> IMHO, in the use case for "apt install", "apt update" should be considered an implementation detail and the user shouldn't need to call it directly. "apt install" should just do the right thing.
Here's basically the same opinion with some commentary from others: https://twitter.com/chr1sa/status/894048628284604416 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to apt in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1429285 Title: feature request: apt-get update --if-necessary Status in apt package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: In many cases (juju, lxc containers .. ) we find ourselves in the position of not knowing if the apt-cache has been udpated recently. So, you either risk not doing it, or do it and it takes some time and generates load. so long story short, you always run 'apt-get update' which is quite often unnecessary. Would it be possible to add (or is there now) something like '--if-necessary' or '--if-necessary=5m'. I could imagine that that would look at /var/lib/apt/lists and check timestamps on files for each url that /etc/apt/sources.list[.d/*] would hit. If nothing was needed and reasonably recent, then it would not do the update. There exist other solutions to this like: https://coderwall.com/p/0xtstw/doing-an-apt-get-update-in-ansible-only-if-a-condition-is-met https://blog.kumina.nl/2010/11/puppet-tipstricks-running-apt-get-update-only-when-needed/ It'd be nice if we had a sane way to say: update if you need to, otherwise don't waste time and resources ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.04 Package: apt 1.0.9.3ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.19.0-7.7-generic 3.19.0 Uname: Linux 3.19.0-7-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.16.2-0ubuntu1 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: Unity Date: Fri Mar 6 17:06:22 2015 EcryptfsInUse: Yes InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-01-02 (63 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 15.04 "Vivid Vervet" - Alpha amd64 (20150101) SourcePackage: apt UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/apt/+bug/1429285/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
