Confusion about updates

ckp

Hi,
I'm new to Retropie (installed 4.2 on new Pi 3) and have to say that Retropie far exceeded my expectations and is really awesome. So, thanks!
I guess the only thing I'm unsure of so far is the update options in the manage packages area.
I just ran the update retropie-setup script, because I thought my default 4.2 would be good to update. Things seem ok and it updated to a newer version. I guess it's ok?

But, I have no idea if I should update all main packages from binary or not. Will this get me the latest of all the emulators and is it safe to do or it can break things even outside of emulators?

Should I update all core packages? Is it safe?

Should I update all driver packages? Is it safe?

Regarding emulator packages, I don't know how to tell if there is a newer one or not?

I usually like to keep my systems updated, but since I am not experienced at all yet with Retropie, I don't know if most people do this and if it's risky.

Thank you very much for any help!

backstander

@ckp

But, I have no idea if I should update all main packages from binary or not.

Unless there is some bleeding edge bug fix update that someone recommends, you should update and install from binary (if it's available). Also updating from source take a lot longer to complete!

Should I update all core packages? Is it safe?
Should I update all driver packages? Is it safe?

What I usually do is first run Update RetroPie-Setup Script which only takes a few seconds and then Update All Installed Packages and it will do all of this for you (updating all the packages already installed). When you do run it, it will ask "Are you sure you want to update install packages?" and you choose Yes, then OK, then OK again, "Would you like to update the underlying OS packages (eg kernel etc) ?" and you again choose Yes and then let it do it's thing.

More information here:
https://retropie.org.uk/docs/Updating-RetroPie/#using-the-retropie-setup-script

ckp

Thanks for your quick reply. Yeah, I didn't ever plan to update from source.
So it sounds like you have had good success just updating the script and using update all installed packages.
Ok, that's what I was hoping. So, I'm going to give it a shot, unless someone chimes in to say it's not a good idea.
I guess people just run this every so often to stay current, especially with emulators.
I just installed Kodi yesterday. I hope it doesn't hurt that and it still works.

pjft

In my case, unless there's anything in actively missing or having problems with, I avoid updating things if I have a stable setup.

Maybe it's a personal preference but it isn't rare that updates may break some things you previously had working, so if you have everything running well, I'd stay with it. I'd only update if there's anything I know of that I really need - recently a lot of things on EmulationStation would probably have checked that box, or maybe the odd bug fix on a specific emulator I had had problems with in the past.

ckp

@pjft , thanks for your feedback. well, i already pulled the trigger on the all-updates. it's been running for a long time. just going to keep my fingers crossed now...

ckp

Relief. Seems it updated ok.

pjft

@ckp Great. Hold on to it then, and make a backup :)