[plug] kernels and Debain versions

[smclevie]

Hi

Q1.  When does a kernel drop away features of earlier kernels?
         is it when the second number changes? ie 4 to 6 in 2.4.24 to 2.6.4

         (Related Q) How far back/forward is a kernel compatible?  ie a can 
a person running 2.2.20 suddenly jump to 2.6.4??

Q2.  Is a Debian 'suite' limited or best suited to any version of kernel?
         eg.  is 'stable' limited to say kernels 2.2.20 through to 2.4.24 ?
         this would imply that if you want to use the latest kernels you 
should be running 'testing' ...

Q3.  During a kernel build, one can select a large number of options in 
menuconfig ...
         But how do you know what options are the same as the option in a 
previous kernel??
         eg say in kernel 2.4.24 an option equates to thingymejig.o ....
         what in kernel 2.6.4 equates to thingamejig.o ???
         Do you then have to inspect/compare the config file in /boot all 
the time?
         This file is never twice the same !!!  It is a real organisational 
mess !!!

*** Comment ***

This whole process of doing Linux has shown me more than ever how hard it 
is to polish a product and present it well.
(I saw Onno's comments about 2.6.4 albeit briefly before accidentally deleting)
It is clearly obvious that because you can program does not mean you know 
how to make it useable.
The point-of-view from the programmer is very different than the POV of the 
end-user (Bob User).

Take a look at the new Sarge beta 3 installer !!  What a mess... same old 
same old and even MORE involved !!
To partition a hard drive into 10 partitions you need to go through some 20 
- 30 screens !!

Take a look at the Mandrake installer for a comparison... One higher-res 
screen with mouse.

There seems to be a real time warp situation happening.. an ideological 
black hole or something...

AND at the end of the torture the system hangs trying to auto-detect my USB 
mouse !!!

*** End of comment ***

Thanks for your replies to the above questions and probably not for 
responses to the comment!!

Steve.
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