this post was submitted on 13 Mar 2025
89 points (100.0% liked)

Linux

9337 readers
126 users here now

Welcome to c/linux!

Welcome to our thriving Linux community! Whether you're a seasoned Linux enthusiast or just starting your journey, we're excited to have you here. Explore, learn, and collaborate with like-minded individuals who share a passion for open-source software and the endless possibilities it offers. Together, let's dive into the world of Linux and embrace the power of freedom, customization, and innovation. Enjoy your stay and feel free to join the vibrant discussions that await you!

Rules:

  1. Stay on topic: Posts and discussions should be related to Linux, open source software, and related technologies.

  2. Be respectful: Treat fellow community members with respect and courtesy.

  3. Quality over quantity: Share informative and thought-provoking content.

  4. No spam or self-promotion: Avoid excessive self-promotion or spamming.

  5. No NSFW adult content

  6. Follow general lemmy guidelines.

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

I’ve been around for a while and this is the first time I’m seeing something like this. I’m wondering if I picked up something nasty or if this is something that other people are seeing.

top 31 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This is meant to make updates more stable. It should be toggleable in the settings and doesn’t not appear if you update via cli

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

"Meant to" and "do" are quite different.

I have, not once, ever had an issue caused by a update while the system was online. And if someone did, they could likely reboot to fix it.

I will stick to the online, instantaneous, and unobstructing updates.

I would like to see some real-world numbers and examples of problems that offline updates fix.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Fedora does this too, it's really obnoxious.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah fedora does it even for small updates, not just kernel updates. But only if you update through the store.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

In KDE at least there's a toggle to switch that behaviour. It's in System settings -> Software update -> Apply system updates. If you switch it to "Immediately" you get the standard package manager behaviour. Not sure if gnome has an equivalent.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

You don't need to do offline updates. Dnf update still works like it always has. However offline updates are more reliable.

I ended up switching to Fedora Silverblue since I really like the idea of ostree and simple change control.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Also RHEL-based distros (tested on AlmaLinux). I think it's alright.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago

It's just unnecessary, Debian based doesn't do this at all so updates are like 10x faster.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Meanwhile Arch is like: You got problems after updating the kernel, systemd and sway? Well either you need to reboot, or you're fucked till the next patch lol

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Or, maybe a reinstall would help.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Nah, actually never had to reinstall. Not even after switching devices (Laptop -> Laptop), by just copying over /dev/sda3 to /dev/main/root, only "reinstalling" grub (grub-install) and recreating swap (on /dev/main/swap).

[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Unattended upgrades or firmware update scheduled.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

Here is a 2021 article with a screenshot pretty similar to what OP has there.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 week ago (1 children)

This is common across a lot of Linux. I believe it first started with Fedora and now is pretty much everywhere except for a handful of distros. It is much better to do updates offline since there is a lower chance things will go wrong. You don't need to do it this way but when you use gnome software this is what it does. I was unaware that Ubuntu supported this but apparently they do.

Ideally ostree based distros will take over since they can transparently swap the root FS on reboot but they are still fairly rare. I like Fedora Silverblue since I can easily roll back a bad update.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 week ago (2 children)

No. Updating in the background without user consent is unacceptable bullshit. It belongs in Android and Windows, where you can punish the competent because you have to accommodate the incompetent. But not in Linux.

This kind of shit and Snaps is why I won't install Ubuntu even on my parent's computers.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Automatic updates are optional

I'm not sure why you think this is being forced. It is just a toggle that you control.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sounds like this user was surprised by it. Stuff like this shouldn't be "opt out" any more than marketing, behavior tracking, or information sharing.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 week ago

Except every action to do this requires user prompting. They clicked update and then were prompted to reboot. None of this is forced what so ever.

This isn't Windows believe or not

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You get notified and can opt-out of the update in the Shutdown dialog, at least with Gnome.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

That's good. It's still annoying, but as more people used to this sort of behavior come onboard Linux, behaviors like this are going to inevitably creep in. And, options are good; I object only to opt-out.

It doesn't affect me, anyway, but I'm still going to have a cow the day my dad calls and tells me he said "yes" to an upgrade dialog and now his computer won't work, and I have to waste my time dealing with this bullshit at an inconvenient time.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

This is not new. Other distro have this too. In Gnome you will have a tick box in the Shutdown/reboot dialogue and you can opt-out of this offline update. If you update yourself with package manager, you will not need to go through the offline update.

Personally, I like it. It's predictable, reboots once, updates, shuts off. Unlike Windows which will update, reboot, Update some more, get stuck for 30 minutes, reboot another time, finishing the updates and finally shuts down. And if you have encrypted (bitlocker or such) you have to attend the whole process and miss your fucking train and stay in the office 30 minutes more because of this BS. Sorry, I got carried away a little bit.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I fucking hate forced or automatic updates. have a nightly apt-get update running via cron, and I run the upgrade manually when it suits me.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago

Relax, this isn't automatic unless you turn it on and it is never forced.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 week ago

Agreed usually the first thing that I do when I am working casually is update, but there are times that I need to know that my computer is working like I expect it to. I don't like this at all.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Debian 12 also does this. 😂

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Really? Do you know how to make it do this for a server install?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Don't know. I remember seeing it happen on my laptop, but I don't recall the context. It's possible that I'm hallucinating and it was the previous Ubuntu install. But I think it was Debian 12.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

One of reasons why I love Ubuntu is because it updates live and rarely even asks for my password. I'd use any other distro, but they all want stupid password for ANY update and some demand you restart the system. So stupid.

I've not yet had such screen on any system. Is this LTS or regular?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

You don't need to do this. Doing apt update && apt upgrade will still update normally

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Not sure how far it goes I just did a reinstall a couple of days ago for 24.10.