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People use computers to do things. When automated updates make it harder for them to do the things they want to do, especially out of no action on their own, t

People use computers to do things. When automated updates make it harder for them to do the things they want to do, especially out of no action on their own, they are going to dislike the automatic updates. And when trying to avoid the automated updates - which is what they see as the source of making it harder to do the things they want to do - is met with automated updates being forced even harder on them, they're going to dislike those automated updates even more. The key isn't to not have automated updates, it is for those automated updates to not make it harder for people to do the things they want to do with their computers. Automated updates should be as transparent and frictionless as possible. Take a hint out of the Linux kernel: Linus realized very early that updating the kernel should not break people's programs because that would cause them to not update the kernel. So the kernel developers try their hardest to avoid breaking people's programs. And this ends with kernel updates being one of the safest updates on a Linux system you can do. Everything should be like kernel updates.

rlayton2 6y ago
Your first sentence hits the nail on the spot. For instance, I open up the Prusa slicer software (for 3d printing) and it says there is an update. I didn't open the software to update it, so I always click no - I opened this because I need to 3D print something, and I don't know what the time commitment of updating the software is. I'll go update it now that I am thinking about it, but this is a general pattern.
- boring_twenties 6y ago
  It's the same thing with those godawful "hey, check out this new feature" popups that are all the rage these days. Or better yet, "check out this old feature that you probably forgot about." That's not useless information, but somehow they picked the worst possible time to present it: when I'm trying to do something else. Usually, I don't even remember an hour later what it was trying to offer me. All I remember is being aggravated by something annoying that was in my way.
- TecoAndJix 6y ago
  ...and every time i go to print on mine i quickly hit the orange button (skip) when it says "new firmware available"! I just want to print. Plus, not being able to update from SD makes the process a chore in itself. That being said, I think automatic updates are a good thing when it goes from optional to required. At the corporation I am employed, we deploy via SCCM and have a window where the user can kick off the install. For example, if a cumulative update is pushed on Monday, we give the user until Thursday to install the patch on their own. Then, at 1PM on Thursday, a countdown begins to let them to know they need to save their work because this IS happening. That takes the blame away from the information system (hey, we gave you all week) and on to the user for poor time management. The alternative is your infrastructure turns into swiss cheese with vulnerabilities.
- moralestapia 6y ago
  Perhaps they should ask for that when the user is closing the program. "Would you like XXX to update so that the next time you open in you'll have a the new version?" I think I would probably say yes under such scenario.

rlayton2 6y ago

Your first sentence hits the nail on the spot. For instance, I open up the Prusa slicer software (for 3d printing) and it says there is an update. I didn't open the software to update it, so I always click no - I opened this because I need to 3D print something, and I don't know what the time commitment of updating the software is. I'll go update it now that I am thinking about it, but this is a general pattern.

boring_twenties 6y ago
It's the same thing with those godawful "hey, check out this new feature" popups that are all the rage these days. Or better yet, "check out this old feature that you probably forgot about." That's not useless information, but somehow they picked the worst possible time to present it: when I'm trying to do something else. Usually, I don't even remember an hour later what it was trying to offer me. All I remember is being aggravated by something annoying that was in my way.
TecoAndJix 6y ago
...and every time i go to print on mine i quickly hit the orange button (skip) when it says "new firmware available"! I just want to print. Plus, not being able to update from SD makes the process a chore in itself. That being said, I think automatic updates are a good thing when it goes from optional to required. At the corporation I am employed, we deploy via SCCM and have a window where the user can kick off the install. For example, if a cumulative update is pushed on Monday, we give the user until Thursday to install the patch on their own. Then, at 1PM on Thursday, a countdown begins to let them to know they need to save their work because this IS happening. That takes the blame away from the information system (hey, we gave you all week) and on to the user for poor time management. The alternative is your infrastructure turns into swiss cheese with vulnerabilities.
moralestapia 6y ago
Perhaps they should ask for that when the user is closing the program. "Would you like XXX to update so that the next time you open in you'll have a the new version?" I think I would probably say yes under such scenario.