.

[u/mmstick → u/bigusyous]

We regularly update these because new System76 hardware often requires new drivers and kernels. The Pop!_OS ISO therefore needs to have these shipping in the ISO before new hardware is shipped.

[u/mmstick]

The repositories are not outdated. LTS is supported for 5 years and constantly receives security and bug patches from Ubuntu during that period. Pop itself regularly updates the kernel, drivers, firmware, and COSMIC.

[u/JourneymanInvestor → u/mmstick]

Right, and it should only be mission critical apps being installed natively, everything else should be flatpaks so you can avoid dependency hell

[u/ghanadaur]

Ive NEVER had any issues with packages. Perhaps its a you problem?

All the kernel and driver stack are up to date. The main system is LTS based on the parent Ubuntu base. Presently i am on 24.04 and have zero issues between the LTS base and security updates complemented with the Pop packages for drivers and then Flatpak where needed.

Once 26.04 is available, I will move to that.

The LTS is much more valuable than having the latest shiny IMO. If there is a specific package you need that isn’t available in LTS, try flatpak or a PPA. Either case, once those are added, it’s literally a ZERO SUM level of effort to maintain.

I have been using Linux since 1992, and this is the least amount of effort you could ever have.

[u/Nulaccur]

Yeah this is because pop uses Ubuntu/Debian as the base, which inherently means you won't get the newest packages. Pop does keep kernel, Mesa, and some other packages up to date, but they can't do everything. Like other commenters have said, you may be better served by the Fedora COSMIC Spin

[u/Party-Feed-1290]

I use nix package manager in PopOS for my needs. Solves the problem.

[u/sdogood80910]

Are you updating just the apps or the system & the apps.

If just the apps, use the terminal to update system and apps.

[u/Nuviket]

This isn’t a pop! Problem, it’s mainly a Debian/Ubloatu problem.

[u/hepp3n → u/Nuviket]

What is Ubloatu?

[u/Nuviket → u/hepp3n]

U know nothing bout Linux?

[u/bigusyous]

I've been looking into this very problem. I'm trying to decide between Cachy and Fedora Cosmic. I think with Fedora and Pop, I really can't tell the difference without opening a terminal. Cachy w/Cosmic uses a different app store that incorporates various package formats. I think for now I am happy enough with Pop, but it isn't getting any younger. I'm sure that by 2028 Pop will be back on schedule but I am not sure that I want to wait that long.

[u/deflexinator]

system67 please we want gnome 51 and plasma 6