Re: [libreoffice-users] Re: Installing Libreoffice in Ubuntu

On 10/11/2015 03:42 PM, Tom Davies wrote:
> Hi :)
> "Thanks for the flowers"/approval which i've snipped.  It's a shock to
> finally agree on something! :))
>
> The LTS approach was a new way of dealing with an old problem.  The old and
> still current problem is that projects are pulled in 2 opposing
> directions;
> 1.  exciting and new developments, fashion, bling
> 2.  stay with something familiar and see it mature.  NOT having to
> constantly work at it.
>
> That is probably why Redhat and Debian (and family) and many others (even
> [shudders] Microsoft and to a lesser extent Apple) provide a version that
> basically stays the same for years.  Heck, many places grumble about
> 'having to' upgrade from Xp because it 'only' lasted 10 years!  Some
> organisations happily pay millions per year extra purely in order to be
> able to stay with the same old Xp and STILL haven't developed a strategy
> for upgrading.
>
> Arch and others attempt to deal with the problem by doing rolling releases
> - which brings it's own set of problems - as Windows 10 users and Microsoft
> will doubtless be learning afresh over the next couple of years.  Arch has
> already long ago grokked this so MS could learn valuable lessons from them
> but i think we all know they can't learn wisdom from outside, unless they
> really have changed.
Both approaches have problems with either needing to maintain security 
releases for old versions (LTS) or with system stability/breakage 
(Rolling). The first appears safe because the system is relatively 
stable but older OSes may not support easily newer technologies. This 
can be problematic as the OS ages. Also, security releases and bug fixes 
must be maintained over several version of a library. Rolling releases 
can be have stability issues with being too close to the bleeding edge 
but they are likely to support the latest technologies. Also, there are 
fewer library versions to be maintained.

Having used both, I recommend LTS releases for most users knowing every 
x years their system must be upgraded to the current supported release.

My fear with W10 is MS does not truly understand the nature of a rolling 
release and their users are not at all familiar with the quirks of a 
rolling release. I have found one needs to pay closer attention to 
update issues as they occur with a rolling release and it helps to have 
a good grasp of how a computer works. Windows users are not used to more 
active update management and often have a very poor understanding of how 
a computer works. IMHO, the potential for a disaster about 6 - 12 months 
from initial release is very high with W10.

> So in answer to your question to Alex; "Yes".  Many places would appreciate
> updates rather than to keep demanding their Sys. Admins have to keep
> re-installing new upgrades.
>
> It'd also be great if there were some sort of "Super Still" branch, like
> Debian, or Redhat (and many others) that kept getting updates for 3-4
> years.  So that organisations could install the Super Still branch on new
> systems in complete confidence that they wouldn't need to touch the system
> again for a couple years.
>
>
> There are other cases where people don't have broadband for downloading
> full upgrades but could do with having a system they could rely on for
> years.  European city-dwellers might not quite realise what it's like
> without broadband.
>
> I think it's interesting that the super-rich share a problem in common with
> the desperately isolated and cut-off.  One which is largely addressed by
> almost all of Gnu&Linux but not by LibreOffice.
> Regards from
> Tom :)
>
>
> <snip />
>
>
> > Also you might add that TDF does not offer LTS because TDF is not a
> > business and therefore has no incentive in a LTS version which only makes
> > sense if you monetize it. The poster example of this is Canonical and
> > Ubuntu LTS.  Canonical makes money on LTS and is only able to do so because
> > the LTS itself is a profitable business.  Otherwise you would not even hear
> > of it. Businesses looking for something very similar to a LTS version of
> > LibreOffice can contact our certified developers and their companies though.
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Charles.
> >
> > <snip />


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