Installing a newer version of Thunar

[yyy]

I am currently using mx 19 xfce. I was wondering if it is possible to update the thunar file manager to the latest 4.17 version, from here:
https://archive.xfce.org/src/xfce/thunar/4.17/

Practicaly I am thinking to install the newer version over the existing installation. Would that introduce any problems to my system?

[JayM]

Probably. Thunar isn't a stand-alone file manager, it's part of the Xfce desktop environment, so the newer version would also install a lot of dependencies that aren't compatible with Debian Buster which MX-19 is based on. I suggest you just wait a few weeks then do a fresh install of MX-21 when it's released.

[yyy]

I see. Then it is better to wait and not risk it! Thank you!

[Stevo]

WA (Well, actually), I've had much success in the past backporting newer Thunars for MX, so odds are good that it will be possible for the latest release.

Repology still lists 4.16.8 as the current release, though.

Hopefully, the 4.17.X series doesn't require some xfce 4.17 development release, though that might explain why it went from versions 1.8.X to 4.16 for xfce 4.16. At least I can try a 4.16.8 backport.

[figueroa]

I see. Then it is better to wait and not risk it! Thank you!

Good decision. The joy of the latest shiny new but not stable version is highly over-rated. Much grief lies in that direction.

[yyy]

I agree with that. On the other hand, if someone knows that in a short time he/she will make a fresh install, it may be a nice oportunity for "experimentation" :-)

[entropyfoe]

Do you get a better thunar icon (more representative of a file manager) ?

[yyy]

Do you get a better thunar icon (more representative of a file manager) ?

I do not know, but you can easily change the icon in any application.

[enigma9o7]

WA (Well, actually), I've had much success in the past backporting newer Thunars for MX, so odds are good that it will be possible for the latest release.

Repology still lists 4.16.8 as the current release, though.

Hopefully, the 4.17.X series doesn't require some xfce 4.17 development release

I tried building it on debian 11, wanted to check out the splitscreen, and it seems it needs newer version of libexo-2-dev than what's available in bullseye repo... have you tried yet, any tricks/advice?

Code: Select all

*** The required package exo-2 was found on your system,
*** but the installed version (4.16.0) is too old.
*** Please upgrade exo-2 to atleast version 4.17.0, or adjust
*** the PKG_CONFIG_PATH environment variable if you installed
*** the new version of the package in a nonstandard prefix so
*** pkg-config is able to find it.

complete autogen output: http://paste.debian.net/1211385/

[Stevo]

Yes, it does indeed need development xfce 4.17 libraries, which doesn't make it a good fit with our 4.16.