How to check for available updates?

gregors · 10-27-2023, 04:40 PM

Hi there!

I would like to get informed if software updates are available. Is there some kind of small tool for that?

TIA

Gregor

rokytnji · 10-27-2023, 04:48 PM

Whatcha running?

gregors · 10-27-2023, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokytnji

Whatcha running?

Devuan Daedalus, XFCE

frankbell · 10-27-2023, 08:37 PM

The sequence of commands that I prefer is

Code:

apt update && apt upgrade
apt autoclean && apt autoremove

See man apt for more.

rokytnji · 10-31-2023, 09:43 PM

Yeah. I do the same in terminal as frankbell suggested . You are allowed to peruse updates before saying yes.

Everything he mentioned you need to be sudo user so it is like

Code:

sudo apt update

Code:

sudo apt upgrade

since you mentioned XFCE. XFCE Terminal is what you use to do this.

GlennsPref · 10-31-2023, 10:25 PM

I use these commands often, so... then if you know or expect you can add -y,

Code:

apt upgrade -y
apt autoremove -y

Answer yes to questions, won't ask if you are sure.

craigevil · 11-01-2023, 09:16 AM

package-update-indicator
Description: Notify about available software updates
This small utility which regularly checks for software updates and notifies
the user about available updates using desktop notifications and either
a status notifier icon or a system tray icon.
.
It is primarily intended for desktops which do not already have this
functionality built-in, such as Xfce.

gregors · 11-02-2023, 03:30 PM

Thank you for your replies.

So, since I don't want to use sudo and such it seems I will have to set up two cron jobs: One for root that checks for available updates, and one for 'user' that checks if root has found something to update.

I think the two jobs can "communicate" via placing/checking files in /tmp. If I put the first (root) part on half hours (on x:30 hours) and the second (user) part on full hours I would have an hourly check.

Gregor

PS: AFAIK package-update-indicator is gnome. I don't use gnome.

chrism01 · 11-02-2023, 07:36 PM

You don't need 2 jobs.
just get the root one to notify the user somehow eg put a file in user's home dir.
Remember, root can set the file's perms and even change the ownership if needed...

gregors · 11-02-2023, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrism01

You don't need 2 jobs.
just get the root one to notify the user somehow eg put a file in user's home dir.
Remember, root can set the file's perms and even change the ownership if needed...

You're right - after all it's two tasks. One is the check for updates, two is some kind of check/notify if something has been found.

I think I have a good picture now.

Gregor