[packagekit] Package update policy

[Richard Hughes]

On Wed, 2007-09-26 at 16:49 -0400, Robin Norwood wrote:
> Richard Hughes <hughsient at gmail.com> writes:
> 
> > On Wed, 2007-09-26 at 15:21 -0400, Bryan Clark wrote:
> >>   - Silently download updates in the background
> >
> > Hmm difficult, as UpdateSystem is a one-method call, not a two level
> > "download" and then "install". We could fix that tho, although I'm not
> > sure the backends would be able to do what we wanted.
> 
> Instead of always requiring a two-step model, you could have an optional
> 'predownload' step for backends that support 'download only'.  Then when
> the 'do updates' step occurs, a smart backend should make use of the
> predownloaded bits.

What about UpdateSystem(b=prepare)? What backends could support this?

> >>  I suppose that's a back-end independent issue really but for the most
> >> part updating is somewhat resource intensive and should be done when
> >> the computer isn't being actively used.  That said there are lots of
> >> gotchas with this in terms of security updates or systems that are
> >> used and then suspended or shutdown without much idle time; each of
> >> which I believe can have a simple solution. 
> >
> > I figure try doing when idle, and if never idle, just doing the action
> > anyway...
> 
> Can we lower the priority of the update backend if the user comes back
> from idle?

Well, if we are throttling it, we probably don't need to ramp up the
download speed at all. 

> >> Downloading the updates (and dependencies) in the background allows
> >> for a UI that is a simple question of "Do you want these installed?"
> >> with no secondary response of "Now wait while I get those things you
> >> asked for".  For people who are paying for bandwidth by the byte or
> >> something this is a tricky situation, we could try to be smart and
> >> detect if you're on a connection like this, however those smarts are
> >> bound to fail often and be somewhat confusing.
> >
> > Sure. People with free EDGE want to do updates over dial up, but users
> > on GPRS probably don't.
> 
> I think covering this with a preference is probably the best that can be
> done for now.

Sure.

> >> Automatic updates are a smart idea, however some people like to have
> >> control over their computer being smart.  So there is a first time
> >> usage scenario that covers the automatic nature of the system update
> >> allow for a point at which people can configure the application or let
> >> it do what it does automatically. 
> >
> > I figured choose sane defaults, to not bombard the user with questions
> > on first install...
> 
> +1
> 
> Though maybe Bryan meant the first time the user clicks on the
> packagekit icon, he sees the configuration dialog with the sane defaults
> already selected.  I'd be ok with that.

Ahh, I see. That would be even better.

Richard.