How fast is new software released for the current version of Linux?

Question

linux

Please tell me, I installed Ubuntu 14.04 LST and for example I want to install VirtualBox, but it is only available for version 12.04 LTS, as well as Skype .. (googled, it is written - you can’t do without crutches and it’s not a fact that it will work) , actually the question is divided into two points:
1) How quickly (how long to wait) until this software appears under version 14.04 LST?
2) If it is written that the software under version 12.04 LST works, does this guarantee that it is compatible with version 12.04.4 LST?

Answer 1

I can’t say for the time, except to ask the developers. But compiling from source is the best option for now. It is better to install not through make install , but through checkinstall (if it already exists under 14.04)

Answer 2

Speaking specifically about VirtualBox, official packages are available on the site:
https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads
It's not about the version of the distribution itself, no matter where they write about it, but about the dependencies used (often - only in library versions). Why not just take and try to install / run?