Mate desktop updates

[sjr]

I'm using lm maya with mate desktop. I haven't gotten any updates for Mate at all, as far as I can recall. AM I MISSING SOME REPOSITORY? Are bugfixes for Mate ever sent between point releases of the mate desktop?

This is my sources.list

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ precise partner
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ precise free non-free

Any advice or clarification appreciated.

Thanks.

[Neurons_at_Work]

sjr--
Here are my default sources:

deb http://packages.linuxmint.com/ maya main upstream import
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security main restricted universe multiverse
deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ precise partner
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ precise free non-free

Looks dead-on to me. It's funny, but I was starting to wonder the same thing. I don't quite have a handle on how the autoupdate works, but it seems to be tied to how long the computer's on--not a certain time each day or whatever. I installed Mate at least 3 weeks ago, and also hadn't gotten one update notification in the panel. It would seem to check at login and then at regular intervals and remain 'up to date' even though there were numerous updates available. My problems, though, are that I am both impatient and don't leave the thing on for long stretches. I manually check at least once a day, and there are usually a few updates that I install. By doing that it never was tripping the auto part and showing up in the panel. Today, however, for the first time, I got the blue shield and then installed. This is possibly because I left the thing on all day. I don't know. Anyway, try that--leaving it on and not checking manually--and see what happens...

[zum Kaufhof]

Hello both,

There has been previous correspondence on this but I cannot find it at the moment; more importantly I did not understand it any way! Since I installed MATE (31.6.2012 I think), I have seen the blue shield with the 'i' appear only once without any 'stimulation' by me. What I have found best is to engage 'Update Manager' from the list of applications and, in this way I find I get the updates. Indeed, I have just done that and 14 recommended updates appear in the Update Manager Window, together with the blue screen notification.

Has either of you tried doing this? I am no expert, by the way!

Trevor

[Neurons_at_Work]

Hi Trevor--
Yes, this is the way I normally do it and install whatever updates are found. I think perhaps when MintUpdate checks at login and every 15 minutes or so, it may only be checking a limited repository--maybe just Security or something. Then after a long time it goes out and looks at all. That's a guess, but a couple of days ago was the first time I got the 'blue shield' notification without me doing anything like checking manually, even though I've had the software for weeks and there are updates available almost daily. I am sure there is some logic to the automatic operation of MintUpdate, but I have yet to grasp it...

[Amanas]

Linux Mint does not update their mate packages after a release, so whatever version Mint ships with is what you're stuck with unless you follow the links below. They assume you're using Mint 13. If you're using Mint 12, then follow the steps for Oneirc instead of Precise in the first link.

Note: there have been issues connecting to packages.mate-desktop.org, so you may want to use the other mirror that's listed.

http://wiki.mate-desktop.org/download?& ... repository

http://wiki.mate-desktop.org/download?& ... 14_release

[zum Kaufhof]

Hello Amanas,

This is not what we are talking about. I'm sure we are using LM 13 Mate and wondering why we do not get the usual notifications about updates to the distribution. They are definitely issued and can be downloaded and installed - but why no (or very rare) notifications by the usual 'blue shield' icon?

Nothing to do with the availability of Mate 1.4.

Trevor

[sjr]

I'm still not sure that I'm getting all updates, but the following procedure (following the link kindly provided by Amanas) succeeded in updating my desktop from mate 1.2 to mate 1.4:

1. Add the mate repo:
sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://repo.mate-desktop.org/ubuntu precise main"

2. Edit the /etc/apt/preferences file:
My original was

Package: *
Pin: release o=linuxmint
Pin-Priority: 700

Package: *
Pin: origin packages.linuxmint.com
Pin-Priority: 700

Package: *
Pin: release o=Ubuntu
Pin-Priority: 500

and I added at the end the section:

Package: *
Pin: origin repo.mate-desktop.org
Pin-Priority: 700

3. Do the following:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install mate-archive-keyring
sudo apt-get update

Now Mate 1.4 appears in the mint update manager

I would like to urge the developers to explain this in some prominent place. This is pretty important and basic stuff to have to hunt down on the forums!

[squeezy]

Hello Amanas,

This is not what we are talking about. I'm sure we are using LM 13 Mate and wondering why we do not get the usual notifications about updates to the distribution. They are definitely issued and can be downloaded and installed - but why no (or very rare) notifications by the usual 'blue shield' icon?

Nothing to do with the availability of Mate 1.4.

Trevor

Unfortunately (for you) that is what the thread starter was asking about. Don't derail a thread then chastise someone who responds to the original question.

[squeezy]

I would like to urge the developers to explain this in some prominent place. This is pretty important and basic stuff to have to hunt down on the forums!

As Amanas mentioned, Mint does not update the release level of the DE once the distribution is published. What you are asking for are instructions on how to modify Mint 13 into an unsupported state. I'm afraid you won't see that happen.

[sjr]

Squeezy, Thanks for clarifying this. I didn't know that LM 13 supports only Mate 1.2!

[zum Kaufhof]

Well, sorry to have been a nuisance then. What are these updates I have been downloading since installing LM 13 Mate? I have a reputation for being extremely diplomatic and helpful but I really cannot see how the original poster was asking about Mate 1.4.

I can only put this lack of understanding on my part down to some sort of cultural or possibly linguistic incompatibilities.

Sincere apologies to all from

Trevor (9 recommended updates available)

[squeezy]

Squeezy, Thanks for clarifying this. I didn't know that LM 13 supports only Mate 1.2!

While it is only my opinion, it's based on 18 years experience in a very large corporate IT environment. A working configuration and a supported configuration are two different things. While MATE 1.4 may very well work fine in Mint 13, it has not been tested. Asking the Mint devs to document changing to an environment they have not tested is not really fair to them.

What are these updates I have been downloading since installing LM 13 Mate? ... I really cannot see how the original poster was asking about Mate 1.4. ...Trevor (9 recommended updates available)

The OP may not have been asking specifically about updates to get MATE 1.4 but (s)he was definitely asking about updates to MATE. To whit:

I'm using lm maya with mate desktop. I haven't gotten any updates for Mate at all ... Are bugfixes for Mate ever sent between point releases of the mate desktop?

The conversation you got into involved how the Update Manager works which was not the initial topic.

Are the updates you get related to MATE or are they general non-MATE updates? To be honest, I've only run Mint 13 for a couple of days at a time, I like to reinstall a lot to try different things, so I can't say what kind of updates have been coming through.

[zum Kaufhof]

Good Evening (in the UK) Squeezy,

The updates I've been getting and installing (approx 150+ so far) are mainly what I would call maintenance updates (new versions of applications) and a few applications which I don't think were included in the original release (Pidgin, Ghostscript, Simple Scan for instance). I don't know how I could tell whether they are Mate specific or not but I doubt if they are part of the upgrading to 1.4; I very much doubt it, though being no expert, I certainly don't know!

I agree with you that users of Mint 13 should really wait for its developers to issue 1.4 (when tested). That's certainly what I shall do.

Trevor