Adept, KPackageKit, Muon, Apper....

[SIR_Taco]

I've been testing 12.10 for a while now. I use apt-get from the command line and rarely use the GUI programs. I got poking around the K-menu and noticed that "Apper" has sprung into existence.

I'm curious why Kubuntu seems to switch package managers / software centre type programs every year or so (GUI speaking of course)?

It doesn't really affect me, and I'm all for using the right tool for the job, but if the goal of the distribution is to be accessible, I would think that consistency should be a must.

thoughts?

[bsniadajewski]

That is odd. I upgraded to quantal not too long ago and Muon is still in place (I use Muon for my PM). The only thing I noticed was replacing the nvidia driver with nouveau while I was dist-upgrade-ing to 12.10.

[SIR_Taco]

yes, Muon is still in place... but Apper is there as well... so what's the point of Apper? Is it to replace Muon?

[blobfish]

I agree. I don't have much use for gui package management, but I did my first year on linux. apperantly apper is grown out of kpackagekit. Kpackagekit was the default for how many releases?? Never very usable and then came muon. Now they want to switch back. It seems to erratic too me also.

[bsniadajewski]

Interesting. Apper wasn't installed on mine. Then again, upgraded by the tried and true method (for me, at least) of modifying sources.list and dist-upgrade from there. It may have affected it somehow. Maybe one of the Kubuntu developers can chime in here.

[SIR_Taco]

I'm really not saying that any of the options of the years are a bad idea. They all had their pros can cons.

Maybe what I would suggest is that the Kubuntu team should create and/or adopt and formally maintain (themselves) a GUI program for the software centre and package manager. Or at least pick one and have some say and/or participate in the production of such a program.

Just think if Windows 98 had 'windows update', XP had 'windows make things better', Vista had 'Update Von Updaterson', and 7 had 'App Makey' for update solutions....

[claydoh]

Maybe what I would suggest is that the Kubuntu team should create and/or adopt and formally maintain (themselves) a GUI program for the software centre and package manager. Or at least pick one and have some say and/or participate in the production of such a program.

Apper is the new name for KPackageKit. Those who upgraded from a Kubuntu system using it kept it when Muon became the default package manager. Then the name changed. That's why some people have 2

Now as to why the changes?
First off, none of the previous managers were very stable.

Adept was so-so, but was clunky and buggy and received many complaints. The developer moved on, as well.

Secondly, Apper (at the time KPackageKit) was improving but still clunky, lacked features and also fielded many many complaints. Even though it is somewhat universal in what sort of package system it can manage, it is primarily an RPM based application.

So the good Kubuntu dude Jonathan Thomas, decided to write software for Debian based systems that not only manages packages, but also handle updates and manual installation of deb files, all using using KDE. Previously, multiple tools had to be used and maintained to do all this. So we have Muon, which now has a nifty Software Center interface as well as an advanced one, all using the same underpinnings.

http://claydoh.com/kubuntu-and-package-managers/ -- this was written almost two years ago after a rash of "why don't you use Synaptic" instances.

I was actually impressed by KPK's advancement at the time, but Muon won out after testing and usage as an alternative manager, and is here for the long run. I really like it, though I usually run regular updates on the command line since I am most often running the development releases . Investigating and searching for packages is much easier with a gui.