[kwlug-disc] why would you do "apt-get dist-upgrade" regularly?

[Adam Glauser]

Chris Frey wrote:
> But jumping major versions may require changing whole packages.  Perhaps
> iceweasel is now called superfrozenrat or something.  Such an upgrade
> is not a simple direct line, but both are web browsers, and both
> will provide that meta functionality.  The package maintainers will
> keep the package meta data such that a dist-upgrade will likely find
> the right path for you to take.
> 
> So, in the above example, apt-get upgrade might fail, saying that
> iceweasel is not available to upgrade, and another package depends on
> web browser.  apt-get dist-upgrade will take a higher view and actually
> remove iceweasel and install superfrozenrat instead, automatically.
> 
> So goes my understanding, anyway.  Dist-upgrade will not jump major
> versions against your will, it just changes the logic of what is
> acceptable to upgrade.

FWIW, I example of this happening in practise.  I seem to be required to 
use dist-upgrade from time to time in Kubuntu if the kernel version is 
changing.  I'm not sure if this is typical, or if has to do with special 
dependencies like proprietary graphics drivers.