Where do I get a newer version of GNOME Evolution?

Each time I find a bug and submit it to https://bugzilla.gnome.org I am stuck with the issue that the developers tell me to install a newer version because in Leap 42.3 Evolution is some obsolete v.3.20.5.

On https://bugzilla.opensuse.org I was told:

Unfortunately, for Leap 42.3, evolution (or any other apps from the GNOME stack) will not be updated to an newer version to maintain UX consistency. If there is a way to backport patches from an updated version that upstream suggests, without too much surgery, we will consider that. That, of course, depends on whether this is fixed even in the latest evolution (e.g. on Tumbleweed) or not.

I found this page but I see no official repo for 42.3 with newer version.

This creates a closed circuit: The user who finds a bug cannot report it adequately upstream because the software version is too old. At the same time the software is deliberately not updated in the repo due to something else.

So how can I get Evolution updated?

On Sun 11 Feb 2018 02:36:02 PM CST, heyjoe wrote:

Each time I find a bug and submit it to https://bugzilla.gnome.org I am
stuck with the issue that the developers tell me to install a newer
version because in Leap 42.3 Evolution is some obsolete v.3.20.5.

On https://bugzilla.opensuse.org I was told:
>
> Unfortunately, for Leap 42.3, evolution (or any other apps from the
> GNOME stack) will not be updated to an newer version to maintain UX
> consistency. If there is a way to backport patches from an updated
> version that upstream suggests, without too much surgery, we will
> consider that. That, of course, depends on whether this is fixed even
> in the latest evolution (e.g. on Tumbleweed) or not.
>

I found ‘this page’ (openSUSE Software)
but I see no official repo for 42.3 with newer version.

This creates a closed circuit: The user who finds a bug cannot report it
adequately upstream because the software version is too old. At the same
time the software is deliberately not updated in the repo due to
something else.

So how can I get Evolution updated?

Hi
Which is all how it’s done with Leap (and SLE), dod you have the
openSUSE bugzilla reference?


Cheers Malcolm °¿° SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE Leap 42.3|GNOME 3.20.2|4.4.114-42-default
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https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1079348

Hi
I would be patient since DimStar has pinged SReeves. I don’t use evolution, claws-mail instead both on openSUSE and SLE…

I am patient :slight_smile:
In what sense is claws-mail better?

On Sun 11 Feb 2018 10:16:01 PM CST, heyjoe wrote:

malcolmlewis;2854989 Wrote:
> Hi
> I would be patient since DimStar has pinged SReeves. I don’t use
> evolution, claws-mail instead both on openSUSE and SLE…

I am patient :slight_smile:
In what sense is claws-mail better?

Hi
I use it for nntp, these forums (as well as SUSE and Microfocus), nntp
for the openSUSE Mailing lists (vi gmane) and a NZ based usenet group
server, as well as mail. One interface for multiple activities… I’ve
found Evolution to be too slow… and used claws for a long time now…

Give it another couple of days and then bump the bug for an update :wink:


Cheers Malcolm °¿° SUSE Knowledge Partner (Linux Counter #276890)
openSUSE Leap 42.3|GNOME 3.20.2|4.4.114-42-default
If you find this post helpful and are logged into the web interface,
please show your appreciation and click on the star below… Thanks!

You could install TW in VM (or may be docker container) and test it.

Interesting. I will give it a try, thanks.

Give it another couple of days and then bump the bug for an update :wink:

Yesterday I opened another bug for another Evolution issue with a reference to the comments in the previous one, so hopefully someone will look at it.

Sure, I can. But I don’t think it is very sane to maintain a separate OS just for an email client.

Exactly why I run Tumbleweed.

This is a bit risky but I always try it in these old version software situations. What do I have to lose? If I trash my install, I just back my critical stuff up and start all over and reinstall.

Deinstall evolution via Yast. Then google evolution.rpm. The RPM resource website appears as a choice. Then I download the rpm, Fedora is my usual version choice. Then I install it. But, just like when I install Chrome or the Citrix receiver or other Non-Yast program, Yast threatens me that I’ll bonk the whole system - and indeed I take the risk that I might just do that - if I install it. But so far I’ve had no problems.

I’ve most often seen this with hplip versions that are so old they don’t cover printers beyond about 2 years ago.

Again, it’s buyer beware. But it’s worked for me most of the time. Good luck!

@malcolmlewis

claws-mail is really interesting but also dated: 3.13.2 (from Jan.2016) on Leap 42.3 repo (even older on TW and only 32-bit, strange):

https://software.opensuse.org/package/claws-mail

Generally I am hesitant to add non-official repos, so I filed a bug report asking for update.

Another thing: I notice it updates my 30k+ gmail (All mail folder) messages veeeery slowly (I need to wait several minutes, Evolution does it very fast) and the only way to resolve this seems to be to unsubscribe from “All mail” (which is not such a bright idea). Do you know any way to fix that?

Hi
I would suggest server:mail repository for 3.16 on 42.3… search for Tumbleweed is not accurate, 3.16 is in Tumbleweed…

The question that bothers me is: On what basis can any of these non-official repos be trusted?

Hi
Well then if you can’t trust a development repository for Tumbleweed…?

As a casual maintainer since 2012 (check the changelog emails) I think in this case you will be fine… :wink:

The following link is the goto place for me to find software for openSUSE. The software is setup for openSUSE (mostly, from my experiences) and more often than not works properly.

https://software.opensuse.org/find

Perhaps you are right. Meanwhile I have also asked for update:

https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1080550

Hopefully it will happen and we won’t need that other repo gym.