Automatically downloading updated packages should not block package managers

Bug #268492 reported by Wouter Stomp
10
This bug affects 1 person
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
apt (Ubuntu)
Confirmed
Wishlist
Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: synaptic

When you enable the setting in synaptic to automatically download updated packages when they are available, there can be long periods when you cannot for example open the update manager. Downloading these packages should not lock anything.

Revision history for this message
mmomjian (matthew-momjian) wrote :

Thank you for reporting this bug. However, this seems to be a fundamental issue with the way package managers handle the database any time they are running, which includes downloading files. I don't think this is a major enough issue to warrant a rewrite of a large portion of the update managers, therefore i am closing it.

Changed in synaptic:
status: New → Invalid
Revision history for this message
Wouter Stomp (wouterstomp-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Please don't close bugreports only because you don't think it is worth the time to fix them.

This wouldn't need a big rewrite, just be inventive coming up with a solution. E.g. downloading packages doesn't need a package manager to be running. Synaptic/apt could easily generate a list of packages that need to be downloaded which can then be downloaded by a small utility without blocking all the package management apps.

Changed in synaptic:
status: Invalid → New
Revision history for this message
mmomjian (matthew-momjian) wrote :

I spoke to a couple people on #ubuntu-bugs and they agreed with my decision to close this bug. reclosed, reason stands.

Changed in synaptic:
status: New → Invalid
Revision history for this message
Wouter Stomp (wouterstomp-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

Sorry but I provided good arguments to keep this open. Blocking the use of package manager for prolonged periods of time is definitely unwanted behavior and thus a bug.

Changed in synaptic:
status: Invalid → New
Revision history for this message
mmomjian (matthew-momjian) wrote :

This bug is being marked confirmed and status=wishlist.

Changed in synaptic:
status: New → Confirmed
Revision history for this message
Greg Grossmeier (greg.grossmeier) wrote :

This is an issue with apt (the underlying package management system). Confirming the description of the issue and setting to wishlist.

Thanks for reporting this bug.

Changed in synaptic:
importance: Undecided → Wishlist
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