A non rolling release distro has a set period of time where it is supported / updates are available. It is not install once update forever. Although often possible to migrate from one LTS version to another without reinstalling, it requires user intervention editing files and running commands, it is generally not recommended / supported by the distribution and it tends to break, at least in my experience.

A LTS distro provides a target for developers to hit, companies to support version x,y,z and some peace of mind for users/companies that they will be supported for several years without having to migrate to another LTS and all that entails, they can even pay to be supported for longer.

These distributions will not update certain packages due to ABI changes for the life of that LTS. Which is related to that target I mentioned. This leads to some users needing to use third party repositories / PPAs / snap / flatpak / appimages much more often that fix certain issues / add features.

A rolling release distribution in contrast does not block updates purely because ABI changes occur and move forward at their leisure. Bleeding edge and rolling release are actually two different things and Solus has never been aimed at the bleeding edge.

^^^🙂 best educatin' I got today.

It also made me think of the curious case of Windows 7 which defies any of these definitions. It was declared dead/End of Life at a specific, announced date then last rites read, ashes to ashes, and even replaced. But then kept on life support (patches and regular KB updates) for 2 years or more..

    brent Factoid- most popular OS in Armenia (in the sky) with over 50% market share: XP (still have an XP box myself).

    Not supported doesn't mean not used (in fact, considering downgrading from 10 to 7 if my next Solus adventure goes well. Just better software support for 7 [but man, finding drivers]).

    I also have to imagine as more people access the web primarily through their phones, the notion of supported OS is going to change dramatically. In fact, I could easily see the end of life for 10 being extended as 11 is proving less popular by the day (and people realize they have other options).

        brent It also made me think of the curious case of Windows 7 which defies any of these definitions. It was declared dead/End of Life at a specific, announced date then last rites read, ashes to ashes, and even replaced. But then kept on life support (patches and regular KB updates) for 2 years or more.

        Microsoft uses a somewhat different model, contrasting with most Linux LTS release cycles. Microsoft tends to support Windows releases for 10 years, in contrast to Linux LTS three-year support cycles, and Microsoft lets Windows releases down in steps over a period of years.

        Windows 7 reached end of life 2015. After than point, Windows 7 stopped development, and no feature updates were issued, but technical support, software updates and security updates continued in the form of KB updates until 2020. After than point, Microsoft technical support, software updates and security updates ended, except for customers paying for Extended Support, which will end next year.

        Windows 10 follows a similar model, although more complicated because Windows 10 versions each have EOL dates. The schedule is more complicated, but the principle is the same. Windows 10 21H2, for example, will continue be updated through 2023, but support will end in 2025.

        In the case of Windows 7, Microsoft issued a few critical security updates after 2020 to all and sundry, paid Extended Support or not, as a result of threats so severe that the Microsoft ecosystem was threatened. That will probably be the case for Windows 10 after end of support is reached in late 2025, as well.

        At some point, though, the party ends, and a Windows edition is no longer supported at all. Windows 3, 3.1, 95, 98, NT, XP and other early editions have met that fate, and it is dangerous to use them. The same is true for Linux. The doesn't stop diehards from continuing to use Ubuntu 4.10 (Warty Warthog), or Windows XP, but at significant risk.

        As you said, Windows life cycles do not fit neatly into the LTS versus rolling release models used in Linux. Chalk and cheese, in fact. I think that's the takeaway.

            qsl Coming from the Windows world, I was under the impression "rolling release" meant there was no set end of life with the distribution, and short of major technological/functional changes, things like software support, updates, etc. would be fairly static and as needed. Am I incorrect in this?

            I like the fact Solus seems focused on breaking as few things as possible as they make changes, and that major changes will have a good cost/benefit analysis instead of chasing the cutting edge.

            Rolling release comes as opposit to fixed point release.
            A rolling release is continuously updated and thus doesn't really need any version number. For example, I am still running Solus 2017.01.01.0 but it doesn't really make a difference with someone running Solus 4.2 or 4.3 because we countinuously update (Friday Sync) and at the end we have the same version of the software.

