Why are my applications not the latest possible version?

[Lnx_User1]

So, with working with a brand new fresh install of Linux Mint 13 if the installer/LiveCD from the website is not completely up to date from nose to tails then when you install and run you are going to be prompted by Update Manager to update and install certain packages. Which is what happened on my fresh install. However Update Manager seems faulty in it's execution in that it eventually fails to download items from whatever repository it is pulling from, you get some and not others. Additionally I've received notices that installing certain packages are unauthenticated and could potentially allow someone to have a field day with my system (stated with an exclamation mark no less) on packages that Updated Manager deemed trusted and safe to install. I've also had Update Manager, upon failing downloads (hash mash mis match errors and such) completely interfere with my wifi connection making it unusable for anything else. If I try and reboot my wifi connection via reconnecting my wifi dongle my system completely crashes down to a screen full of txt. Finally, by numerous attempts to receive and install packages via Update Manager I somehow managed to get broken dependencies requiring reinstallation of core files.

For any new user coming to Linux via Linux Mint all this trouble caused simply trying to update their system via Update Manager, only downloading and installing items suggested and deemed safe by Update Manager, well...Doesn't actually encourage the use of Linux as a computer operating system. I can only image the potential destructiveness that can be caused trying to update anything outside of what Update Manager has suggested and deemed safe.

[gfarfanp]

I came from Fedora (sad what they are doing with that distro, a lot of people is upset because the unstability of Gnome 3, changes in Nautilus, etc, and now the total recreation of Anaconda, that was the final straw for me ), so I 'm fine with the "bleeding edge", means, I search for the apps if I needed them up to date and if necessary, I download the sources and compile them. I also understand when incompatibilities arise and I try to find solutions so I always ending in the end fixing whatever happen (or just deleting the app that's not working ). For a newbie coming from MS Windows, Mint whit his not-up-to-date repositories look strange and not friendly (and that "friendliness" is what they were so much used to), specially if they are force to assimilate by brute force repositories-sources-ppa's-apt/apt-get and others commands (OMG! CLI in a terminal emulation for a MS Windows user!) and also the old apt vs rpm vs whatever method of installation the author(s) of the app use (classic example was Adobe Flash, that show Yum/rpm or the binaries in a tar.gz file). That's a old question, right? why is not a unique and only software installation manager for all Linuxes?

[theo1358]

I don't think we're getting a standard package manager any time soon There's too much argument between people who prefer deb vs rpm (although RPM is the "official" format according to LSB) People who want faster updates should just switch to rolling release distros.

[rambo919]

And people wonder why the "year of Linux" never happens. Because of this windows gives people more freedom in a sick twisted way And of course there is Linux's absolute dependency of internet for installing anything including system updates which on windows autopatcher mostly saves locally just fine. Some of us do not have the luxury of fast abundant (or stable) internet like our American and European counterparts and have to store everything needed to get up and running completely offline if need be.

As someone coming from the windows way of doing things this culture of:
A- Pick a LTS and remain in semi-obscurity for x amount of years
B- Being forced to upgrade the whole system just to get new versions of software.
annoys me greatly...

I would much have preferred a option to pick a LTS and upgrade my software as needed without fear of breaking something similar to the windows way. Yes windows is reliant on service packs but that has never once broken my system the way I keep seeing upgrading does for some people with mint and it does not throw away software. I can see the sense in putting non-technical or new people in padded rooms like this but I for one have no wish to in the future having to choose between being treated like a child or thrown into the deep end.

Just my Linux virgin 2 cents.

[fotonix]

After reading all 4 pages of this post - of which 2.5 pages are a dated rabbit trail regarding obsolete versions of Firefox - I am still left with a nagging issue.

A couple of months back I wanted to get my scanner to work with Mint. Its one of those Canons that say Windows X,y, and Z on the box - no Linux support. The app I found (not SimpleScan as I recall) that was in the repository was over 2 years old - AND flagged as unstable, run-away-form-it on the product website. A much newer version, SUPPORTING my scanner, was out since October 2011. To this day, that version is NOT in the LM repository.

BUT, the only way to install the new version from the product website demanded a build from source. As and end user, I don't have the time to hunt down 32 levels of dependencies, bits, doo-dads, libraries, compilers, resource kits, etc, etc, etc. I have a job for the machine to do - scan, and let's move the production line along.

That made me get to the point where for scanning I boot Windows and forget Linux. Pity, but surely I am not alone on the planet wanting to scan in Linux ... and besides, the problem has been solved.

[mattadlard]

It doesn't help with apps life Software Manager which do not seem to list latest versions of software and people have to jump through hoops to install new software.

One is not to bad using the terminal and am old enough to remember the old days of DOS and running commands, but its not easy for everyone and at times can be bloody frustrating trying to encourage someone to switch when they see you having to jump through hoops just to update what should be simple.