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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Help me understand Linux distros updates. (startrek.website)

submitted 1 year ago by jameskirk@startrek.website to c/linux@lemmy.ml

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Hi I'm relatively new to Linux. There's talk about updating, say from Fedora 37 to 38.

Is this something that needs to happen manually? If I solely update through the updater software, I'm not getting the whole "38"?

I understand that, of course, I won't see updates on the installer or I won't use a new supported partition type unless I install it again.

Apart from that, what's missing? Some software won't be updated? The kernel?

Thank you all!

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[–] lotanis@discuss.tchncs.de 50 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You can update your version of Fedora through the updater software as well but it's a very clear separate process that is initiated manually.

Distro version updates bring major updates to key packages - the one you'd notice most would be to Gnome, the desktop environment. There will be other things too that get only bugfix and security updates during the life of that version, and then after a while that version will lose support and you won't get any updates at all (https://docs.fedoraproject.org/en-US/releases/lifecycle/).

Updating is very safe and reliable. I've had my Fedora install at work for 3 years, updating periodically and it's working extremely well.

[–] cryball@sopuli.xyz 10 points 1 year ago

To OP: this is a much clearer & better explanation for what I was trying to say.