[OS X TeX] Context on TeXshop

[Peter Dyballa]

On Sep 7, 2008, at 6:17 PM, Dr. Clea F. Rees wrote:

> Is it advisable to run tlmgr regularly to update everything?

No. I'd do it upon receiving notice that a faulty package was fixed.  
Or that a newer than installed package is needed by a (previously  
updated) package *I* need.

Installing updates puts you in a tester role. Before performing an  
update I'd try to read its description.

>
> What is the intended relationship between ongoing updates via tlmgr  
> and
> the more-or-less annual release cycle? For example, if one updates
> everything regularly, will a TL 2008 tree gradually evolve into a TL
> 2009 tree? Or are there some fundamental elements which will be  
> updated
> only by a YYYY release?


Old packages can be removed, new packages can be integrated, package  
ingredients can be moved to other (faulty) places. The latter  
happened for example in XeTeX. Those who updated XeTeX from SVN have  
in TL2007 still an obsolete XeTeX url.sty; XeTeX-reference.pdf,  
xunicode.sty, and xltxtra.sty will exist twice – who can guarantee  
that the last installed version is found and used?

Anyway, it can happen that with an improved tlmgr, than can add and  
delete, a TeX Live <year> release will be just a snapshot from an  
ongoing process.

--
Greetings

   Pete

No project was ever completed on time and within budget.
				– Cheops Law