Updating Blender

[TURK]

Hi all,

How do I update Blender to the latest version please ?



TURK

[AVLinux]

Hi all,

How do I update Blender to the latest version please ?



TURK

MX Linux is based on Debian 12 Stable (Bookworm) and wouldn't be expected to have the latest version of Blender. While it is true that the MX packagers do an amazing number of backports of newer versions of programs Blender isn't one of them currently. In my experience Blender provides it's own Distro-agnostic, self-contained ready-to-run bundle from it's website and this is by far the easiest way to keep up with the latest versions. It is often quite out of date in Debian's repositories.

https://www.blender.org/download/

[TURK]

Many thanks for quick response AVLinux.

I'm quite new to linux, so please forgive me if I sound a little dim .............. So, basically you're saying that' it's not possible to upgrade to a newer version of Blender by the normal means. And that I should ( or could ) download and install the latest version of Blender using the link that you so kindly supplied, therefore I should probably uninstall the version I currently have installed ( v3.4.1 ) and install the latest version from the Blender website. I would want at the very least version 4.0


Thank you


TURK

[AVLinux]

Hi,
Essentially yes, as it currently is you can't get a newer version on MX-23 through the Package Manager. Note that that Blender from its website isn't the same thing as a 'Debian Package' (deb). It doesn't exactly install, you download Blender from the site, extract the compressed folder and you can run Blender right from it's folder if you want. Also the website version of Blender shouldn't interfere with your installed version but there is probably no reason to have both on your system.

Another option:

I am the maintainer of AV Linux which is an MX-based specialized version for Content Creators. I actually do a custom Blender Debian Package for AV Linux releases made from the Blender website bundle BUT... It is not an official MX Repository package and I don't maintain every new release of Blender and I believe my current version is 4.2.2 (posting this from phone). It would take the Blender website version and install it like a regular Debian Package if that is of interest to you it can be found here:

https://bandshed.net/packages/AVL_MXe-2 ... _amd64.deb

[RedGreen925]

Many thanks for quick response AVLinux.

I'm quite new to linux, so please forgive me if I sound a little dim .............. So, basically you're saying that' it's not possible to upgrade to a newer version of Blender by the normal means.
Thank you


TURK

You are using the normal means of doing it. You lack the understanding of what is the main complaint against Debian stable and OSs based on it. That being the packages are set in stone when stable is released never getting updated to new versions. So right now just about two years into this stable release the packages are just about two years out of date. Now they do have things such as backports as has been mentioned but it appears that only AVLiunx has cared enough to do it. The app .tar.gz I think it was I downloaded last night works perfectly fine as has been mentioned. I extracted it and left it in my Downloads directory click on the executable and it runs perfectly it even allowed me to pin the icon to the taskbar and continue to work from that location by clicking on it again to start it up. Most times for those types of packages I need to create a .desktop file to have it work like that, refreshing to see a packager take the care to ensure it just works as is.

[AVLinux]

@RedGreen925

To be fair and give credit where it's due, the MX Packagers do literally hundreds of backports of all kinds including some specific to AV Linux so it's not a matter of 'care'. Some applications are harder to backport than others and backports require proper 'Debianized' package sources. I do a small handful of things specific to AV and also things that can't be installed from the MX Repo due to licensing and redistribution clauses..etc.

The amazing balancing act MX does between Debian Stable and current backports is due to the tireless work of the MX Packagers.

[RedGreen925]

@RedGreen925

To be fair and give credit where it's due, the MX Packagers do literally hundreds of backports of all kinds including some specific to AV Linux so it's not a matter of 'care'.

I did not mean to leave that impression, I was thinking of the Debian crowd and their efforts at it when saying that. They usually go with it its out there and suck it up for the next two years attitude towards the packages they do.

Edit: And I would add over these two decades I have used it since Woody came out in 2003 they will do them if the care about it happening otherwise it is the normal hit you over the head with the "oh that is our policy" when asked. But that goes out the window when they want to do something. Their policy was software freedom and the *nix philosophy do one thing and do it well, until they went for the systemd subversion effort led by IBM/Redhat/Gnome/Microsoft. I lost an huge amount of respect for them when they did that.

[dove]

I know this is not how you want to do it but go to "https://www.blender.org/" and download the latest. Extract where you want it (I use /home). Open the newly extracted blender folder and click on the blender icon and blender will open.Then go to "edit" (top left header) then "preferences" then "system" you will see "operating system setting" then click "register" and this will integrate blender into your system. xfce and cairo-dock allow you make custom launchers.

[TURK]

Thanks Dove ; )
I did mention right at the beginning of this thread that I was new to Linux, usually I just stick to 'MX Installer' to install packages. I'm now beginning to understand why the packages are 'older' versions, and it makes great sense, knowing that the packages listed are in effect known to be stable on MX Linux .............. obviously things take time to settle down and fix errors and bugs and whatnot.

Normally I wouldn't bother running the very latest apps/programs, but as I'm wanting to learn Blender 3D I thought it best to run the same version that the tutor is running.



TURK

[oops]

... Lol ... I do the exact opposite:
https://www.blender.org/download/lts/
My favorite Blender version still : LTS Release 2.83.20 (for the python script of VDrift , .joe, etc)