Ubuntu
latexmk package

Why isn't this package updated?

Asked by Daniel Kessler

The present version of latexmk on the repository for Ubuntu 10.04 is 6 years old, but a current version exists.

output of `latexmk -v` on an up-to-date ubuntu box:
-> latexmk, John Collins, 2 June 2004. Version 3.07a

Current version at http://www.phys.psu.edu/~collins/software/latexmk-jcc/
-> current released version is 4.18 dated 27 July 2010

This may pose incompatibility problems with other scripts expecting a modern version of the script, as I found to be the case for a vim plugin (see this thread: https://bugs.launchpad.net/vim-latex-box/+bug/627084), so I suggest updating the package.

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George Standish
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Best George Standish (george-standish-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#1

Daniel,

You need to understand that Ubuntu uses something called "Timed based releases", more details at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/TimeBasedReleases What this means is software isn't "usually" updated after a version comes out (ie released). Exceptions are made for security and serious bugs but generally no updates of versions of any software will happen by default.

Now there are options if you want to use updated versions of things, the most popular/semi-supported method is to add a PPA with the updated software you are looking for, search PPAs at https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+ppas

If you "really" need the most up-to-date version of a particular program, consult that programs website for particular or manual installation instructions.

But don't expect updates to versions from the default Ubuntu repository.

Best of luck, enjoy Ubuntu,
George

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Daniel Kessler (hornord) said : 		#2

Thank you for your answers. For my personal use, I have downloaded and installed the current version directly from the program's website, as the repository version of latexmk is too old for the particular vim script for LaTeX editing I want to use.

I understand Ubuntu's policy, which aims for stability within the releases. Nevertheless, I'm still surprised that Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 contains such an outdated version of latexmk, from 2004 - that's 6 years and 12 Ubuntu releases older than Lucid! - when latexmk has been activelly updated continuously during this timeframe, as seen here: http://www.phys.psu.edu/~collins/software/latexmk-jcc/versions.html

Other than that, I'm of course a very happy user open source software in general and the Ubuntu (actually Xubuntu) distribution in particular, don't get me wrong ;-)

Daniel

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Daniel Kessler (hornord) said : 		#3

Thanks George Standish, that solved my question.