thoughts on update-notifier( i think its too chatty )

[muungwana]

The other day, i decided to install device notifier and check it out and this is my observation.

1. Its too chatty.When i log in:
1.1.It informs me its waiting for ten seconds before it attempts to connect to check for updates.
1.2 It then informs me that it is checking for updates ten seconds later.
1.3 It then tells me there are no updates.
1.4 It finally tells me when the next update will be run.

2. If i do not log out,when the next schedule update for updates is up,it does the same as above starting at 1.2.

It tells me all of this through kde notification popups and that means i have to wait for the notification to stop piling up and then to close all of them.Its a bit of effort for nothing useful when there are no updates and there is nothing for me to do.

It would be better if it would silently do its stuff and inform me only when there is something i can do,like updates are available and i can update.

Reading from what others have seen.If it encounters an error,i think it should just stay silence and wait for the next update and should speak up only when it encounters errors on 3 consecutive update trials that no not included network being down.

The tool is also gtk based and doesnt integrate well in kde environment.

For those who want to try C++ programming using Qt,making a Qt based device notifier will be a nice place to start.You will get to learn and contribute to the project.

An old fashions qwidget tray app should suffice( simpler to make) but a QML based plasmoid should be better.

[muungwana]

Just though i should add,the above is my "review" of the tool after i used it for around 3 days now and i hope the review will not be taken as a personal critic of any aspect of anything and i hope i will not get the "if dont like it,dont use it or go away kind of responses"

[RobNJ]

Since:
1) I'm already a compulsive synaptic checker
and,
2) It usually takes my netbook longer than that to get the wifi going, after I turn the beast on...

I just remove it 

[Old-Polack]

The other day, i decided to install device notifier and check it out and this is my observation.

1. Its too chatty.When i log in:
1.1.It informs me its waiting for ten seconds before it attempts to connect to check for updates.
1.2 It then informs me that it is checking for updates ten seconds later.
1.3 It then tells me there are no updates.
1.4 It finally tells me when the next update will be run.

2. If i do not log out,when the next schedule update for updates is up,it does the same as above starting at 1.2.

It tells me all of this through kde notification popups and that means i have to wait for the notification to stop piling up and then to close all of them.Its a bit of effort for nothing useful when there are no updates and there is nothing for me to do.

It would be better if it would silently do its stuff and inform me only when there is something i can do,like updates are available and i can update.

Reading from what others have seen.If it encounters an error,i think it should just stay silence and wait for the next update and should speak up only when it encounters errors on 3 consecutive update trials that no not included network being down.

The tool is also gtk based and doesnt integrate well in kde environment.

For those who want to try C++ programming using Qt,making a Qt based device notifier will be a nice place to start.You will get to learn and contribute to the project.

An old fashions qwidget tray app should suffice( simpler to make) but a QML based plasmoid should be better.

Turn the notifications off.

[muungwana]

Since:
1) I'm already a compulsive synaptic checker
and,
2) It usually takes my netbook longer than that to get the wifi going, after I turn the beast on...

I just remove it 

I just checked and there is an option to select how long you want it to wait before it check for updates on startup.The default is 10 seconds but you can increase it.

[muungwana]

Turn the notifications off.

The "enable pop up notification" check box is unchecked.I didnt uncheck it so its unchecked status seem to be the default option.

[sling-shot]

Turn the notifications off.

Wonder, of what use would an Update-Notifier be with notifications turned off

[muungwana]

Turn the notifications off.

Wonder, of what use would an Update-Notifier be with notifications turned off

What i wonder is what notifications is he speaking of because the option is off and i am getting notifications.

Maybe somebody who knows more about the tool can enlighten us on what the option does and what is expected when its off and when its on.
Maybe i am seeing a bug of some sort.

[Nok]

I'm not on my pc at the moment, but the only notification I get is when I first turn on the computer, and it gives me the 10 second notification. After that, the only time I know it is doing anything is when I get the yellow triangle in the tray telling me of available updates. I get no other pop-ups.

[Old-Polack]

I'm not on my pc at the moment, but the only notification I get is when I first turn on the computer, and it gives me the 10 second notification. After that, the only time I know it is doing anything is when I get the yellow triangle in the tray telling me of available updates. I get no other pop-ups.

Exactly. Except I have mine set to wait 15 seconds. Otherwise I see no other notifications, just the yellow triangle when new upgrades are available.

[muungwana]

I'm not on my pc at the moment, but the only notification I get is when I first turn on the computer, and it gives me the 10 second notification. After that, the only time I know it is doing anything is when I get the yellow triangle in the tray telling me of available updates. I get no other pop-ups.

Exactly. Except I have mine set to wait 15 seconds. Otherwise I see no other notifications, just the yellow triangle when new upgrades are available.

mmhh,ok,maybe its something local.Will post a picture when i get notifications next time.

[muungwana]

a few hours later and i just created a quick qt based update notifier.

Any testers? 

Currently,it doesnt automate anything and a user has to click an icon to initiate an update check.

The icon shows 3 states,the tool is checking for updates,no updates are available and updates are available.

sources can be found at: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8juRKTjN4Q9WV9MLUZoMVJGNWc/edit?usp=sharing

to build:
1. download the sources
2. extract them
3. open the terminal on the source folder
4. type qmake
5. type make
6. (double)click the "qt-update-notifier" executable to start it up.

7. left click the icon to start an update check.
8. right click the icon to see additional current functionality including the option to close it.

[sling-shot]

Cool

[daniel]

Turn the notifications off.

The "enable pop up notification" check box is unchecked.I didnt uncheck it so its unchecked status seem to be the default option.

Is allready uncheckt. Choose your settings and save it.
This is simple the trick.

Regards
Daniel

[The Chief]

Since  the constant nagging to update this or that or the other thing is part of what drove me away from windows, I just do without it, thank you very much.

No, seriously, if I felt I needed to be reminded to update, Sunbird works just fine for reminders.  Every couple of weeks, at a time not much else is happening, seems about right...