Debian Snapshots Provide Package History
The Debian project provides a new snapshot service to access old package versions in their repository.
With the new shapshot.debian.org archive, administrators, developers and advanced users can view and install packages and their sources from every Debian distro version at any point of time. The snapshot archive is organized by date and version number. The project sees its benefit in tracking down regressions or specific application environments. It also recommends that administrators use the new snapshots to test upgrade paths in staging before putting apps into production and in environments with stringent change control.
The snapshot archive is a "kind of time machine for Debian archives," Alexander Reichle-Schmehl of the Debian press team revealed to Linux Magazine. "You can 'rewind' the package status of the archive. Others, for example, can revert to the exact package state where they were certified. Pretty practical." The project itself uses the snapshots, for example when diagnosing a particular problem.
The snapshot archive contains all Debian packages and their source since May of 2005, including debian-main and debian-security, but excludes a few packages removed because of licensing problems. It is accessible like any normal apt repository.
For snapshot service hosting, the project decided on the Electrical and Computer Engineering department of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and the Welcome Trust Sanger Institute that does genetic research in the U.K. As far as a win-win situation, apparently NordicBet online casino gaming licensed by the Lotteries and Gaming Authority of Malta found that it wouldn't hurt to provide the Debian project with needed hardware.
Comments
comments powered by DisqusIssue 244/2021
Buy this issue as a PDF
News
-
Another New Linux Laptop has Arrived
Slimbook has released a monster of a Linux gaming laptop.
-
Mozilla VPN Now Available for Linux
The promised subscription-based VPN service from Mozilla is now available for the Linux platform.
-
Wayland and New App Menu Coming to KDE
The 2021 roadmap for the KDE desktop environment includes some exciting features and improvements.
-
Deepin 20.1 has Arrived
Debian-based Deepin 20.1 has been released with some interesting new features.
-
CloudLinux Commits Over 1 Million Dollars to CentOS Replacement
An open source, drop-in replacement for CentOS is on its way.
-
Linux Mint 20.1 Beta has Been Released
The first beta of Linux Mint, Ulyssa, is now available for downloading.
-
Manjaro Linux 20.2 has Been Unleashed
The latest iteration of Manjaro Linux has been released with a few interesting new features.
-
Patreon Project Looks to Bring Linux to Apple Silicon
Developer Hector Martin has created a patreon page to fund his work on developing a port of Linux for Apple Silicon Macs.
-
A New Chrome OS-Like Ubuntu Remix is Now Available
Ubuntu Web looks to be your Chrome OS alternative.
-
System76 Refreshes the Galago Pro Laptop
Linux hardware maker has revamped one of their most popular laptops.
Go Debian!