I update Home Assistant with every release. I like to try new things out when I can, and fix any bugs that a new release brings. Sometimes good, sometimes new bugs are introduced.
I update Raspbian on my Pi 3 when I remember. Usually every few weeks, or when I need to install something I’ll fire off the update/upgrade commands.
Python installs usually if and when I remember. Basically, if it’s working, I don’t touch.
My system is managed with puppet, which applies security updates automatically shortly after they’re released. I track other updates manually a few times a week, and update home assistant and other non-packaged software on my server every week or two. Currently delaying home assistant update because I want to finish migrating my interface to Lovelace.
Im now doing minimal updates - just when I see something that might effect me. 3 out of the last 5 updates have resulted in me having to reinstall.
IE this morning I noticed that there was an update to 0.84.3 from 0.83.2 that Im running, clicked the update link and left it to its own devices, just came home from work to a dead system. Stuck in the backup SD and booted into 83.2 again - might try the update again after I make another backup…
I have a very simple setup, small house with about a dozen tradfri lights and switches, 2 sonos speakers and 2 blink cameras… So I don’t know why it is so unstable, thinking of moving it off the Pi onto a spare NUC, or going back to just using node red on its own.
The problem here is the quality of the SD cards and power supplies people generally use. I have Pis around the house that have year long uptimes, and just work.
I use good quality SDs, and very stable 2.5 amp power supplies (not the standard Pi ones),
I have other Pis around with the same cards and power supplies that have been running for a long time, MQTT, Nodered small mongoDB on a USB drive etc etc, they are all very stable and reliable. The only one I have any issues with is the Hassio and even then just at updates…
You need to read and compensate (as needed) for breaking changes. I have never had an issue with an upgrade after reading the entire release notes page and making the necessary changes.
Also worthwhile is waiting for a XX.1 or XX.2 update.
Will it be any better running on a NUC or other mini PC? I have several spare minis lying around that could be repurposed if I thought it would help.
But see my other reply, I have about 6 other Pis doing various tasks and have no problems with them, so I don’t think the Pi is the real issue, probably something I have not configured correctly - just hard to see what as it is a basic system, not customised that much from out of the box…