Other installation methods and compiling LinuxCNC

This is a continuation of the discussion started here so it got out of topic a bit there.
Putting it here so it is easier to find.
forum.linuxcnc.org/plasma-laser/44961-th...deas?start=20#237362

It was early in the morning .... THIS IS NOT A GUIDE, use at your own risk, be ready to reinstall at random
After the last nights chat on the link above, despite my eyes hurting badly and greatly deprived of sleep, i went the "Nuclear" route:
-Install Linux Mint 20.3 Mate edition
-Add the Debian unstable/testing/bookworm/"do not go there" repos in /etc/apt/sources.list
-sudo apt update < will complain about missing keys, google, paste
-sudo apt full upgrade < it requires downloading and installing over 1600 packages, grab a coffe
-it will fail during update
-sudo apt -f install < will continue and finish
-sudo apt full upgrade < will download some other small stuff and finish, will ask to change the existing stuff, hit enter
-sudo apt install linuxcnc-uspace linuxcnc-uspace-dev mesaflash <will download and install a lot of other stuff together with RT kernel, but i did install the kernel before this, so i have to recheck
-will fail
-sudo apt -f install <will finish ok
-reboot
-aaaand boots with no GUI, so log in and type "startx"
-WORKS !
QtPlasmaC starts and works in SIM, so assuming it will work properly. Still room for improvement, disabling old and partner and source code repositories should speed this up a lot. And maybe not break autologin ...

Very nice, but no cigar!
Mini will not work on most of my stuff due to network drivers, i did try that twice, There was no non-free version back when i did.
Thank you very much, i still have some old stuff around to test on, and i know some new stuff works with it, me insisting on having Intel networking does not.

I got this far with Mint 20.3:
-Install Linux Mint 20.3 Mate edition
-Add the Debian unstable/testing/bookworm/"do not go there" repos in /etc/apt/sources.list
-sudo apt update < will complain about missing keys, google, paste
-sudo apt full upgrade < it requires downloading and installing over 1600 packages, grab a coffe
-it will fail during update
-sudo apt -f install < will continue and finish
-
-
-sudo apt install linuxcnc-uspace linuxcnc-uspace-dev mesaflash
-will fail
-sudo apt -f install <will finish ok
-reboot
-
-
-WORKS !
Notice that it did not finish full upgrade, but was enough for LinuxCNC to install and work and GUI starts as usuall.

Linux Mint Debian Edition 4 or LMDE4 :
Install, reboot, add repositories, full upgrade = gets stuck at replacing crypto-something to the point it is useless as anything typed in a terminal will result in "wrong password provided 3 times, try again".
Fail!
-
Will try less "Nuclear" options later.

rodw wrote:

In that case, it would probably be best to install the nonfree version of testing by choosing an ISO from here:
cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/no...ds/amd64/iso-hybrid/

I used xfce

and follow the instruction on debian to upgrade to unstable
wiki.debian.org/DebianUnstable

Well, this works!
It will download over 1400 packages, but works without a hitch.
I used the Mate version, i always use the mate version as it is the only DE that has configurable task panels, control freak so i need my dose of temps and speeds and voltages and loads and ... nevermind.
Even the installer located on the live desktop worked. Makes things simpler for new users.
Although, this is much simpler than compiling, it is "unstable" so if taking this route be ready to do reinstalls at random and without warning, so keeping backups of configs should be mandatory.
-
Thoughts? Ideas? Stones? Throw them my way!