Disadvantages of ~x86

pauk · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 7:14 am Post subject: Disadvantages of ~x86

I recently added ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="~x86" to my /etc/make.conf file so I could run a newer version of Mozilla and GAIM. I noticed there's a lot more packages available (updated versions of ethereal, nmap, etc).

Now, here's my question. I'm using my machine as a day-to-day desktop system. I don't want my system to fall over and die on my suddenly (It's my only machine...), but I do want to be able to run some of the more recent software.

Would it be (relatively) safe to continue working with ~x86 in my make.conf file, and would it also be (relatively) safe to update packages like GNOME, gcc, glibc, grub and some other tools Portage is recommending to me when I run a emerge -up system/world?

Thanks in advance!

slartibartfasz · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 7:27 am Post subject:

'~x86' means that u use development packages - u cant be sure that they work...

i would use:

darktux · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 8:44 am Post subject:

I've been using ~x86 for quite some time, and no real problems yet. I guess I'm just lucky :wink:

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slartibartfasz · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 9:03 am Post subject:

yeah - i use ~x86 too - even on a production server - no serious problems so far, but i wouldnt do this if i had only one machine...if there is a problem with a major package (portage, glibc,...) u are in serious trouble.

in addition there are sometimes minor problems with one ebuild or the other and you should have at least some knowledge to work around them - from time to time i had to tweak a ebuild or implement a solution from bugs.gentoo.org - if u have no experience with this i would rather stay with the stable system for if something breaks serously and a reinstall is necessary it might buy u a few days without a running computer...

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dolbz · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 11:01 am Post subject:

I'm running it only an only machine and haven't run into a problem yet. infact I prefer it because you really are on the bleeding edge and know that your system is as up to date as possible

idl · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 12:14 pm Post subject:

I've been using ~x86 since I installed Gentoo.. Most packages are fine to install, but of course others are not.. like CVS ebuilds for example and development branch ebuilds. But those shouldnt install by default anyway, you will probably need to emerge them specifically...

Its ok to use ~x86 as long as you are careful and consider all the factors before you install potentially unstable software.
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guero61 · l33t Joined: 14 Oct 2002 Posts: 811 Location: Behind you

I too have used "~x86" for several months now. I would note that back in November/December, I had some problems with the ~x86 packages nuking stuff, but never so badly that I had to start from scratch. I guess that's why it's called the "bleeding edge"