            A fixed point release has a version number Ubuntu is a typical example 20.4, 20.10, 21.4, 21.10, 22.4, etc... you have to upgrade to the next version to get newer version of your software. Fixed point release provide a minimal set of update during their lifetime (mostly related to vulnerability & critical fixes). Once the fixed point release support period ends, if you didn't upgraded to a newer version, you don't get updates anymore. The version is considered as dead.

            It's normal you never heard about this on Windows since there is just one company releasing this OS so the only release model available is the once Microsoft decide to offer.

              qsl Armenians are smart! XP was fine. Win7 I would still be on if I did not nuke it once upon a time--I had no fear past its shelf life and did not believe all I was told: "the hacky boogeyman is coming for you if you run 7" . "Not supported doesn't mean not used"---I know.

              qsl I also have to imagine as more people access the web primarily through their phones, the notion of supported OS is going to change dramatically.

              I do not and probably will not ever access the internet over my phone---can't think of a reason why I'd want that uncomfortable experience. Am I a dying breed? I hope you are wrong the desktop experience does not fade away. That said the "notion" of how an OS is update---you correctly note----will change.

                    tomscharbach As you said, Windows life cycles do not fit neatly into the LTS versus rolling release models used in Linux. Chalk and cheese, in fact. I think that's the takeaway.

                    You brought order to a process I that I perceived as disorderly and arbitrary. Thank you. Thank you also for not resisting a poetic flourish: chalk and cheese is fantastic.

                      brent I do not and probably will not ever access the internet over my phone

                      I'm in the same category. I've only ever done that in order to add an app that I wanted on my phone, and times I've done that are so rare as to closely approach zero. Since my thumbs aren't well suited to typing on a tiny virtual keyboard, I normally even limit my texting to typing stuff like "STOP".

                      I do have my email accounts available to my phone, but only to use in case of emergency. I never access them from the phone otherwise, and so far there haven't been any emergencies. My granddaughter, on the other hand ...

                        brent I do not and probably will not ever access the internet over my phone

                        The flip side is someone like me who almost exclusively accesses the internet from there phone. Heck, almost every forum post I've had here has been from my phone, including this one.
                        While I love my PCs, I'm almost always using my work device during the week and I refuse to do anything personal on it. Even with Firefox multi account containers, I don't trust any employer who provides computer hardware not to have active monitoring or possibly key loggers installed. I don't work at home so my personal PC typically isn't with me. I could tote around 2 laptops with me everyday, but my bag is already heavy enough, so that's for the rare work trip out of town.

                            Brucehankins Now if someone PAID me to...I'd be singing a different tune🙂
                            @WetGeek I got it set-up for that break-glass situation you describe. but shopping on ebay? reading the news? watching a clip? I don't know how people do it. The desktop experience is superior but obviously that is very subjective

                                Brucehankins Heck, almost every forum post I've had here has been from my phone, including this one.

                                Obviously, we've worked for different companies. I mentioned my granddaughter minutes ago ... she just graduated from college and got her first job. Has that ever caused withdrawal symptoms!

                                  brent The desktop experience is superior but obviously that is very subjective

                                  I think it may have something to do with the thumb size vs. phone size ratio. Mine is pretty high.

                                      brent I agree the desktop experience is better, but make due with what's available at the time.
                                      WetGeek Thumb size is a constant issue. My phone is small by today's standards with only a 5.8" screen size.

                                            Brucehankins I agree the desktop experience is better, but make due with what's available at the time.

                                            Of course. My observations re: desktop/phone were personal life-related; we all know occupational is a whole other animal including my own.

                                              Brucehankins Solus does have a decent amount of default features that make gaming on Linux easier compared to other distros. For example Solus has increased file limits to enable ESync support. Dependencies for Lutris/Steam now include many of the packages I used to have to manually install.

                                              Aside from having an easy to use settings menu another perk of having a Nvidia GPU is that you don't have to wait until the kernel is updated to use the latest and greatest driver.

                                              @Harvey Explains the differences perfectly! I tried running a bleeding edge distro, openSUSE Tumbleweed for 3 months and just got frustrated by the amount of packages that get updated. I also ran into constant failures when trying to update the packages and random times the kernel update broke the Nvidia driver requiring a driver reinstall. I ran into the last issue on many distros but surprisingly I never ran into that issue for the past three years I've been using Solus.