Source packages appropriate by default?

[Matthew Paul Thomas]

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Benjamin Kerensa wrote on 20/05/13 18:02:
> 
> On May 20, 2013 8:10 AM, "Daniel J Blueman" <daniel at quora.org ...
>> 
>> For all the general users I install Ubuntu for (including
>> servers), it's an utter waste of bandwidth for everyone,
>> particularly when automatically checking once a day. This is
>> amplified eg in schools without transparent webcaches etc.
>> 
>> Anyone get the same feeling that we should have source packages
>> an opt-in?
> 
> I think in most parts of the world 4MB is trivial overhead for a
> user. Although perhaps we should consider it since some developing
> nations have limited bandwidth?
> 
> ...

With every extra kilobyte required to check for updates, the check
will complete measurably less often. Maybe the notebook lid will be
closed, maybe the connection will time out, or maybe the computer will
be shut down altogether.

(Measurably, but not measuredly: we aren't collecting stats on this.
See <http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?1553> for examples of how even
tiny changes in download times affect Web site success rates.)

When update checks are completed less often, updates are installed
later after they are issued.

So, unnecessary downloads when checking for updates is a security issue.

<http://launchpad.net/bugs/74747>
<https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareUpdates#Ideas>

- -- 
mpt

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