Bug#1104904: nvidia-driver: Proposal to Package Both NVIDIA LTS and Current Recommended Drivers in Debian

[KeyofBlueS]

Package: nvidia-driver
Severity: wishlist
X-Debbugs-Cc: KeyofBlueS at gmail.com

Dear Maintainers,

First, thank you for your continued work on maintaining the NVIDIA driver
packages in Debian's non-free section. I understand that Debian currently ships
the Long-Term Support (LTS) version of the NVIDIA driver to prioritize
stability and long-term maintenance, which aligns well with Debian's goals.

However, I would like to propose the inclusion of both the NVIDIA LTS driver
(currently packaged) and the latest "Recommended" driver as published on
NVIDIA's website. The Recommended driver often contains important performance
improvements, bug fixes, and support for new hardware, which are not backported
to the LTS versions. This can be essential for users on newer GPUs or with
specific workloads (e.g. CUDA, gaming, or ML environments).

Having both versions available, clearly labeled (e.g. nvidia-driver-lts and
nvidia-driver-current), would offer users the flexibility to choose between
maximum stability and up-to-date support, depending on their needs.

This approach is already used successfully in other distributions and could
benefit Debian users without compromising the core principles of the project.
This would also reduce reliance on upstream .run installers or use third-party
scripts, which can complicate kernel upgrades and overall system maintenance.

While the experimental repository occasionally provides newer driver versions,
it may not always have the latest recommended NVIDIA driver in a timely manner,
and it's not intended as a long-term solution for users who need newer drivers
consistently.

Thank you for your time and for considering this suggestion.

Best regards,
KeyofBlueS