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• Launchpad entry: https://features.launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+spec/ubuntu-deltaiso/

• Packages affected: none

Summary

With SUSE Linux, a program called applydeltaiso is available which can convert ISOs of development versions - i.e. alpha, beta and RC - into later versions of the same release. See http://en.opensuse.org/Download_Instructions#Applying_Delta_ISOs For examples see for SUSE Linux 10.1 at http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/SL-10.1/delta-iso/ and openSUSE 10.2 alpha 3 at http://download.opensuse.org/distribution/openSUSE-10.2-Alpha4/delta-iso/

Such a method should be used for Ubuntu also.

Rationale

It is easy for who have downloaded ISOs of development versions to simply upgrade them using such a method, instead of downloading the whole new ISO. Especially when we use the DVD images.

Use cases

Negative: Ram downloaded the CD or DVD of Kubuntu Edgy Knot 2. Now Knot 3 has come out and he is forced to redownload 700 MB for the CD or 3.5 GB for the DVD. He feels this is rather testing his interest in testing Kubuntu.

Positive: Ram has downloaded the CD or DVD of Kubuntu Edgy Knot 2. Now Knot 3 has come out. He simply downloads perhaps 20% of the original file size (150 MB for CD, 750 MB for DVD) and then does applydeltaiso and presto - he has a Knot 3 CD or DVD image on hand. He is happy and continues testing Kubuntu.

Implementation

Frankly, I am an end user, and leave it to the development-savvy Ubuntu team to figure out the implementation from the openSUSE wiki page.

Code

Unresolved issues

CategorySpec