Re: Detect upgradable packages in shell script ran as a non-root user

[kushal@locationd.net]

Martin T <m4rtntns@gmail.com> writes:

> Hi,
>
> I would like to run a cron job which periodically checks if I have
> upgradable packages. One way to do it is probably like this:
>
> $ apt-get upgrade -s | grep -q "^0 upgraded"
>
> In case exit code is >0, then there are upgradable packages. The
> second solution I came up with is:
>
> $ for package in $(dpkg-query -f '${binary:Package}\n' -W); do\
>   apt-show-versions -u "$package" &>/dev/null && break;\
> done
>
> Again, if exit code is >0, then there is at least one upgradable
> package. Of course, a solution like "apt-show-versions | grep -q
> "upgradeable"" would also work.
>
> For me the "apt-get upgrade -s | grep -q "^0 upgraded"" seems to be
> the most reasonable solution, but maybe there is even a better way?
>

Does "apt list --upgradable" suit your needs?

Its output format is not stable and it produces a WARNING on stderr if
you use it in a pipe, which might disqualify it for cron usage, but I
use it when I'm check things by hand.

--
regards,
kushal