I've been exploring various long-term support (LTS) Linux distributions like Ubuntu flavors, Mint, and MX Linux, but I've recently switched to Fedora KDE. My main concern revolves around how LTS distros handle desktop environment (DE) updates. When a DE like Plasma or XFCE releases a new version, LTS distros usually don't update to that version until the next LTS is released. This means users can be stuck with older versions of desktop applications for years, leading to unresolved bugs. I've read that manually updating DEs can create dependency conflicts, which could break the system. For example, Mint XFCE is still on version 4.18 while XFCE just released 4.20, including new features I find useful, like a new 'new tab' icon in Thunar. It's frustrating to feel limited by outdated features while others enjoy improvements. Is it really the case that LTS users have to live with these bugs until the next release, or are there workarounds?
5 Answers
You're right that LTS can seem inflexible, and often bugs remain unresolved until the next major release unless users report them and maintainers choose to backport fixes. It can be frustrating, and that’s why some folks recommend trying atomic distros; you’d get the latest without breaking the entire system if something goes south.
LTS versions usually receive backport updates for critical security patches from newer versions. For example, you might not see a switch from version 2.2 to 3.0 until the next LTS, but if there’s an important bug fix in 3.0, it can be backported to the 2.x series.
Fixed release distros do get updates, but they skip the new feature updates. Security patches and critical bug fixes can still be pushed out. Nowadays, many distros are leaning on Flatpak or Snap, so you could have older versions installed from the system but run newer apps as Flatpaks. Just keep in mind, you won’t get new features automatically until the next LTS upgrade.
I see it as a trade-off. LTS releases may not have the latest apps, but they tend to be more stable since they’ve been rigorously tested. In contrast, with rolling releases, it’s exciting to have the latest and greatest, but it can also lead to incompatibilities and bugs, especially with new hardware. If you like stability, sticking with something like Fedora until you encounter issues might be a solid plan!
Exactly! I think I’ll ride out Fedora 43 for a bit. If something goes wrong, then I’ll rethink the value of an LTS compared to a rolling release.
You might be able to update Thunar or other apps from the latest XFCE repository or use Flatpak for the newest versions. LTS distros receive security updates but don’t usually adopt new features right away, so you're right about being stuck on older versions.
Yeah, but if I go that route, can I remove the old Thunar version? I wouldn't want duplicates just for a few new features!
That makes sense! So if I use the Flatpak, I might end up with both the old version and the Flatpak version installed, right?