GNOME Updater Applet/Update Process on the Desktop/Classification of Updates

From openSUSE

When it comes to updates we currently have two worlds clashing together: our technical classification of updates and what matters to users, i.e. their classification. To understand, what I mean by classification, here are both classifications:

Technical classification of updates:

• Patches
  • Urgent
  • Recommended
  • Optional
• Package-Updates
  • already handled by patch
  • other package-updates

Additional classification that adds to the above:

• Update needs reboot
• Update needs restart of package management
• other interactive updates (license popups)

User's classification of updates

IMHO, the uninitiated user cares, if at all, for the following classification (albeit maybe unconsciously)

• Updates
  • no interference with my work (Case U1)
  • interferes with my work (Case U2)
    • I have to stop my task and do something (restart) (Case U2a)
    • It changes the way I'm used to (new feature, UI change) (Case U2b)

Additionally, with regard to automatic updates, the following notes:

• No notification might be harmful in two cases:
  • U2a: Maybe the current task forbids to update/reboot
  • All U-cases: What if user is on an expensive internet connection

Case U2b can occure with package updates enabled

So whatever our technical classification is, the user classification is more important for user visible tasks.