Hi guys. I just wrote a little article about OpenSuse 12.1. Nothing too in depth, but I included some pointers for those wanting to try the Tumbleweed experience. I also pointed out something that I see that needs to be corrected in the “Additional Repositories” page. I hope I did OK. See what you think.
Nice
Thank you
+1
Just one point of contention re Tumbleweed WRT “rolling release”:
…without the need of installing a new version of the OS.
Indeed that’s the concept of a rolling release. However, Tumbleweed always depends on the latest openSUSE release. When the openSUSE release changes, the tumbleweed repo empties, and you first have to upgrade your tumbleweed system to the new openSUSE release. In the recent case of tumbleweed-11.4 –> [standard] 12.1, it involved a download comparable to upgrading a standard 11.4 system to 12.1, and included many package downgrades. At some point after that, the tumbleweed repo will begin to gain package updates against 12.1.
That’s not really so different from a standard system upgrade using “zypper dup”. Technically, Tumbleweed is not providing the system upgrades, standard openSUSE is doing that.
Overall I liked your article. 
I see. Still, what I said was:
“Of course, there are limits in how much can be upgraded this way, but a well implemented rolling release distribution can keep its users up to date, with the latest and greatest, for years, without the need of installing a new version of the OS”.
Even full blown “Rolling Release” distros like PCLinuxOS eventually reach a point in which they have to tell their users that the end of the line has been reached for a platform and that they have to install the next version to continue getting updates. So, it is not much different than the situation with OpenSuse, except that with OpenSuse this may happen more frequently. However, it is not unforeseeable that the next “upgrade” would be provided through Tumbleweed. Right?
My experience with PCLinuxOS resulted in serious doubts about it qualifying as a full-blown rolling release. It reached the point of no return on several occasions. I think their longer release cycle (> 8 months) gives the appearance of a lengthy rolling period.
Arch Linux is considered a good example of a typical rolling release, where the installation media of the base system rarely changes.
Unless there is a major rethink, the Tumbleweed maintainer asserted (especially on the factory mailing list) it will always be based on the current openSUSE release. That means every eight months or so you will do a zypper dup to the new release before you can take advantage of the new tumbleweed repo as it slowly populates. That zypper dup will probably contain a significant number of package downgrades, upgrades, reinstalls, and additional packages. A clean install of the new release wouldn’t be much different as a base for the addition of the new tumbleweed repo. This is not the same or even close to a typical rolling release concept where distro release changes are seamless.
However for 6-8 months you will have regular and substantial updates through most weeks. Until 12.2 answers the question (or not), good luck with the crystal balls.
When did you tried it? There was period of about a year (2008/20090?), when Texstar was on a leave, that the distro was not rolling as good as normal. But, since Texstar returned he has kept the distro purring along just fine will smooth updates for years now.
OpenSuse is a fine distro, that is why I have it running on my laptop. No need to smear other distros to prop OpenSuse up.
I tried Arch once and didn’t like the experience. Too much reading, too much work, and it still did not work as smooth as PCLinuxOS. But, I should probably give it a second chance since so many people seem to like it.
You are probably right about this. Stating that is a good way to cover himself and keep people from expecting too much. But, I guess I am an optimist. 
I agree with you about not needing to smear other distros. I tried PCLinuxOS for several years on my old desktop PC alongside openSUSE releases. 2010 was the last release I installed and it was good. I had used PCLOS for a few apps where openSUSE support was weak at the time. Prior to that, I remember significant problems arising from the hugely talented Texstar’s absence, but I also recall a great amount of work from Texstar and his new team to put things right, which eventually led to the fine 2010 release. Earlier this year, updating/upgrading 2010 failed. I found out the problem and the fix, but events overtook the upgrade and my old PC. I will probably re-visit that when spare time allows, mainly to see if its rolling upgrade is closer now to what I hope for.
Keep up the optimism - one never knows.