GSoC 2009 proposal: Fix update-manager/create new update-manager-like application

[Josselin Mouette]

Le mardi 31 mars 2009 à 19:34 +0200, Stephan Peijnik a écrit :
> I just had a look at the Debian GSoC 2009 project proposals [0] and was
> wondering whether fixing update-manager or alternatively creating a new
> update-manager-like application for Debian would be a possible project
> too.

Definitely. The state of update-manager is really worrying currently.

> Firstly, let me explain why I even dare to propose creating a new
> update-manager-like application.
> 
> A few months ago I encountered a bug in update-manager that seems to
> prevent one from installing updates, which has been reported twice
> already [1][2] (maybe I should merge those bug reports...).
> I then had a quick look at porting the current Ubuntu version of
> update-manager to Debian, with no success. A lot of code in
> update-manager is Ubuntu specific, and will not work for Debian or cause
> breakage.
> As update-manager is an Ubuntu specific package now there are two
> options: 
> 
> Either do what has been done before and weed out all non-Debian-specific
> code from update-manager and upload that, which is quite tedious work
> and I really understand that nobody has bothered to do that yet.

Note that Michael Vogt is willing to separate the bits that are
Ubuntu-specific, so that this is not a problem anymore.

> Or, on the other hand, start from scratch and create a new
> update-manager-like application.

This is interesting, but I’m worried that this ends up being too much
work. It probably all depends on you. If you feel confident that you can
write an application with sufficient functionality coverage in the time
of GSoC, I’m fine with that.

In all cases, you should consider the alternatives:
      * Giving synaptic a more modern look, if possible adding PolicyKit
        support in it, and adding a simpler alternate interface that
        would do the job update-manager currently does.
      * Helping to split the Debian and Ubuntu specific bits in
        update-manager.
      * Working on PackageKit so that it becomes usable enough for
        Debian – although that means forking some pieces of it,
        especially for proper debconf support.

> Secondly, I think I should point out that I would like to work on this
> project as a GSoC student. So be aware that I wrote this email because I
> am personally interested in actually working on the (possible) project.

I don’t want to be involved with the GSoC fuss, but I’m of course ready
to give advice and help about improving the current situation,
regardless on what you choose to work on.

Cheers,
-- 
 .''`.      Debian 5.0 "Lenny" has been released!
: :' :
`. `'   Last night, Darth Vader came down from planet Vulcan and told
  `-    me that if you don't install Lenny, he'd melt your brain.
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