Updating Calibre - why?

Bricorn · 03-28-2011, 05:18 PM

This may be a silly question, so flame away if you feel like it.

I'm a leisure reader with a Kindle DXG. I'm still on v7.42, it does everything I ask it to, so is there any reason for me to upgrade? Ever?

kovidgoyal · 03-28-2011, 05:19 PM

No, there isn't.

Pablo · 03-28-2011, 05:32 PM

Upgrading makes sense only in case of (a) bug fixes that apply to you or (b) major improvements. Otherwise you would be upgrading on a weekly basis.

Lady Fitzgerald · 03-28-2011, 05:56 PM

I haven't upgraded since 0.7.47 since there have been no improvements or bug fixes that are of benefit to me (this is not to say that there haven't been any beneficial improvements or bug fixes). What I do is check the change log to see if there is anything of interest to me, then wait a few days to make sure there are no bug reports before downloading and installing. I always save the download, install it, then keep it in case I need to revert to that version at a later date (I've reverted only once).

kiwidude · 03-28-2011, 06:23 PM

Just to offer a counter viewpoint for balance - I am an upgrade whore

Admittedly a lot of that is as a plugin developer I am usually wanting to take advantage of some change in the codebase to be able to offer a new feature.

But even if I wasn't developing plugins, I would still upgrade regularly. You might not see something immediately obvious in the change list (or even understand much of it) but there are continual bug-fixes, performance or usability improvements that often will become part of your everyday workflow once you become aware of them. They can be for the most subtle and intermittent of issues - like a problem with the cover browser causing Calibre to crash sometimes which a recent fix seems to have sorted.

Or a feature like downloading metadata/covers which you may find not working with older versions the next time you go to use it without the latest version workarounds...

Lady Fitzgerald's advice of waiting a few days is perfectly sensible if you are concerned you will hit a buggy release. There was a rather bad month a little while ago. However that is the exception rather than the norm - besides someone has to use it to find and report the bugs!

Having said all that - if you are perfectly happy, you don't experience any crashes or bugs that irritate you, are perfectly happy with the functionality you have and have no desire for anything else such as what the various plugins can offer... then stay where you are for a while longer

kovidgoyal · 03-28-2011, 06:33 PM

I should clarify, I always upgrade *all* the software on my main machine to be at the bleeding edge, it's why I run a source based linux distribution (Gentoo). But then, I enjoy fixing broken software

For people that lack that little character quirk, I always say if you are happy with things the way they are, don't change them.

DoctorOhh · 03-28-2011, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bricorn

I'm a leisure reader with a Kindle DXG. I'm still on v7.42, it does everything I ask it to, so is there any reason for me to upgrade? Ever?

If you're content then the answer is no.

Reviewing the change log lets you know all of the new features built into calibre and if there isn't anything that interests you then don't upgrade. You might want to check this index of plugins to find out what is new in GUI plugins that you might want to consider using. Most of these plugins will be shortly updated to require calibre version 0.7.53.

chilady1 · 03-28-2011, 08:05 PM

I agree with most posts here, if Calibre is doing what you need it to do in it's current form, don't upgrade.

I for one, am also an upgrade ho! LOL! Especially with all the new plug-ins that have elevated my Calibre experience onto a whole different level! The plug-ins have made managing my library so simple and I say THANK YOU again to everyone involved.

Bottom line, do what is best for you. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Lady Fitzgerald · 03-29-2011, 01:42 PM

Deleted.

chilady1 · 03-29-2011, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald

Deleted.

Senioritis - Lady F, very funny

KNI · 03-29-2011, 02:58 PM

I am a huge admirer of Calibre and of Kovid for what he is doing.

I see that we are presently at version .7.53. This would seem to demonstrate that it is a work in progress, working towards the eventual release of version 1.0.

If that is the case, is it proper to ask what the completed vision of Calibre might be?

