Re:How Obsolete is Your Linux Distro?
by hvs on Monday July 20, 2009 @05:12PM
(#715214)
Is "obsolete" the correct word here? Just because a software package isn't the most recent version doesn't mean that it is obsolete. Depending on the distribution, it could be that the older version is better tested than the most recent version. In that case, you may value stability over the hottest new feature. Let's put it this way: if half of your distribution can be considered obsolete in 2 weeks, your metric is BS.
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:How Obsolete is Your Linux Distro?
by alexgartrell on Monday July 20, 2009 @05:19PM
(#715233)
I suspect that "How obsolete is your distro" is to be taken less than seriously. This site provides interesting statistics regarding the uptake of new versions in popular distributions, the meaning/worth of which is very much left open to the reader. I certainly didn't find any implication that more obsolete means less valuable on the site.
The word "obsolete" has implications, so if he doesn't want to imply those things, he should pick a different word.
Such as? I'd usually use "deprecated" to imply what you think "obsolete" implies; "obsolete" simply means that there's something newer intended to replace the older one.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsolete
1 a: no longer in use or no longer useful <an obsolete word> b: of a kind or style no longer current : old-fashioned <an obsolete technology>
Typewriters are obsolete. Quills are obsolete. A package from last February is not obsolete.
It implies that the older item is comparatively useless -- i.e. completely outclassed.