how come some items in the repos or mint install are outdated?

[iamesperambient]

i noticed some versions of apps/programs are a version or two behind via repos or mint update
would they automatically update or have they not been added? this is a general question not on a specific app.
thanks for any info!

[nomko]

Hi,

Can you specify which applications are 1 or 2 versions behind?

[iamesperambient]

ive noticed for instance guake is outdated the lastest version
came out and i don't see it in mint install for the newest version
not a huge deal but something i noticed in general.

[PCNetSpec]

Packages are updated in the Ubuntu repos if and when they can be tested as fully working/compatible/clean and then packaged.

Not every third party package will get ANY updates .. Between OS releases they tend to update the big stuff like web browsers and flashplayers, etc. but lesser known/used software will either get updated when they get around to it or possibly not at all.

Third party software packages tend to be fairly recent when the OS is first released but obviously the authors may release newer versions .. Ubuntu/Peppermint don't have time to test ALL software as it's released then package it (and NOTHING makes it into the repos until it's tested and packaged (that's one of the things that makes Linux so secure), and as updates to the repos go out to EVERYONE automatically, stability is generally of a higher importance than having bleeding edge software  .. so if you want the very latest it's left up to you to step outside the repos, or wait for the next OS release which will have more recent versions out of the box.

[iamesperambient]

ok thanks for the info

[PCNetSpec]

There may also be other reasons .. such a a third party software author relying on a recent library (or say xorg component) that hasn't or can't be backported to the earlier OS release.
(so the new third party software will never be able to run in 14.04 .. but will work in 14.10 as 14.10 has the newer libraries)

Kinda like software for Win7 that won't work in XP because XP doesn't have the correct DLL versions (and they can't be backported)

There's a lot of "reasons" .. but by far the most common is no time to check the implications for all other software in the default repos, and known stability/security takes precedence

Third party authors are free to create a PPA and package their software themselves .. but NOTHING goes into the default repos until it's tested, checked and poked

[iamesperambient]

thanks for the info

[nomko]

The explanation given by PCNetSpec is not really sufficient. PM and other Ubuntu-based distro's like Mint and Bodhi and Lubuntu/Xubuntu uses the following software repositories:

• Main
• Restricted
• Universe
• Multiverse

You can read more about them here: http://www.howtogeek.com/194247/whats-the-difference-between-main-restricted-universe-and-multiverse-on-ubuntu/.

This will also explain a bit better why some packages are "outdated" in the repository while there's a newer version available on the developers website.

[PCNetSpec]

Not the first time I've been called "insufficient"......

I guess there are times when a small assist from another member can help achieve a satisfactory response .. so many thanks for your additional input nomko

[iamesperambient]

The explanation given by PCNetSpec is not really sufficient. PM and other Ubuntu-based distro's like Mint and Bodhi and Lubuntu/Xubuntu uses the following software repositories:

• Main
• Restricted
• Universe
• Multiverse

You can read more about them here: http://www.howtogeek.com/194247/whats-the-difference-between-main-restricted-universe-and-multiverse-on-ubuntu/.

This will also explain a bit better why some packages are "outdated" in the repository while there's a newer version available on the developers website.

thanks for the added info both equally helpful.

[nomko]

Not the first time I've been called "insufficient"......

No offence meant ofcourse