Personally, not being particularly astute in matters of coding, modules etc. I am hoping that some of the fancier features of Calibre will become rather easier for the computer illiterati to execute, and that the manual will be a little more friendly to that group, which includes me.

That said, what Koval has given the reading community is huge beyond belief, and he is my nominee for the Nobel Prize for Literature for what he has given us.

Starson17 · 03-29-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KNI

I am a huge admirer of Calibre and of Kovid for what he is doing.
I see that we are presently at version .7.53. This would seem to demonstrate that it is a work in progress, working towards the eventual release of version 1.0.

Yes, and when 1.0 is released, it will be a work in progress towards 2.0, then 3.0, etc.

Quote:

If that is the case, is it proper to ask what the completed vision of Calibre might be?

It will be great.

Quote:

Personally, not being particularly astute in matters of coding, modules etc. I am hoping that some of the fancier features of Calibre will become rather easier for the computer illiterati to execute, and that the manual will be a little more friendly to that group, which includes me.

Perhaps, but I wouldn't count on it. Calibre can do things that other programs can't because Kovid's not afraid to give the user complex tools to do complex tasks. He focuses on providing powerful tools, and if that comes with complexity, the user can always ignore those tools.

Calibre does have some semi-automated heuristic analysis tools and switch settings that try to automatically figure out what the user wants. Plus, it always strives to make the manual clearer and to automate what can be automated, but I doubt it will ever remove the complex Search and Replace, regex, CSS, template language, recipe API, XPath and similar tools that give it the power to do those complex tasks. Unfortunately, some jobs are just naturally complex.

theducks · 03-29-2011, 03:35 PM

Probably never

Because for that to happen, there would be no more new devices (some device drivers might require a 're-visit' to the overall interface design)

Users would have to stop coming up with unique ways to use Calibre

This is software at it's best (and worst, because of still supporting ancient (Calibre scale) version users)

Bricorn · 03-29-2011, 03:50 PM

Thanks all.
Unless I need it to do something that it doesn't now, I'll leave it alone until the next major upgrade.

Then I'll let you lot pick the bugs out of it first.

kacir · 03-29-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bricorn

I'm a leisure reader with a Kindle DXG. I'm still on v7.42, it does everything I ask it to, so is there any reason for me to upgrade? Ever?

Well, "Ever" is a very long time. There is an interesting feature introduced every week. Perhaps 0.7.43 or even 0.7.53 didn't bring anything that you find interesting at the moment, but keep an eye on changelog. Sooner or later there will be feature that will compel you to update.

I personally am updating to the new version as soon as possible.
This way I can test the software and report problems, so cautious users can get more stable software. And besides, I like being on the bleeding edge ...

03-28-2011, 05:18 PM	#1
Bricorn Addict Posts: 289 Karma: 7788748 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fun Town, Thailand Device: Kindle DXG	Updating Calibre - why? This may be a silly question, so flame away if you feel like it. I'm a leisure reader with a Kindle DXG. I'm still on v7.42, it does everything I ask it to, so is there any reason for me to upgrade? Ever?

03-29-2011, 01:42 PM	#9
Lady Fitzgerald Wizard Posts: 2,013 Karma: 251649 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth Device: JetBook Lite (away from home) + 1 spare, 32" TV (at home)	Deleted. Last edited by Lady Fitzgerald; 03-29-2011 at 01:43 PM. Reason: Senioritis.

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03-28-2011, 05:19 PM	#2
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,531 Karma: 24495948 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	No, there isn't.

03-28-2011, 05:32 PM	#3
Pablo Guru Posts: 971 Karma: 4999999 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Rosario, Argentina Device: SONY PRS-T2, Kindle Paperwhite 11th gen	Upgrading makes sense only in case of (a) bug fixes that apply to you or (b) major improvements. Otherwise you would be upgrading on a weekly basis.

