I’d like to try Tumbleweed, and I’ll start on a VM (qemu-kvm).
The directions at, https://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Tumbleweed, look like all you do is change the repositories
on an existing installation. If that is correct, do I download the DVD at http://software.opensuse.org/131/en,
install it, and then change the repositories — and then I am “using” Tumbleweed?
Are all the desktops available on Tumbleweed, including Mate?
Essentially. Once you change the repos you do a zypper dup. Note that Tumbleweed is not for the beginner or the faint at hart. Also you will find a forum thread dedicated to Tumbleweed and questions should be asked there.
On 2014-10-10 02:36, opensuseforumorg42 wrote:
>
> I’d like to try Tumbleweed, and I’ll start on a VM (qemu-kvm).
Then you have to ask on the Tumbleweed forum. Please ask a moderator to
move your post there. Just click on the triangle report button below.
> The directions at, https://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Tumbleweed, look like
> all you do is change the repositories
> on an existing installation. If that is correct, do I download the DVD
> at http://software.opensuse.org/131/en,
> install it, and then change the repositories — and then I am “using”
> Tumbleweed?
>
> Are all the desktops available on Tumbleweed, including Mate?
Eummm… are you familiar with openSUSE? If you are not, I would not
recommend Tumbleweed, but instead use the standard 13.1. At least till
you familiarize yourself with this ecosystem.
–
Cheers / Saludos,
Carlos E. R.
(from 13.1 x86_64 “Bottle” at Telcontar)
Yes. But I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I’ll explain below.
Are all the desktops available on Tumbleweed, including Mate?
I don’t think MATE is there, unless you add additional MATE repos.
Why it is not a good idea:
In the past, tumbleweed has followed the release cycle. If that practice continues, then when 13.2 comes out, tumbleweed will change to being based on 13.2. A tumbleweed user doesn’t have to do anything for this, other than a “zypper dup” to update to the latest. But that update was a major change.
However, 13.2 is due out in less than a month. So it would probably be wiser to wait a few weeks.
Then there’s the additional issue. There has been some suggestion of discontinuing support for Tumbleweed, because of the new way that factory is handled. So it might be that when 13.2 is released, Tumbleweed will simply become 13.2, and those who want more active updates will be encouraged to switch to factory.
I’m not sure what you want out of tumbleweed. But I suggest you also consider running factory, before you make a final decision.
For perspective, here’s what I am doing:
I have Tumbleweed install, and I have several installs of factory (usually on second partitions). When 13.2 comes out, I plan to discontinue using Tumbleweed. Some of my instances of factory will simply be replaced with a 13.2 install – I was running factory for early testing of 13.2. But I will also keep one instance of factory as a rolling distribution.
(Added update: MATE is in factory and will be part of 13.2).
Oopss, sorry about the wrong placement. I did not see the specific Tumbleweed forum (I didn’t scroll).
Faint of heart, not to worry 
I came to openSUSE many years ago from Slackware
(but repositories - name, purpose, trip me up for some reason). openSUSE provides just the right amount of
tinkering 
I always work in a virtual machine and leave the host stable, and just in case, I backup to a NAS.
Some folks went to LMDE (Linux Mint Debian Edition) for the rolling release. Interesting, that too has recently
changed. I need to know more about openSUSE’s Tumbleweed to compare
(http://www.linuxmint.com/download_lmde.php).
But I will definitely take your advice and look at factory. Looks like I should start here:
https://en.opensuse.org/Portal:Factory
The desktop question came from my experience of installing 13.1 with Mate. There was no Mate in
the list of desktops. I went through the process of installing a minimal X, adding the repository
(after searching for a while to find it), and selecting it. I knew it existed at one time because of
news and friends who use it, but wasn’t sure of the current state within the openSUSE community.
Thank you for sharing your experience and suggestions.
It was helpful.
I don’t believe Mate is officially supported so it is fully a community effort and not officially sanctioned or supported.
It is available though
have no idea how it would be with Tumbleweed. You probably will be plowing new fields