16.10.2008: adept 3.0 beta 4

Adept 3.0 Beta 4

I have released fourth beta of Adept today. For the unaware, Adept is an APT front-end for KDE: it lets you install, remove, upgrade software and such your Debian and Kubuntu boxes (and maybe on some other Debian derivatives, too).

Changes since Beta 2

Since I have done beta 3 somewhat in a hurry, I have regressed the installer component badly — to point of complete unusability. However un-sound software engineering practice, the deep freeze for Kubuntu Intrepid hits today, so I have released beta 4 in rapid succession. Other than the regression fix, I have mostly reworked the paging implementation in the installer — however, the report of complete installer rewrite (hi Jonathan) is somewhat exaggerated. Sadly, the KPageWidget we have been using before turns out to be completely unsuitable for the job, so a quick rewrite probably fixed more issues than it caused (and this seems to be confirmed by early testing feedback).

Moreover, this beta got a bunch of improvements to the search, including package name hits, a set of cosmetic improvements (button icons, nicer sidebar, etc.) and a button to run software-properties-kde from the Sources tab (works on Intrepid, but sadly breaks on Debian for now… will fix later. Need time, need sleep.)

Where to get

I have prepared binary packages. These should be now part of Debian Sid (unstable) and also of Kubuntu Intrepid. You should be able to get the new version from your distribution:

apt-get install adept

Again, as with beta 2, there is no Hardy backport, since my time is tight. If anyone is willing to do a backport please drop me a note: I will gladly publish installation instructions.

Heroes of Beta 4

• Jonathan Thomas (JontheEchidna) — quite a bit of stuff (and bug sorting, arr!)
• Jonathan Riddell — another bunch of bits
• Harald Sitter (apachelogger) — improved icon choices
• Michael Casadevall — for manpage, which accidentally didn’t get included in the package, only in the source — I’ll try to remember to fix that for beta 5

Jobs for Beta 5, RC and Final

Mostly just testing and reporting bugs. I currently plan a beta 5 with a few fixes that have started accumulating since beta 4 already (mostly one-liner fixes with minimal risk of regressions). After that, an RC is in order and a final release (finally…).

Notifier is not included. Kubuntu has an independent sort of notifier now, I believe. Maybe I’ll find time to reconcile it in 3.1 or so.

Moreover, I assume that a beta 4 or a very minorly patched beta 4 will become part of Kubuntu Intrepid — there should be no major roadblocks left, so I hope everything will bode well for Intrepid. I assume that whatever becomes 3.0 final will be eventually included in Intrepid updates. And then, plans should be set forth for 3.1…

Known issues

The about dialog still says beta 2. Bummer. Please try to note in your reports that this is actually a beta 4 that you are using. I’ll make sure beta 5 fixes that — but it might be another week till then, or so. The Intrepid version should have that fixed, thanks to Jonathan Thomas (again).

09.09.2008: adept 3.0 beta 2

Adept 3.0 Beta 2

I have released second beta of Adept a few hours ago. For the unaware, Adept is an APT front-end for KDE: it lets you install, remove, upgrade software and such your Debian and Kubuntu boxes (and maybe on some other Debian derivatives, too).

Changes since Alpha 6

Now, alpha 6 has been the last alpha release, therefore there are no more new features in beta 2. Most of the issues should have been resolved. I have also added a menubar, resolving a potential usability problem (and making the about box accessible, too!). There will be another beta that should fix the few remaining known issues. Please report any issues you have encountered to me (either mail, irc or bugs.kde.org).

Where to get

I have prepared binary packages. These should be now part of Debian Sid (unstable) and also of Kubuntu Intrepid. You should be able to get the new version from your distribution:

apt-get install adept

There is no Hardy backport, since my time is tight. If anyone is willing to do a backport (you can use the stuff that is in my PPA; however, some things need updating), please drop me a note: I will gladly publish installation instructions.

Heroes of Beta 2

There has been a (silent) beta 1 a while back, which introduced a couple of regressions against alpha 6 (but fixed bugs, too!).

• Jonathan Thomas (JontheEchidna) for catching the updater regression
• Harald Sitter (apachelogger):
  • for providing new .desktop files
  • for catching the non-root mode regression

Jobs for Beta 2

Sorting through Launchpad for bugs that have been fixed is still needed, as far as I know. JontheEchidna has been working on this (and maybe some others have? Drop me a note if you worked on this and claim your fair share of fame… Sorry that I don’t keep track of that, but you know the story… too much stuff to do in too little time, all the time.)

Notifier is not included. Kubuntu has an independent sort of notifier now, I believe. Maybe I’ll find time to reconcile it in 3.1 or so.