Yes, the user sets the frontend (and terminal if they want) in /etc/default/update-notifier.

+	pkexec env DISPLAY=$DISPLAY XAUTHORITY=$XAUTHORITY "${TERMINAL_COMMAND} ${TERMINAL_OPTIONS}" 'apt-get dist-upgrade'

# Example:
# TERMINAL_COMMAND="/usr/bin/xfce4-terminal"
# TERMINAL_OPTIONS="-e"

TERMINAL_COMMAND="/usr/bin/xterm"
TERMINAL_OPTIONS="-fa mono -fs 12 -e"

One more thing...
If/when we package this for devuan, the executables should be in /usr/bin/ instead of /usr/local/bin.

So, if any names for updates are detected, it will notify you. Nice!

I don't know why I didn't combine the two script into one...I guess I was having a brain-fart that day? LOL!

I'm guessing the user would have to set the "frontend" that they want to use?

Thanks for the clue about changing the shebang; I wasn't aware of the possibility of what may happen with bash.

Thanks fsr!

Note the change in the she-bang. We may get stuck with usr-merge in the not too distant future, and /bin/bash will go away. It won't go far, but using '/usr/bin/env bash' will survive the change.

/etc/default/update-notifier

# Set the default action for clicking on the notification icon.
# Valid choices: 
# "none" to only see a list of available upgrades.
# "terminal" to run the upgrade in a terminal
# "gui" to run the upgrade in synaptic package manager.

FRONTEND="terminal"

# Change the terminal if you don't have xterm.
# End your terminal command with the option that runs a command inside the terminal.
# Example:
# TERMINAL_COMMAND="/usr/bin/xfce4-terminal"
# TERMINAL_OPTIONS="-e"

TERMINAL_COMMAND="/usr/bin/xterm"
TERMINAL_OPTIONS="-fa mono -fs 12 -e"

/usr/local/bin/upgrade.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash

source /etc/default/update-notifier

killall yad

if [ "$FRONTEND" = terminal ] ; then
	pkexec env DISPLAY=$DISPLAY XAUTHORITY=$XAUTHORITY "${TERMINAL_COMMAND} ${TERMINAL_OPTIONS}" 'apt-get dist-upgrade'
elif [ "$FRONTEND" = gui ] ; then
	synaptic-pkexec --dist-upgrade-mode --non-interactive
fi

exit 0

/usr/local/bin/update-notifier2.sh

#!/usr/bin/env bash

list=$(apt-get -s dist-upgrade | awk '/^Inst/ { print $2 }')

count=$(echo "$list" | wc -l)

if [ -n "$list" ] ; then

	notify-send --expire-time=20000 --icon="/usr/share/pixmaps/updates.svg" \
"Available updates: $count

$list"

	yad --notification \
		--image="/usr/share/pixmaps/updates.svg" \
		--icon-size=22 \
		--command="/usr/local/bin/upgrade.sh" \
		--text="Available updates: $count
	_____________________
	
$list" &

fi

exit 0

In fact, I almost contacted you to see if you would look over the notifier scripts to see if you had any advice or improvements, but I didn't want to bother you, because I know how busy you are.

Thanks fsr!

I did change a few things. I put the icon in /usr/share/pixmaps, because /usr/share/images didn't exist. And I combined update-notifier.sh and update-notifier2.sh into one script with a slightly different test.

If/when you package this, there should be a way to include all three in one package. I'm thinking something like a file in /etc/default to set COMMAND= where $COMMAND determines what happens when you click on the icon. (OK, I just added that below.)

Also, if anyone is wondering what that bell icon in xfce is supposed to do, here's how to get it to work:
https://forum.xfce.org/viewtopic.php?pid=62989#p62989

My modified script:

#!/bin/bash

source /etc/default/update-notifier

list=$(apt-get -s dist-upgrade | awk '/^Inst/ { print $2 }')

count=$(echo "$list" | wc -l)

if [ -n "$list" ] ; then

	notify-send --expire-time=20000 --icon="/usr/share/pixmaps/updates.svg" \
"Available updates: $count

$list"

	yad --notification \
		--image="/usr/share/pixmaps/updates.svg" \
		--icon-size=22 \
		--command="$COMMAND" \
		--text="Available updates: $count
	_____________________
	
$list"

fi

exit 0

Each version will give a desktop notification and a notification in the system tray. Instructions are included with each version for installation and editing the script(s) if desired.

Each version will check for updates 2-3 minutes after system startup; thereafter, it will check every 6 hours. I chose 6 hours, because I'm running ceres, and Debian unstable provides updates every 6 hours. However, this can be changed in the script called notifier-six-hours.sh and in the updates-sync2-cron file.

1. Basic Update Notifier - it's just an update notifier; nothing else...and my preferred version.   It will notify you if updates are available, but the user will have to manually install them via a terminal or synaptic. Click the icon in the system tray to make it disappear.

