This New Arch Linux Tool Takes The Hassle Out Of Keeping Packages Up To Date - Here's How

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• New Arch instrumentality alerts maintainers erstwhile packages are outdated.
• Bumpbuddy automates GitLab rumor creation for updates.
• Web dashboard and API planned for early Bumpbuddy versions.

Bumpbuddy is simply a caller Arch Linux instrumentality that intends to amended really maintainers are informed astir packages wrong nan superior repositories. This caller app uses a inheritance work (daemon) to show package versions and moreover automatically opens issues connected GitLab if it detects a package is retired of date.

Why is this important? 

For one, it helps maintainers support abreast of erstwhile an upstream package has a caller release. This way, developers and maintainers don't person to manually cheque for this information. Secondly, users will nary longer person to fuss flagging packages that are retired of day and will person entree to accusation that mightiness bespeak if an update is taking longer than accustomed to release. For nan astir part, however, Bumpbuddy seems to beryllium focused chiefly connected developers and maintainers.

According to Robin Candau, package maintainer for Arch Linux:

"Bumpbuddy takes advantage of nan `.nvchecker.toml` record from GitLab's packages repo to execute automated search of caller upstream releases. Therefore, package maintainers won't request to trust connected manual `pkgctl type check` runs aliases 'homemade' solutions to way caller upstream releases for their packages anymore."

Candau besides indicates nan squad has plans to supply a web-based dashboard for Bumpbuddy, an API endpoint for pkgctl type check, negociate "out of date" position for packages connected Archweb, and more.

Keep successful mind that this is nan first loop of Bumpbuddy, truthful location will beryllium issues. I've yet to find a measurement to instal Bumpbuddy connected Arch Linux, which makes maine judge that nan app has yet to make it to nan default repositories (there isn't moreover a listing for it successful Archweb).

We'll person to hold

There is small accusation astir this app beyond nan charismatic announcement and various sum astir nan internet. There is simply a GitLab page for Bumpbuddy, but that besides includes very small information. My conjecture is that we'll person to hold until Bumpbuddy is officially packaged successful Arch Linux to trial it aliases bask nan spoils of nan developer's work.

You tin publication much astir Bumpbuddy successful this charismatic Arch Linux statement.

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