Explanation - Replace linux-firmware with core/linux-firmware-meta?

[thinman]

I have a couple of PCs here which run Manjaro and occasionally I do updates on them. Now you can start hammering on me, that I should keep Manjaro always up to date and I should keep myself always informed about the updates and all changes. Sure.
The problem is: I have a life to live, work to do, family to take care of, and many more things to do.
There is simply no time to read the announcements.

When at an occasional update a message pops up
“Replace linux-firmware with core/linux-firmware-meta?” without any suggestion or help then I need to start looking here in the forum.
Where I found 2 entries, one of them in the stable announcement category which explained nothing. At least not to someone who is not up to date in Linux knowledge.

My point is: if you really want, that everyday people use Manjaro, then you have to make Manjaro helpful to those average Janes and Joes.
Or if you only want to make Manjaro for “Professionals & Nerds” then please communicate that clearly at the installation screen.

I still don’t know which option to choose and why. And as I have NVidia hardware, I’m afraid to have once again that time consuming fix black screen after update issue when I select the “wrong” choice.
Fancy Desktop UIs are just one part of a pleasant user experience. The more important one, is a hassle free maintenance of the software.

This is not meant to be a rant. It’s the opinion of someone who can’t keep up with the amount of information that needs to be processed every day.

[linux-aarhus]

@thinman

Now you can start hammering on me

No - it is your responsibility - you do it your way…

@thinman

Replace linux-firmware with core/linux-firmware-meta?

It is a simple yes-no question.

Upstream Arch split the linux-firmware into vendor specific packages - which required the user to manually intervene and install the system specific packages.

Manjaro took another approach - linux-firmware-meta is an umbrella for all firmware packages.

This was done to provide an easier transition for the individual user.

So answering yes will replace the old linux-firmware with all available firmware packages.

You you know what firmware packages are applicable for your system you can remove the umbralla

sudo pacman -R linux-firmware-meta

Then you can list firmware packages

 $ pamac search linux-firmware- --no-aur  | grep Installed
linux-firmware-whence  20250708-1 [Installed]                               core
linux-firmware-realtek  20250708-1 [Installed]                              core
linux-firmware-radeon  20250708-1 [Installed]                               core
linux-firmware-other  20250708-1 [Installed]                                core
linux-firmware-nvidia  20250708-1 [Installed]                               core
linux-firmware-mediatek  20250708-1 [Installed]                             core
linux-firmware-intel  20250708-1 [Installed]                                core
linux-firmware-cirrus  20250708-1 [Installed]                               core
linux-firmware-broadcom  20250708-1 [Installed]                             core
linux-firmware-atheros  20250708-1 [Installed]                              core
linux-firmware-amdgpu  20250708-1 [Installed]                               core

Remove those you know you don’t need

@thinman

if you really want, that everyday people use Manjaro, then you have to make Manjaro helpful to those average Janes and Joes

Manjaro Linux is for people taking the deliberate choice to use Linux.

If you don’t want to update your system - that is deliberate choice - a choice I don’t condone - but will respect.

Unlike Windows - you can actually choose to do just that…

Install - disable update nagging - and be done with it.

But with the choice not to update also comes the inability to sync new applications because such action requires an up-to-date system.

To help users which want it that way, I wrote this guide some time ago

[root tip] [How To] Create and use a portable Manjaro mirror

Afterthought - you can use flatpak - although not by guarantee - they should run no matter the the underlying system.

[Nachlese]

The default choice for any such question is usually the safe way to go - especially if you don’t know what either of the choices entails.

As far as I know: the firmware package contained everything - it has now been split into many smaller pieces which you can choose from - if you know what you need or want.
If you don’t know, you’d probably want to keep things as they where.

The meta package ensures that you still have everything that you could possibly need.

[Teo]

Now is the right time for

https://forum.manjaro.org/t/consideration-is-manjaro-the-right-distribution-for-you/

[thinman]

@linux-aarhus

Manjaro took another approach - linux-firmware-meta is an umbrella for all firmware packages.

This was done to provide an easier transition for the individual user.

So answering yes will replace the old linux-firmware with all available firmware packages.

Thanks all for your answers. This above quote is an easy answer and I wished this little piece of text would have been in the update information:

For dummies like me, that gives a quick and safe guidance.

@Nachlese

The default choice for any such question is usually the safe way to go - especially if you don’t know what either of the choices entails.

If there would be a default choice for this question, that also would have helped to quickly decide which way to go.

I’m using Manjaro for at least 7-8 years on most of my PCs (maybe even longer). So my choice is clear and as for now it is the distribution for me.
You guys are professionals regarding Manjaro and of course you think as pros when you create release notes. As the above two sentences show, sometimes it would be helpful if you could also think as a dummy user.

Thanks for your help and above all thanks for your continuous work on Manjaro!

[Phemisters]

@thinman

If there would be a default choice for this question, that also would have helped to quickly decide which way to go.

For future reference: the fact the Y (for yes) is uppercase and the n (for no) is lowercase means yes is the default option. So, if you just press enter at this prompt, the answer is taken to be yes.

[thinman]

You see, I’m a dummy user. I was not aware of this.
Thanks for the explanation!