Rename Update Manager to Software Updater

Bug #618723 reported by Vish
66
This bug affects 12 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
One Hundred Papercuts
Fix Released
Low
Unassigned
update-manager (Ubuntu)
Fix Released
Wishlist
Unassigned

Bug Description

Binary package hint: update-manager

In <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareUpdateHandling> mpt has proposed renaming "Update Manager" to "Software Updater" (on the grounds that it's more informative).
 <https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareUpdateHandling?highlight=Software%20Updater>

Renaming it so would get us a step closer to completing the Software Update Handling experience in Ubuntu

Vish (vish)
Changed in update-manager (Ubuntu):
importance: Undecided → Wishlist
Revision history for this message
Vish (vish) wrote :

Mohamed Amine IL Idrissi has a branch ready for review.

Changed in hundredpapercuts:
assignee: nobody → Mohamed Amine IL Idrissi (ilidrissi.amine)
importance: Undecided → Low
milestone: none → maverick-round-8-potpourri
status: New → In Progress
Changed in update-manager (Ubuntu):
status: New → In Progress
Revision history for this message
Lex (lexdave) wrote :

I would suggest 'Software Updates' or even just 'Updates' . Sounds better then 'Updater'. An updater is a thing (that does updates), where as updates is the end-goal / product that the users are after - so take out the middle man (the updater) and just point the users to the updates themselves.

Revision history for this message
Mohamed Amine Ilidrissi (ilidrissi.amine) wrote :

@Lex:
As I see it, if we use a noun instead of a verb, the user could think that he will configure software updates, not install them,

Revision history for this message
Lex (lexdave) wrote :

A valid argument, however, when do users ever 'configure' updates? I've been using Ubuntu for a couple of years and I've never done anything to the updates except to install them. Does Ubuntu even have configuration option for the updates (other then install/ do not install)?

Revision history for this message
Mohamed Amine Ilidrissi (ilidrissi.amine) wrote :

No, there is no option to "configure" updates. My point is that the 'Software Updates' terminology might induce the user into thinking that he will configure the updates, even though this isn't true.

Changed in update-manager (Ubuntu):
assignee: nobody → Mohamed Amine IL Idrissi (ilidrissi.amine)
Revision history for this message
Lex (lexdave) wrote :

I've never come across that view point before. I believe that naming it 'Software Updates' will bring us in line with the rest of the industry:
Windows = Windows Update
Apple = Software Update
Fedora = Software Update

Maybe we can settle on best 2 out of 3 and go with Software Update. My point is nobody else mentions the program (the software updater) just the end product - software update(s). You could even go minimalistic and just go with 'Updates'.

Revision history for this message
Stove Jobs (0ct0g0n0pus-deactivatedaccount) wrote :

I agree with Lex.
Software updater, while it is perhaps the most technically correct, just sounds a bit odd to me, I think. I think that "Software Update" is the best, or perhaps "System Update".

Revision history for this message
Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt) wrote :

I'm generally in favor of Lex's idea of hiding middle-men. (For example, today I recommended rewriting an aptdaemon error message to no longer mention aptdaemon.) Maybe one day Ubuntu software updates will be completely automatic, so we don't need to visibly refer to the updater as a thing at all -- we can just refer to it as "Ubuntu", e.g. "Ubuntu has installed updates that need the computer to restart.". But until then, the updater program can be launched from the "Applications" menu or place, so it needs a noun name. "Updates" is a noun, but "Software Updates has installed updates that need the computer to restart" is jarring.

As for the consistency argument, it's more important to be consistent with things that are nearby than with things that are far away. Ideally a design can be consistent with both, but that's not always possible. Nearby in Ubuntu, we have utilities with straightforward names like Partition Editor, Startup Disk Creator, Computer Janitor, Text Editor. So I'd rather stay grammatically consistent with those.

Revision history for this message
Sam L. (somethinginteres) wrote :

"System Updates" seems best to me. That is in line with the other items in the "System --> Administration" menu. For example, "System Monitor", "System Testing". That said, I would advocate using "Software Updater" for now if that's what has been specified in the SoftwareUpdateHandling specification.

Revision history for this message
Biswarup Ray (jumbli) wrote :

"Software Updater" is actually the short form of "Software Update Manager" or "Software Update Center". In "Update Manager" the word "update" is at the beginning, that makes it very easy to spot when one is glancing quickly through the menu. Also I feel the word "Updater" is a bit technical or raw compared to the word "Update Manager".

So, my request is, either name it as "Software Update Manager" or leave it as is ie. plain "Update Manager".

Revision history for this message
Biswarup Ray (jumbli) wrote :

After reading through the earlier comments I think "Software Updates" will be just right, since already we have a "Software Sources", the two items side-by-side will look neat . Since Ubuntu's update manager updates the whole stack ie. the base operating system and the top level applications(unlike Windows), "Software Updates" rather than "Software Update" will be the right word.

I find Mohamed Amine IL Idrissi's point very far-fetched. The option to "configure updates" is implied more in the name "Update Manager" rather than in "Software updates".

Btw, I hope there is plan for a hook of "Update Manager" in the "Software Center" just as there is a hook of "Software Sources" in the menu.

Vish (vish)
Changed in hundredpapercuts:
milestone: maverick-round-8-potpourri → nt7-potpourri
Changed in hundredpapercuts:
milestone: nt7-potpourri → precise-7-system-administration
Revision history for this message
Stéphane Guillou (stephane-guillou) wrote :

This is an inconsistency problem in 12.04 beta: it is called "software updater" in the cog menu, but still "update manager" when opened. This should be fixed for this LTS.

Revision history for this message
Timothy Arceri (t-fridey) wrote :

12.10 finally renames "update manager" to "software updater"

Changed in hundredpapercuts:
assignee: Mohamed Amine Ilidrissi (ilidrissi.amine) → nobody
Changed in update-manager (Ubuntu):
assignee: Mohamed Amine Ilidrissi (ilidrissi.amine) → nobody
Changed in hundredpapercuts:
status: In Progress → Fix Released
Changed in update-manager (Ubuntu):
status: In Progress → Fix Released
To post a comment you must log in.
This report contains Public information  
Everyone can see this information.

Other bug subscribers

Related blueprints

Remote bug watches

Bug watches keep track of this bug in other bug trackers.