[MacPorts] #18512: UI bug: "port selfupdate" misleads users into thinking the full installation is up to date

MacPorts noreply at macports.org
Mon Feb 16 12:44:33 PST 2009


#18512: UI bug: "port selfupdate" misleads users into thinking the full
installation is up to date
-------------------------------------------------+--------------------------
 Reporter:  martijn@…                            |       Owner:  macports-tickets@…                   
     Type:  defect                               |      Status:  new                                  
 Priority:  Normal                               |   Milestone:  Port Bugs                            
Component:  base                                 |     Version:  1.7.0                                
 Keywords:  selfupdate, UI messages, misleading  |        Port:                                       
-------------------------------------------------+--------------------------
 The "port selfupdate" command produces misleading output. As long as there
 is not a new release of the base installation, it always claims that the
 MacPorts installation is not outdated and the installation was not
 updated, even if it was. This can be demonstrated by running "port
 outdated" command before and after running selfupdate:

 {{{
 $ port outdated
 No installed ports are outdated.
 $ sudo port selfupdate
 Password:

 MacPorts base version 1.700 installed
 Downloaded MacPorts base version 1.700

 The MacPorts installation is not outdated so it was not updated
 $ port outdated
 The following installed ports are outdated:
 bzip2                          1.0.5_1 < 1.0.5_2
 ghostscript                    8.64_0 < 8.64_1
 libpixman                      0.12.0_1 < 0.14.0_0
 xorg-libX11                    1.1.5_1 < 1.1.99.2_1
 xorg-libXext                   1.0.4_0 < 1.0.5_0
 xorg-libXfont                  1.3.4_1 < 1.3.4_2
 xorg-util-macros               1.2.1_0 < 1.2.1_1
 xorg-xcb-util                  0.3.2_0 < 0.3.3_0
 xorg-xextproto                 7.0.4_0 < 7.0.5_0
 xorg-xtrans                    1.2.2_0 < 1.2.3_0
 grote5:~ martijn$
 }}}

 I know about RTFA and I did, so I know it only means to talk about the
 base installation. But UI messages should not mislead users, not even
 those who don't read manuals. IMO, this is a UI bug, as an inexperienced
 user is likely to misunderstand and wonder why no ports are ever updated.

 A few possible ways of fixing it:
  * Reword the message to clearly refer only to the base installation,
 suggesting people should check for port updates separately
  * Automatically run "port outdated" after the selfupdate routine to
 inform users of any outdated ports or the lack thereof
  * Explicitly suggest running something like "port upgrade -u outdated"
 after every "port selfupdate"

-- 
Ticket URL: <http://trac.macports.org/ticket/18512>
MacPorts <http://www.macports.org/>
Ports system for Mac OS


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