People don't usually understand that apt allows you to configure multiple sources across versions simultaneously, so you can e.g. run stable, but also selectively install from backports or unstable.
To do so, add the sources for trixie-backports and unstable, and add the following configuration (e.g. /etc/apt/preferences.d/trixie-sid-pin) so that the system knows which sources your prefer:
# Default to trixie
Package: *
Pin: release n=trixie
Pin-Priority: 990
# Very low priority for sid
Package: *
Pin: release n=unstable
Pin-Priority: 100
# Give backports medium priority
Package: *
Pin: release n=trixie-backports
Pin-Priority: 500
Now the system can access the latest kernel from unstable (and backports), while keeping everything else on stable:
> People don't usually understand that apt allows you to configure multiple sources across versions simultaneously, so you can e.g. run stable, but also selectively install from backports or unstable.
Which is just as well, because that's not generally a good idea unless you really know what you're doing:
Granted, the kernel is probably the best thing to do it with, on account of their aggressive stance on compatibility and the narrowness of impact (no .so files in play).
Backports are meant to work well along stable packages, but I agree it's definitely not a good idea to start pulling from sid from trixie (for regular packages, kernel is fine), this is asking for a ruined system.
Chaing priority wholesale is not needed just to install kernel image and might break other packages. Just install kernel image from backports after enabling backports.
> apt install linux-image-amd64/stable-backports
Somehow installing with `trixie-backports` isn't picking up latest kernel for me. Used what is being displayed in `apt search linux-image-7`
To do so, add the sources for trixie-backports and unstable, and add the following configuration (e.g. /etc/apt/preferences.d/trixie-sid-pin) so that the system knows which sources your prefer:
Now the system can access the latest kernel from unstable (and backports), while keeping everything else on stable: I believe the kernel in backports gets updated only after it is live in unstable for at least a week, which lately still feels like forever.