Removing 3rd-party replacement package surprisingly withholds original

[John McHugh]

Binary package hint: software-center

The way that software center handles third party repo's atm is almost perfect.
There is one huge problem though...

When upgrading or switching to a package from a third party repo to gain extra features or to test packages it would be nice if software center/apt took note of what official packages it was replacing so that if the user wants to remove the third party version of the software they have installed, they can do so safely.

An example of how apt can go wrong:

#1 Install the experimental rgba stuff.
     {this installs modifications to nautilus}

#2 Uninstall the experimental rgba stuff.

#3 Restart to be greeted by a gdm minus the gnome session :)

I understand that canonical do not support third party repo's but at the same time ppa's are there for a reason.

I like to test new stuff but one of the pains I have found with testing is reverting back to canonical maintained configurations.
Most of the time I just compile from source rather than take a chance with a daily-ppa.

My proposal is that software-center / apt takes note of whenever a user upgrades canonical maintained software from a third party repo and allows the user to easily revert back to their configuration before they tested packages. Maybe it should revert back as default instead of removing the app.

At this moment in time I see the uninstall button for third party software as being a bit like Russian roulette. "Will it nuke my system or wont it" :)

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: i386
Date: Fri Mar 5 22:48:48 2010
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
InstallationMedia:

Package: software-center 1.1.16.1
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_IE.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-15.22-generic
SourcePackage: software-center
Uname: Linux 2.6.32-15-generic i686

[Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt)]

Thanks for the report, John. First we need a good design for this. Perhaps if a third-party package would replace an Ubuntu one, along with a one-sentence explanation of the different versions, the "Install" button should instead be "Replace Existing". And conversely, instead of "Remove" we could have "Restore Original". What do you think?

[John McHugh (mrmcq2u)]

That sounds perfect to me :)

On 6 March 2010 00:53, Matthew Paul Thomas <email address hidden> wrote:

> Thanks for the report, John. First we need a good design for this.
> Perhaps if a third-party package would replace an Ubuntu one, along with
> a one-sentence explanation of the different versions, the "Install"
> button should instead be "Replace Existing". And conversely, instead of
> "Remove" we could have "Restore Original". What do you think?
>
> ** Changed in: software-center (Ubuntu)
> Status: New => Confirmed
>
> ** Changed in: software-center (Ubuntu)
> Milestone: None => later
>
> ** Changed in: software-center (Ubuntu)
> Assignee: (unassigned) => Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt)
>
> ** Summary changed:
>
> - How software center should handle third party installations
> + Removing 3rd-party replacement package surprisingly withholds original
>
> --
> Removing 3rd-party replacement package surprisingly withholds original
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/532999
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “software-center” package in Ubuntu: Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> Binary package hint: software-center
>
> The way that software center handles third party repo's atm is almost
> perfect.
> There is one huge problem though...
>
> When upgrading or switching to a package from a third party repo to gain
> extra features or to test packages it would be nice if software center/apt
> took note of what official packages it was replacing so that if the user
> wants to remove the third party version of the software they have installed,
> they can do so safely.
>
> An example of how apt can go wrong:
>
> #1 Install the experimental rgba stuff.
> {this installs modifications to nautilus}
>
> #2 Uninstall the experimental rgba stuff.
>
> #3 Restart to be greeted by a gdm minus the gnome session :)
>
> I understand that canonical do not support third party repo's but at the
> same time ppa's are there for a reason.
>
> I like to test new stuff but one of the pains I have found with testing is
> reverting back to canonical maintained configurations.
> Most of the time I just compile from source rather than take a chance with
> a daily-ppa.
>
> My proposal is that software-center / apt takes note of whenever a user
> upgrades canonical maintained software from a third party repo and allows
> the user to easily revert back to their configuration before they tested
> packages. Maybe it should revert back as default instead of removing the
> app.
>
> At this moment in time I see the uninstall button for third party software
> as being a bit like Russian roulette. "Will it nuke my system or wont it" :)
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> Architecture: i386
> Date: Fri Mar 5 22:48:48 2010
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.04
> InstallationMedia:
>
> Package: software-center 1.1.16.1
> PackageArchitecture: all
> ProcEnviron:
> LANG=en_IE.utf8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.32-15.22-generic
> SourcePackage: software-center
> Uname: Linux 2.6.32-15-generic i686
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+bug/532999/+subs...