Debian GUI upgrade helper (release notification + deb822 sources rewrite + postpone option)
Hi Guido Berhoester and Debian Qt/KDE Maintainers,
I support users who are not comfortable with the shell and know also some
people, who'd like to install Linux, but aren't familiar with the terminal.
Keeping their laptops up-to-date especially if there is a new Debian version
is a bit tedious, because sometimes they moved away etc and then I think, that
after a while they'd wonder about the old software and why it's not updating.
A simple, guided UI would dramatically reduce support load and mistakes.
Debian has the pieces (PackageKit/Discover/GNOME updater), but a small glue
tool would make upgrades approachable. So I'm looking for a small
Debian‑friendly GUI that:
- notifies when a new Debian stable is available (e.g., bookworm → trixie),
- lets the user Upgrade now or Postpone,
- safely rewrites APT sources to deb822 (backup first, handle Signed‑By,
respect pinning/backports), preferably using “apt modernize-sources,”
- then runs a standard PackageKit/apt full upgrade and shows progress.
Would you be open to implementing or mentoring this? Unfortunately I cannot
write code, but I can help test on bookworm→trixie paths and contribute docs/
translations.
Possible UX specs:
- Detect new stable:
- Check Debian release info (announce feed or Release Notes URL), or compare
current /etc/os-release codename with “stable” suite via APT policy. Show
banner: “Debian 13 ‘trixie’ is available.”
- Offer: “Upgrade now”, “Remind me later (in 1/7/30 days)”, “Skip this
release”.
- Prepare sources (with deb822):
- Run apt modernize-sources; back up /etc/apt/sources.list* and .list files;
consolidate into /etc/apt/sources.list.d/debian.sources; switch suites
bookworm→trixie (or stable), keep components, adjust backports, unpin APT if
needed; preserve third‑party entries and warn if incompatible.
- Upgrade flow:
- Trigger the user’s existing GUI (gnome-package-updater or Discover) with
PackageKit, show logs, and reboot prompt.
- Safety rails:
- Timeshift/snapshot reminder, disk space check, network check, “dry run”
simulation, and a “restore sources from backup” button.
Thanks!
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