2. Synaptic Update Notifier - click the icon in the system tray, enter your password, and synaptic will open to upgrade your system. Instructions are included to allow the user to choose whether to have synaptic's main window show (along with the floating windows) during upgrades or to only show the floating windows.

3. Xterm Update Notifier - click the icon in the system tray, enter your password, and xterm will open to perform upgrades. Instructions are included if you want to use a different terminal.

Available for download from...

OSDN: https://osdn.net/projects/miyolinux/releases/76259

Sourceforge: https://sourceforge.net/projects/miyoli … fier/2021/

If you live in the US, Happy Thanksgiving!

I've been working some more on the new iterations of the update notifier that use bash scripts instead of python. I've cut down on the number of scripts needed.

I have three versions. Two versions that use Xterm (or Synaptic) to upgrade stable systems. Both of those use dist-uprade in order to upgrade "stable" systems.

(You can edit one script to use whichever terminal you want if you don't want to use xterm)

The third version is just a notifier for testing or unstable systems. It will notify you when updates are available; however, you will need to do updates manually after being notified. It's left up to the user whether to upgrade or dist-upgrade.

When I have finished testing them, I'll post new download links here.

I edited (heavily) the previous post, because I made a boo-boo with the update notifier that I didn't catch.
I've made a new .zip file with the corrections (download links above), but if you've already installed the update notifier on (or before) November 09, 2021, you can watch this video to see how to fix it...

https://youtu.be/nlfXTmt74Hs

...or you can just do the following to fix it...

If you install this new "fixed" version... 

...'cause that's the way I roll baby!

As before, clicking the icon in the system tray will open an Authentication window. Enter your password, and xterm will open to perform the updates.

With this one, if you missed the desktop notification, you can hover your mouse over the icon in the system tray, and it will show the number of updates available and list them also. (Shown in the screenshot below)

If anyone would like to try it, it can be downloaded from...

EDIT: See the next post for downloads

What has changed?

The update notifier now checks for updates within the first few minutes at system startup. It will then check for updates once every 8 hours thereafter. Since Devuan is mainly meant to be a stable system, I believe that since people leave their computers on for different amounts of time...to check at system startup and once every 8 hours thereafter was a good compromise. The update notifier will not work on Ceres thanks to Debian removing pertinent packages...back to the drawing board on future versions!

If you decide to install this, please read the readme.txt file on Sourceforge for valuable information.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/miyoli … -Notifier/

You know...in case you log in, and you get distracted by a cat chasing a moose or something...you can make the number (270) in the second script larger.

It will still only sync the repos one time, but it will give the notifier a longer time to live in the system tray before the pkill command does its business.

Awesome....jus` awesome!

...add this to your .Xresources file so that xterm will have a scroll bar so that you can scroll through to see all of the updates available when there's a ton of them. LOL!

xterm*scrollBar: true
xterm*rightScrollBar: true

MiyoLinux wrote:

One last question (anyone's input is welcome)...for the "Would you like to update your system now?" window...
Would the words plus icons...or...just the words alone be preferable on the buttons?

Nice!! I'll take both..
And this is Easy to tweak..but I'm torn between:
Pop-quiz 'user', you have updates waiting on your input...whata ya do?
and
So, ya don't wanna update now? "I'll be back!"

on to finding matching icons!

As always MiyoLinux...nice addition to your builds ~ for the users 'ease of use'!!
Allot of time and effort...I hope you remember to eat and visit family often.

asta

How did I never see this message? LOL!

DOOOO IT!!!

    There's usually some face icons in the "emotes" folder of each icon theme.

Just so happens I tweaked mine to do just that. Which update-notifier are you using? I only use the one that just opens xterm when you click the icon in the system tray. If you're using another one, I'd have to investigate n'stuff.

Be aware...this is a miyo-hack. I'm not a scriptographer.   ...but it stinkin' works.   Just read all of this before you go hackin' on the scripts in case you don't wanna do it.

If you're using the same one I am, you need to edit 2 scripts as root.

1. Open /usr/share/update-notifier/update-notifier.py with your text editor.

Change the amount of time in line # 36. I changed mine to the number 90 (which is 1 1/2 minutes after startup reaching the desktop). Anyway, that line in the script now looks like this...

interval = 90,

Save and close the file.

2. Open /usr/bin/miyo-update-sync with your text editor.

Here's where the miyo-hackism comes into play   ...edit that script to look like this...

#!/bin/bash
/usr/bin/apt-get update; while sleep 270; do pkill -9 -f update-notifier.py; done

Save and close the file.

NOTE: That 270 gives the update notifier enough time to sync the repositories once, but it will then kill the update-notifier.py before it runs again. At least, that's how it works on my system. Hack it if you have to!

Log out and log back in for it to take effect.

AND BAM!

It will only sync the repos (check for updates) and run the update notifier once after system startup.

Be aware though...this is a hack. If you don't catch the notification in the system tray within a few minutes of reaching the desktop, it won't appear again until the next time you logout/login or reboot...because if there are updates, and there's the icon in the system tray...that pkill command will kill it also.

Cause that's the way I roll baby!