• Bug#1100063: packagekit-offline-update.service blocks the boot process

    From Johannes Schauer Marin Rodrigues@21:1/5 to All on Mon Mar 10 22:40:01 2025
    Package: packagekit
    Version: 1.2.6-5
    Severity: normal
    X-Debbugs-Cc: jbicha@debian.org

    Hi,

    I just installed Debian Trixie on a laptop using the daily Debian
    installer netboot image and selected the default desktop, Gnome. On that installation, packagekit is installed and
    packagekit-offline-update.service is enabled by default. As a result,
    when booting the machine, I sometimes have to wait several dozen minutes
    before I can start using my computer. I see no indication that this
    operation can be skipped or canceled, so I have to sit and wait until
    it is done.

    Is this the kind of behaviour that we want to have in the default
    installation of Debian Trixie? I used to use unattended-upgrades which
    managed to keep my system updated in the background. Should that kind of upgrade experience not rather be the default? I remember having seen
    Gnome installations that inform the user of available updates while the
    system is running and allow the user to perform the upgrade without
    rebooting. But I'm not familiar enough with Gnome to be able to tell
    what component that was. But it was certainly a much nicer user
    experience than having to sit and wait though an upgrade when all i want
    to do is use my computer *now*.

    If you are not going to change the default, what is the recommended alternative? I can mask packagekit-offline-update.service but then what
    would be the recommended way to keep a Gnome installation up-to-date?

    Thanks!

    cheers, josch

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