Updates and upgrades

Support
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My previous distribution was Linux Mint, and I have used others. Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. Their LMDE is based on Debian.

From reading your Topic, just want to make sure that you are aware that Manjaro is a Rolling Release. Manjaro is based on Archlinux. Don’t expect it to be like Ubuntu. Distrowatch is a good place to get an overview of the various distributions. Sometimes it can be helpful to review wiki.archlinux.org or their forum, but come back to this forum to post anything specific to Manjaro.

Regarding mirrors, see this post.

These two links can be helpful:

I don’t use flatpak or snap, and I update once a month. In my case, I do use VM’s to test. I have my own backup, but many use Timeshift. I use the command line pacman to update packages from Manjaro supported Repositories. I use command line pamac to install and rebuild packages from the AUR.

Q1: You do NOT have to manually do the paccache. There is a systemd timer, pamac-cleancache that will take care of it. To change how many versions, check pamac.conf or pamac GUI.

systemctl list-timers

systemctl cat pamac-cleancache.service

grep -i keepnumpackages /etc/pamac.conf

See this post.

Q2: You will know what is being updated by reading the Stable Update Announcement. The first two posts are the most important. When I was using Linux Mint I made sure to read Clem’s Release Notes and his Blog. Make sure the kernels (always have 2 installed) are LTR. The kernel version releases are updated when you do an update. However, I installed the new kernel versions via the script mhwd-kernel.

Q3: I’ve taken the words upgrade and update to mean the same thing on a rolling release. A user is constantly updating and upgrading various system and application software that runs on their hardware. The updating is minor releases and modifications, while the upgrading is major versions. How do you know what is going to be installed - Read the Stable Update Announcement. In addition the command checkupdates or pamac checkupdates will list the packages that will be updated/upgraded.

Q4: I have seen the recommendation to only do an update from the command line.

In this thread I list the steps I take.

In your list, I don’t believe I saw anything about reviewing pacnew files.

Also, any changes you make, document them. Just a simple text file, so you can refer to them if necessary.

Q5: Read the Stable Update Announcment, especially posts 1 and 2. philm very nicely lists, “Known issues and solutions”.

  • Search this forum.
  • Search the Announcement.
  • If you are having a problem relating to the update, post in the update’s Announcement.
  • If not specific to the update, create a new Topic. If in question, just post a new Topic.
  • If you are having a problem with a specific application.
    • View that application’s forum
    • View that application’s source bug database (gitlab Issues)
      • pacman -Qi PKG | grep URL might be a start where to go online

In no time at all, you’ll get a good understanding.

Have fun. :slight_smile:

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