03-28-2011, 05:56 PM	#4
Lady Fitzgerald Wizard Posts: 2,013 Karma: 251649 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tempe, AZ, USA, Earth Device: JetBook Lite (away from home) + 1 spare, 32" TV (at home)	I haven't upgraded since 0.7.47 since there have been no improvements or bug fixes that are of benefit to me (this is not to say that there haven't been any beneficial improvements or bug fixes). What I do is check the change log to see if there is anything of interest to me, then wait a few days to make sure there are no bug reports before downloading and installing. I always save the download, install it, then keep it in case I need to revert to that version at a later date (I've reverted only once).

03-28-2011, 06:23 PM	#5
kiwidude Calibre Plugins Developer Posts: 4,681 Karma: 2162246 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kindle Oasis	Just to offer a counter viewpoint for balance - I am an upgrade whore Admittedly a lot of that is as a plugin developer I am usually wanting to take advantage of some change in the codebase to be able to offer a new feature. But even if I wasn't developing plugins, I would still upgrade regularly. You might not see something immediately obvious in the change list (or even understand much of it) but there are continual bug-fixes, performance or usability improvements that often will become part of your everyday workflow once you become aware of them. They can be for the most subtle and intermittent of issues - like a problem with the cover browser causing Calibre to crash sometimes which a recent fix seems to have sorted. Or a feature like downloading metadata/covers which you may find not working with older versions the next time you go to use it without the latest version workarounds... Lady Fitzgerald's advice of waiting a few days is perfectly sensible if you are concerned you will hit a buggy release. There was a rather bad month a little while ago. However that is the exception rather than the norm - besides someone has to use it to find and report the bugs! Having said all that - if you are perfectly happy, you don't experience any crashes or bugs that irritate you, are perfectly happy with the functionality you have and have no desire for anything else such as what the various plugins can offer... then stay where you are for a while longer

03-28-2011, 06:33 PM	#6
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 44,531 Karma: 24495948 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I should clarify, I always upgrade all the software on my main machine to be at the bleeding edge, it's why I run a source based linux distribution (Gentoo). But then, I enjoy fixing broken software For people that lack that little character quirk, I always say if you are happy with things the way they are, don't change them.

03-28-2011, 08:05 PM	#8
chilady1 I devour books! Posts: 789 Karma: 1285226 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: iPad Air, Kindle 3/Kobo Aura HD, iPhone 6	I agree with most posts here, if Calibre is doing what you need it to do in it's current form, don't upgrade. I for one, am also an upgrade ho! LOL! Especially with all the new plug-ins that have elevated my Calibre experience onto a whole different level! The plug-ins have made managing my library so simple and I say THANK YOU again to everyone involved. Bottom line, do what is best for you. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

03-29-2011, 02:58 PM	#11
KNI Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 31226 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oregon Device: Sony PRS-650	I am a huge admirer of Calibre and of Kovid for what he is doing. I see that we are presently at version .7.53. This would seem to demonstrate that it is a work in progress, working towards the eventual release of version 1.0. If that is the case, is it proper to ask what the completed vision of Calibre might be? Personally, not being particularly astute in matters of coding, modules etc. I am hoping that some of the fancier features of Calibre will become rather easier for the computer illiterati to execute, and that the manual will be a little more friendly to that group, which includes me. That said, what Koval has given the reading community is huge beyond belief, and he is my nominee for the Nobel Prize for Literature for what he has given us.

03-29-2011, 03:35 PM	#13
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,442 Karma: 58055868 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Probably never Because for that to happen, there would be no more new devices (some device drivers might require a 're-visit' to the overall interface design) Users would have to stop coming up with unique ways to use Calibre This is software at it's best (and worst, because of still supporting ancient (Calibre scale) version users)

03-29-2011, 03:50 PM	#14
Bricorn Addict Posts: 289 Karma: 7788748 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fun Town, Thailand Device: Kindle DXG	Thanks all. Unless I need it to do something that it doesn't now, I'll leave it alone until the next major upgrade. Then I'll let you lot pick the bugs out of it first.

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