apt-fetch

apt-fetch is a tool designed for automating the scheduled download of pending updates for Debian-based systems. The project consists of a cron job and a Python script for scheduling downloads via APT, and a Cinnamon applet for monitoring the status of these scheduled downloads. The script creates daily log files in /var/log/ as well as a lock file in /var/lock to indicate if another instance of the script is in process. If the system is rebooted while apt-fetch is active, the lock file will likely persist, preventing apt-fetch from running again. apt-fetch will attempt to remove this lock file if older than a certain amount of time. The status dialog is handled by the Zenity package, so ensure this is available.

Features

• Scheduled Downloads: apt-fetch utilizes a cron job to automatically schedule the download of pending updates at specified intervals.

• Rate Limiting: Downloads are throttled at a default rate of 56K, ensuring minimal interference with modern broadband and preventing substantial disruptions during the update process.

• Logging: Detailed logs are maintained, providing insights into the update process. Log files are organized by date, making it easy to review historical information.

• Lock Mechanism: apt-fetch employs a lock mechanism to prevent multiple instances from running concurrently. This ensures the integrity of the update process and prevents potential conflicts.

Installation

1. Install Zenity:

   apt install zenity zenity-common

2. Clone the Repository:

   git clone https://github.com/bitstrike/apt-fetch.git

3. Install the Script:

   sudo cp apt-fetch/usr/local/bin/apt-fetch.py /usr/local/bin/
   sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/apt-fetch.py

4. Install the cron job:

   sudo cp apt-fetch/etc/cron.d/apt-fetch /etc/cron.d/
   sudo chmod 0644 /etc/cron.d/apt-fetch

5. Install the Cinnamon Applet: Install the Cinnamon applet to monitor the status of scheduled downloads. The applet directory has a specific location and naming convention for desktop applets and must be named correctly.

   cd ~/.local/share/cinnamon/applets/
   git clone https://github.com/bitstrike/apt-fetch.git
   mv apt-fetch apt-fetch@bitcrash

   After performing these steps, right-click on the Cinnamon Panel and select the 'applets' item. If you've installed the applet correctly, it will appear as 'apt-fetch by bitstrike'. Toggle the checkmark to install it into the Cinnamon applet tray.

Usage

• Manual Run: You can manually run apt-fetch to initiate an immediate check for updates and begin downloading to the cache. This requires elevated access in order to perform logfile rotation and write to the cache directory.

  sudo /usr/local/bin/apt-fetch.py

  Current status for apt-fetch can be displayed as a non-root user using the -s or -j flags (for JSON output)

  /usr/local/bin/apt-fetch.py -s

• Package Cleanup: The -p or --pkg_cleanup option allows cached packages to be cleaned up if the package is found to already be installed and the current version number does not match the version in the cached package. This can be useful to free up disk space. I've not found an Apt mechanism to do this automatically. Additionally, the -j will provide JSON output if needed.

  sudo /usr/local/bin/apt-fetch.py -p

• Monitoring Applet: The Cinnamon applet provides a visual indicator of the download status, allowing you to monitor the progress conveniently.

Log Files

Log files are stored in the /var/log/ directory with filenames following the pattern apt-fetch-{day}.log.

Command Line Arguments

• -s, --status: Displays general status.
• -j, --json_status: Displays status in JSON format.
• -p, --pkg_cleanup: Cleans up the cache directory, removing packages already installed.

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL-3.0).