the updates tab states that the system is uptodate when it's not

[motang]

Update software via Gnome/Ubuntu Software was possible in Ubuntu 17.10 but after an update about couple of weeks this is not possible. Only updating via Update Manager and the terminal is possible.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: gnome-software 3.25.4-1ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.11.0-13.19-generic 4.11.12
Uname: Linux 4.11.0-13-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.6-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
Date: Wed Aug 9 17:23:31 2017
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-07-28 (12 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Alpha amd64 (20170723)
InstalledPlugins:
 gnome-software-plugin-flatpak N/A
 gnome-software-plugin-limba N/A
 gnome-software-plugin-snap 3.25.4-1ubuntu3
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: gnome-software
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Robert Ancell (robert-ancell)]

What steps are you using to do the updates?

[motang (mohan-ram)]

Launch Ubuntu Software click on Updates then click on Refresh on top left. This used to work and populate packages that needed to be updated. Not any more, just shows message that "Software up to date" yet Update Manager has updates pending.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

I can confirm that on artful, the "updates" tab states that the system is uptodate when update-manager has a stack of upgrades available

[Iain Lane (laney)]

That is turned off deliberately in Artful.

To fix this, somebody needs to develop the capacity to do "online" updates in Software. Additionally, it was discussed within the desktop team that it is confusing to have two places offering package updates which aren't aware of one another. So at the same time we would probably want to remove Update Manager and make Software be the place updates are performed.

[motang (mohan-ram)]

Well that's a shame, as now it is more confusing. IF a user happens to go to the section and clicks on refresh but the app comes back and states that the system is up to date. Yet the update manager has a slew of updates waiting, it is a bit misleading. Honestly, I think we should just use Gnome/Ubuntu Software to update our system, and the Update Manager should be retired or only used in case of dist-upgrade.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

The current wording/UI is a bit confusing as it is now I think, some ideas of potential tweaks we could do

- change the wording of the tab. What does it list if doesn't include software updates? firmwares and addons? we could rename it to "<...> updates"

- don't state that the system is uptodate but change the string to say "software updates might be available" with maybe a button to start update-manager

[Will Cooke (willcooke)]

Added to Trello: https://trello.com/c/vNPbGaYl/172-bug1709725-the-updates-tab-states-that-the-system-is-uptodate-when-its-not

[sam tygier (samtygier)]

Can the Updates tab be removed if it does nothing.

[Ahmet Aksoy (parduist)]

Actually the Updates tab works, showing firmware(fwupd) and flatpak updates. I think better solution is bug 1733245

[ph (bugreport13)]

I reported bug 1879543 on 2020-0519 and just remembered to check email. On 2020-0520, I got referred to this bug 1709725. The bug is still present on my system running Ubuntu 18.04LTS as of this morning 2020-0527, confirmed by using aptitude. Thanks.

[ph (bugreport13)]

This bug has been true for me for more than 1 year, and my workaround is to type:
sudo aptitude
(password)
U (to get ready to update)
g (to show what it’s going to update)
g (again to actually DO the update of the files.)