There are two things that you could update:
- the Bela core code and IDE
- the Bela image
The Bela core code and IDE can be updated through the IDE or through a script *.
The Bela image can only be updated by flashing an SD card.
Why updating the "Bela core and IDE"
- improvements show up here: new IDE features, optimized code, libraries for interacting with peripherals, examples
- comes with fixes to C++, Pd, Supercollider, Csound
Why updating the Bela image?
- may support newer Bela boards
- may include Linux drivers for more hardware peripherals
- may include more pre-installed programs
- system-wide hidden improvements
This is only to be used once, the first time you got your board, and only if you didn't buy a starter kit. Where do you think it should be, instead?
* Updating through the IDE is currently not working properly in some browsers (see here https://github.com/BelaPlatform/Bela/issues/519 ), so I would recommend using the scripts instead. This is straightforward if you are on Linux or Mac: just download the zip archive https://github.com/BelaPlatform/Bela/archive/master.zip , unzip it navigate to the Bela/scripts folder and double click update_board
. On the terminal that pops up, answer the questions you are asked and that's it.