Package updates in openSUSE 12.3 KDE

3 Replies

During the discussions for the release of openSUSE 12.3, the topic of update notifications and applets was brought up again. Originally openSUSE shipped with a custom update applet, but since it was basically unmaintained, the decision was made to switch to Apper for openSUSE 12.2

The original Apper used in that version had a number of issues, which the upstream developer (Daniel Nicoletti) fixed in a newer version, which also had a lot of other improvments. However we originally couldn’t switch because it depended on a newer, API-incompatible version of PackageKit, meaning that the PK bindings for libzypp (the heart of openSUSE’s package management) needed to be adjusted and ported.

So, for a while it was not clear on how to proceed, until at the recent hackathon, Stephan “coolo” Kulow ported the PK zypp backend to the newer PackageKit version. Once that issue was solved, the KDE team was able to update Apper to the latest version (0.8) and push it to the distribution. So openSUSE 12.3 (KDE) will make use of Apper as main method of notification for updates.

I would like to stress that Apper is not meant as a full blown replacement of YaST or zypper, but mainly as a way to handle distro and maintenance updates, integrated with the KDE Workspaces.

The Apper program is actually divided into two pieces: the main application itself and a plasmoid. We’ve been testing the plasmoid the past weeks and consensus is that it’s not yet ready to be pushed to users, so only the main application will get installed by default.
When you have new updates, an icon will pop in the system tray informing you:

Update notification

Clicking on it will bring up the main interface, where you can review and select the updates:

Update interface

Afterwards, the update process will start.

Of course, such an addition means that more testing is required, to ensure that outstanding bugs get fixed before the openSUSE 12.3 release. Therefore, if you are willing to test – jump aboard!

KDE Platform, Workspaces, Applications 4.10 RC3: openSUSE packages available

Following up on the announcement from KDE, the openSUSE KDE team is happy to announce the availability of 4.10 RC3 packages.  Remember that they are packages meant for testing and reporting bugs, so that the next release will be as polished as possible.

You will find the packages in the KDE:Distro:Factory repository. An updated live media based on the upcoming openSUSE 12.3 (see previous post) is also available (files named KDE4-4.10.RC3) .  The openSUSE 12.2 based version is also available (files named KDE Reloaded) at the same address.

Enjoy!

Test the upcoming openSUSE 12.3 and KDE Workspace, Applications and Platform 4.10 RC2

Following up on my previous post, a different type of image has been made by the openSUSE KDE community members. In particular, alin has created images sporting the same software from KDE (4.10 RC2) but using the upcoming openSUSE 12.3 as base. 

Download links:

These images are provided not only to test 4.10 in openSUSE, but also to test part of the distribution itself, without touching existing systems. Should you encounter a bug, please report it as follows:

Don’t forget that those images are not persistent, i.e. the settings will not be saved between sessions.

With that said, let the testing commence (or continue)!

KDE Workspaces and Applications 4.10 on live images courtesy of openSUSE

The 4.10 release for the KDE Development Platform, Workspaces and Applications is drawing nigh… as you may have read, there is now an additional release candidate in order to test some last-minute changes.

Of course, the KDE developers can only do so much: it’s impossible to test all possible combinations. That is, unless the community at large helps by finding and reporting issues the developers can fix. But doing so requires a 4.10 install. You can of course use packages from distributions, but you may not feel comfortable installing a prerelease on your system (and no one would blame you for that). Of course, if you had something to test without touching your own system…

And that’s exactly what you can do now. Alin and shumski from the openSUSE KDE team have generated live images (based on openSUSE 12.2) for USB and DVD offering a standard 4.10 install, which should provide enough to try the new release and be able to report bugs to the developers.

Some screenshots for the impatient:

Desktop Dolphin Gwenview Amarok

And of course, the  download links (EDIT: now fixed for good!):

It’s more than 650 Mb, so it won’t fit on a CD, but it will on an USB stick. Follow these instructions to install them to USB media. You can also burn these images to DVD.

If you decide to use it, don’t forget to test (see here what’s needed) and submit detailed bug reports to the developers.

Let’s make 4.10 rock solid!