Developer(s) Canonical Ltd. Operating system | Written in Python Type Package Manager | |
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Stable release 0.156.14 / November 30, 2016; 3 months ago (2016-11-30) Repository code.launchpad.net/update-manager | ||
In several Linux operating systems, the Software Updater (previously known as Update Manager) program updates installed software and their associated packages with important software updates for security or with recommended patches. It also informs users when updates are available, listing them in alphabetical order for users to choose which updates to install, if any. It was originally written for Ubuntu although it is now part of the standard Debian operating system and other APT-based systems.
The application was originally called Update Manager; it was announced in May 2012 that starting with Ubuntu 12.10 the name would change to Software Updater to better describe its functions.
The Software Updater cannot uninstall updates, although this can be accomplished by other package managers such as Ubuntu Software Center and more technically advanced ones such as Synaptic.
In Ubuntu, the Software Updater can update the operating system to new versions which are released every six months for standard releases or every two years for Long Term Support releases. This functionality is included by default in the desktop version but needs to be added to the server version.