How to update to newest versions of software

[montfinal]

Hi,
when I check in the software library or in the synaptic package manager, I often find software that is very, very outdated.
Examples:
- Qtractor. in Synaptic I can install 0.9.5 (which is from Feb 2019), whereas in real life, the Qtractor is at 0.9.19.
- Qjackctl: Synaptic installs 0.5.0, which is from 2017, but there's already 0.9.0 available
- Audacity: Synaptic installs 2.2.2 which is from Feb 2020, whereas 2.4.2 has been released mid 2020

My questions are:
- How can I get newer versions to be installed from synaptic
- How can I upgrade installed software to the latest releases (or at least newer releases).

I am using LMDE4.

Many thanks in advance for any help with this newbie question;
Cheers
Alexander

[Moem]

Hello, I've moved your post out of the Main Edition area since LMDE is not Main Edition, please take note of that. Thanks!

[Pjotr]

This should explain it:
https://easylinuxtipsproject.blogspot.c ... 2.html#ID3
(item 3)

[montfinal]

Thanks, clear!

[phd21]

Hi montfinal,

I just read your post and the good replies to it. Here are my thoughts on this as well.

Good link from Pjotr.

Unless there are some compelling reasons to get a newer version of some software application like bugfixes or new features you want or need, and if the current one works, then use the current one.

One of the reasons I do not use LMDE (Debian) versions of Linux Mint versus their regular Ubuntu based versions is that they do not support using PPA's which will have the most current versions. In case you did not know, people can download Linux installation deb files from a PPA instead of installing the PPA if they want to; I am not sure these deb files will work with Debian LMDE systems though.

Audacity 2.4.2 PPA is back for Ubuntu 20.04 / 18.04 | UbuntuHandbook
https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... -04-18-04/

How to install Audacity on Debian 9 - Linux4one
https://linux4one.com/how-to-install-au ... n-debian-9

Audacity 2.3.2 - from the Deb Multimedia Packages::audacity
https://www.deb-multimedia.org/dists/st ... e/audacity


I personally try to avoid using Snap or Flatpak installation packages whenever I can, but sometimes it is the only way to get certain software.
Snap - Install Audacity on Debian using the Snap Store | Snapcraft
https://snapcraft.io/install/audacity/debian

Flatpak - Audacity 2.4.2 Released with Updated wxWidgets Library | UbuntuHandbook
https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... -released/

Hope this helps ...

[montfinal]

Hello phd21,
thanks for your reply. I get your and Pjotr's point concerning not changing software when it works. We are so much formatted by this "did you install the latest version". I feel unsecure if I run into tech problems, and then I see I have a version that is 2 years old. But that's probably a personal problem.

Thanks again and Happy New Year to you guys.

[phd21]

Hi montfinal,

You are welcome from all of us that replied.

Happy New Year to you as well.