Differences between testing and stable repo's?

[headkase]

I'm new to LMDE so I'm not all that sure what repo's I should be pointed at. Here is my current sources.list:

bill@solomon /etc/apt $ cat sources.list
deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import backport romeo
deb-src http://packages.linuxmint.com/ debian main upstream import backport romeo #Added by software-properties
deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian testing main contrib non-free
deb http://security.debian.org/ testing/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://www.debian-multimedia.org testing main non-free
# deb http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ experimental main contrib non-free
# deb-src http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ experimental main non-free contrib
deb http://mozilla.debian.net/ squeeze-backports iceweasel-4.0

bill@solomon /etc/apt/sources.list.d $ ls
dropbox.list google-chrome.list liquorix.list

I want to be bleeding-edge but just back a bit to avoid breakage. Are these repositories, as they are set up, properly where I want to be?

I know people talk about pointing their repo's at SID and such but I'm new enough that I don't understand the differences.

If there is an existing document about LMDE and which repo's you should be using, please point me to it!

Thanks,
Bill.

[JasonLG]

If you want to be bleeding edge then you want to point to unstable which is also called sid. But sid has a potential to break from time to time. if you want a good compromise between stability you should just leave the repos the way they are by default which is pointing to testing.

[lmintnewb]

Just another newb's opinion on it. But it's exactly what it sounds like. The packages in the stable will have been tested for a long time and are known to be stable. Though you'll get access to only older software apparently using them.

Won't have the latest versions of the stuff you want. But it's known to be perfectly stable. Vs testing which hasn't been to the same extent. People indicate that you can use both or switch between them like Debian squeeze etc. You'll probably need to do plenty of reading about the topic beforehand.

Rather than just start changing things and poss screw your OS install, shrugs. Sounds like a person would want to use Debian squeeze or one of the other repos to get newer software packages though. Should just be a matter or adding or changing the repos listed in your package manager or update manager etc.

(edit) Jason seems to know his way around Linux. If he says things are good, I wouldn't bother messing with anything.

[headkase]

If you want to be bleeding edge then you want to point to unstable which is also called sid. But sid has a potential to break from time to time. if you want a good compromise between stability you should just leave the repos the way they are by default which is pointing to testing.

Which I believe from the cat I gave is what I am: testing. So, I believe I should leave them as-is?

Would I just replace the word "testing" with "unstable" in both occurances if I wanted to get updates from "sid"?

[JasonLG]

If you want to be bleeding edge then you want to point to unstable which is also called sid. But sid has a potential to break from time to time. if you want a good compromise between stability you should just leave the repos the way they are by default which is pointing to testing.

Which I believe from the cat I gave is what I am: testing. So, I believe I should leave them as-is?

Would I just replace the word "testing" with "unstable" in both occurances if I wanted to get updates from "sid"?

lmintnewb - you give me too much credit.

headkase - Unless there is a specific reason you need bleeding edge other then you want to be on the bleeding edge changing your sources to unstable is stupid. But yep you pretty much got it. After that run sudo apt-get update then sudo apt-get dist-upgrade to resolve any additional dependencies and don't be surprised if you b0rk your system. I warned you.

[headkase]

If you want to be bleeding edge then you want to point to unstable which is also called sid. But sid has a potential to break from time to time. if you want a good compromise between stability you should just leave the repos the way they are by default which is pointing to testing.

Which I believe from the cat I gave is what I am: testing. So, I believe I should leave them as-is?

Would I just replace the word "testing" with "unstable" in both occurances if I wanted to get updates from "sid"?

lmintnewb - you give me too much credit.

headkase - Unless there is a specific reason you need bleeding edge other then you want to be on the bleeding edge changing your sources to unstable is stupid. But yep you pretty much got it. After that run sudo apt-get update then sudo apt-get dist-upgrade to resolve any additional dependencies and don't be surprised if you b0rk your system. I warned you.

Ok, I got it! So, changing testing to unstable in both occurances *does* make you "sid". Now, I'm not going to do it, just want to know *how* to do it!