Pinning sources in Debian
Proceed with Caution

© Lead Image © Viktoriya Sukhanova, 123RF.com
Debian discourages the use of pinning to set preferences for package repositories, because the practice can have disastrous results. We take a closer look.
Pinning is the black art of Debian and its derivative distributions. Using pinning, you can set your preferences for which package repository to use, either for all installations or upgrades, or for a specific set of packages. Officially, however, Debian discourages pinning, because it can prevent package upgrades or even corrupt an entire system if used carelessly.
Debian, as you may know, uses three main repositories [1]. These are Stable, Testing, and Unstable, also known by their release names, which are currently Jessie, Stretch, and Sid – all characters from the Toy Story movies. A new package enters Debian in Unstable, and, when it meets certain requirements, moves to Testing. When a general release is made, the package moves to Stable. Between releases, StableUpdates and Backports are used to help keep Stable up to date with borrowings from Testing. Debian derivatives like Ubuntu organize repositories by other criteria but are still likely to have some repositories that are more stable or otherwise preferred.
However, both Debian's and Debian derivatives' main repositories are divided into sections based on licensing. The main section contains free-licensed packages, including core system components. By contrast, contrib contains free-licensed packages that depend on proprietary applications, while non-free contains proprietary packages. Debian installs with only main enabled, although contrib and non-free can be enabled by editing /etc/apt/sources.list
and then running apt-get update
.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.