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  "path": "/posts/20260228-1.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-28T20:50:17.663Z",
  "site": "https://blog.daniel-baumann.ch",
  "tags": [
    "Debian",
    "Linux",
    "backporting",
    "Debian Backports",
    "Debian derivative",
    "Debian 13 (trixie)",
    "Debian Fast Forward",
    "https://fastforward.debian.net",
    "packages",
    "uploads",
    "available"
  ],
  "textContent": "The Debian project releases a new `stable` version of its Linux distribution approximately every two years. During its life time, a `stable` release usually gets security updates only, but in general no feature updates.\n\nFor some packages it is desirable to get feature updates earlier than with the next `stable` release. Some new packages included in Debian after the initial release of a `stable` distribution are desirable for `stable` too.\n\nBoth use-cases can be solved by recompiling the newer version of a package from `testing/unstable` on `stable` (aka backporting). Packages are backported together with only the minimal amount of required build-depends or depends not already fulfilled in `stable` (if any), and without any changes unless required to fix building on `stable` (if needed).\n\nThere are official Debian Backports available, as well as several well-known unofficial backports repositories. I have been involved in one of these unofficial repositories since 2005 which subsequently turned 2010 into its own Debian derivative, mixing both backports and modified packages in one repository for simplicity.\n\nStarting with the Debian 13 (trixie) release, the (otherwise unmodified) backports of this derivative have been split out from the derivative distribution into a separate repository. This way the backports are more accessible and useful for all interested Debian users too.\n\n## TL;DR: Debian Fast Forward - https://fastforward.debian.net\n\n>   * is an alternative Debian repository containing complementary backports from `testing/unstable` to `stable`\n>\n>   * with packages organized in an opinionated, self-contained selection of coherent sets\n>\n>   * supporting `amd64`, `i386`, and `arm64` architectures\n>\n>   * containing around 400 packages in `trixie-fastforward-backports`\n>\n>   * with 1’800 uploads since July 2025\n>\n>\n\n\nEnd user documentation about how to enable Debian Fast Forwards is available.\n\nHave fun!",
  "title": "Daniel Baumann: Debian Fast Forward: An alternative backports repository",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-28T00:00:00.000Z"
}