Arch Linux keeps falling behind in package updates, basic packages like gdb and LLVM are newer in Fedora then in Arch, and Bash is newer in DEBIAN then in Arch. Why have package updates fallen so far behind?

  • I usually don’t mind when most packages get behind, but the one I always notice is GNOME. It’s been taking longer than I would generally expect for Arch to ship a new major update for GNOME. Fedora seems to have more up-to-date packages in most areas and ships them vanilla like Arch, as well as coming with a host of other sane defaults, so I’ve been thinking of making the switch…soon.

      • Oh, I didn’t know that! All I’ve ever seen when this question gets asked in the BBS is “it’ll be done when it’s done :)” which is fair enough. If they’re waiting for the .1 release as an indicator of stability, then that explains why it feels like a while.