Same as the header. Firefox is already well known for its annoying updates. However I am not using it and don't wish to update it. However it has started to show up in my system update dialogue
I want to remove firefox (and VS code) from showing up in my lists like this. I'll update them manually if and when I need to.
The only options I know of are to set the updater to Security Updates only... or turn it off entirely.
These settings can be found in Software & Updates.
With Firefox, you can remove the Language packs using Synaptic Package manager to put a halt to the incessant FF Language pack updates.
If you do not use FF at all, you could also just remove it.
I have already disabled all types of checking but the os doesn't seem to care
I feel your pain. I really do.
Looking at your screenshot, I also see "Snap package updates are checked routinely and installed automatically." How nice. So, in addition to Gnome Software Updater ignoring your preferences... It also notes that where Snap is concerned, you don't even get to state your preferences to have them ignored.
Maybe it is because it is now 2:35 am. And been a tough day. Maybe it's just me.
Don't even get me started on Gnome trying to pull out of the Gnu General License in order to assert more control over the user without the Gnu License inhibiting them. Much less that is going to get much worse with Gnome 40 (gtk4) since that removes a lot of essential classes from the toolkit, undercutting everyone that uses the gtk toolkit, for the primary reason of asserting Gnome Dominance over all other desktop environments.
Microsoft is less controlling and domineering than Gnome.
And somehow... Gnome is the Most used Desktop Environment on Linux. Its tendrils are into everything...
The problem you are having is Gnome. Gnome is asserting its control.
And the only fix I know of is to disable Gnome Software Updater.
I apologize... I am past it... the diplomacy and trying to walk on eggshells about GNOME. The only fix for all of the Problems with Gnome is for everyone to Stop Using It.
I'm out for the night.
If you are not using Firefox, why not remove Firefox?
This is a curiosity question, so don't waste time on it if others need help.
I never gave thought to removing Firefox because I use it. When I (like you) suggested "If you are not using Firefox, why not remove Firefox?" I had no idea how difficult it is to remove Firefox in Ubuntu/Zorin.
Firefox is not listed at all in Software and Update's "Installed" list -- not as an app, not as a system app, and not as an add-on. It simply is not on the list of installed software. So you can't remove it using Software and Update.
I searched "remove firefox from ubuntu 20.04" and learned that Firefox can be removed from Ubuntu/Zorin using the terminal to purge Firefox and then manually removing a series of files to clean up. And that complicated process seems to be the only way to remove Firefox from Ubuntu/Zorin, unlike Solus and other non-Ubuntu distros where Firefox can be removed from the software center.
I'm curious about why Firefox seems to be the only non-system application that can't be removed from Ubuntu/Zorin using Software & Updates. Do you have any idea why Canonical/Gnome made that decision? Is it some sort of commercial tie-in with Mozilla?
You can find Firefox in gnome-software by using the search function, then clicking on the result and selecting remove if you want to remove it.
You are right; it does not show up properly (Without searching it out) if it is currently installed... By .deb package.
The reason why is furtherance of Canonical breaking its word that it would not replace .deb with Snap packages. You can see Firefox in the Software Store as a Snap package if Firefox is not installed as a .deb. And you will only see it as a Snap.
This is currently listed in a bug report (I'd have to search it up and find it) as a 'bug'...
Don't bother on my account. If Canonical heads down a Snap-only path, Canonical will eventually make a mess of every Ubuntu-based distro. Snaps are not nearly as efficient as debs.
Yea, I don't get snaps. Look at the screenshot. What does this even mean ? Download size 81 MB and and installed size is a whooping 1.7 GB. And this is the case with every app I open. I just ended up downloading debian packages or installing with 'apt' via command line
Because as I have mentioned, its not just firefox, it's VS code as well and that I do use on a regular basis. And by the looks of it, the list will grow every few days. I just don't want this software update window popping up and telling me on every boot
Firefox: As your first screenshot suggests, Firefox updates are, almost always, "Security updates", because that is what they are, in fact. Firefox has complex security protections baked in, and those security protections are updated very frequently, Under your settings, security updates are set to "Display Immediately", so you see the Firefox security updates just as frequently as Firefox issues those updates.
Unless you are willing to change that security updates setting (which is reckless in my opinion, because that setting affects other security updates as well), or, in the alternative, remove/uninstall Firefox, you are going to continue to be notified of Firefox updates frequently. Make a choice: uninstall Firefox, change the "Display immediately" setting for security updates, or put up with the notifications.
VS Code: As to VS Code, I don't know why the Software Updater is showing those updates under your settings. Others may know and may be able to help you.
The only thing I can think of is that you changed the Software & Updates "other updates" setting to "Display every two weeks" after the VS Code update started being reported. If that is the case, you might let the updates run through and see if the "Display every two weeks" setting clicks in prospectively.
Edit/Update (see comment below, and also my suggestion immediately above): As I understand it, once Software & Updates notifies you of an update, Software & Updates will continue to nag you about updating on every boot until you, in fact, update.
A minor point: I use Firefox browser and I also use VS code. I have my updater set to normal updates. And I only get a pop up notifying me of updates around once a week or so.
The point isn't minor. I use Firefox (not VS Code, unless it is doing something in the background that I don't know about), and also get popups notifying me of updates about once a week, because that is the frequency with which Firefox updates. I update, and then the system is silent until the next round of updates is available. @hey may be getting the notification at every boot because he doesn't update when prompted, so the system keeps nagging him.
I am a bit more proactive when it comes to software updater. I don't wait for pop-ups, I fire up software updater manually after boot and deal with any updates before moving on. That way you don't get pop-ups during the rest of the session and you also reassured that your OS and apps are up-to-date with latest security patches from start of play.
I think that would be a good strategy for @hey. I did that when I was testing Beta, which seemed to update every day or two. Now that I'm on release, updates happen about once a week, which is normal. My daily driver (Solus OS) is a rolling release that updates every Friday, so I usually do a manual update when I start it up on Saturday.
@Aravisian what was that apt command you used in the other thread to mark an installation from updates? Wouldn't that apply to the updater app also?
That is sudo apt-mark hold (package-name)
So, in this case, sudo apt-mark hold firefox and sudo apt-mark hold vscode
The problem is, the O.P. stated that he wants to update them, but on his own time, without being notified. The apt-mark hold would block them updating entirely.
I didn't know that systems did that. I only got the notification once and that was it for that session. But it seems that I should leave my old means behind. I ran away from updates with prejudice (on windows). I'd update things only when absolutely needed. Anyway thanks for your input.
This may be the closest to the solution I want. Thanks. But I feel like I should start updating things when they are made available
I sometimes pop apt list -u and look at what wants some love, then sudo apt upgrade into a terminal as soon as I log in.
What I like about the terminal is how fast and easy it is. Let's say I look at the upgradable list and I don't want to update package "doofensmurtz". I can apt-mark hold it, then run apt upgrade, then apt-mark unhold doofensmurtz and I'm on my way again within seconds.
I mean... If people can go on and on in Yahoo Messenger for days at a time, they can chat for two seconds with a terminal, right?
