Update frequency

[Matth79]

If it was to autoupdate, then it would need to be incremental.

While it is convenient that there are no pre-requisites, since each "update" is a full install, it does mean that every update is probably carrying a pile of unchanged libraries.

Libraries / runtimes as a separately updated bundle would make install / update if needed a tiny bit more involved, but would potentially halve (or better) the bandwidth requirement, depending on how much could be identified as normally static.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by Matth79

If it was to autoupdate, then it would need to be incremental.

A good idea, but since this has been discussed by Kovid before it is safe to say that there will be no auto-update in calibre's future. Also unless things have changed there will not be any incremental updates either.

If anyone wants to implement an auto-update solution go to the Related Tools section and review the Sticky Posts at the top of the forum.

[AIberto]

After reading the whole thread I just want to say that I am one of the users of Calibre that really likes the update model from Kovid just the way it is !

Personally, after the update notification I read the "What's new" Section first and then decide if I want to download the new release or wait another week. The weekly updates are great because you get to know new features "bit-by-bit" and not as a large chunk which you have to read through at once and because bug fixes will find their way so fast into new releases.

I.e. the last release introduced icons for the cover grid which I find very usefull but contain a nasty bug if you use more than one rule. I soon discovered in the forum that this bug was well known and fixed by Kovid and so I am looking forward to the new relase tomorrow

For me Kovid handle updates and the documentation about it in best practice and I want to say for this.

As stated before: If you don't like updates that frequent, turn the notifications off, I think it's that simple.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by AIberto

After reading the whole thread I just want to say that I am one of the users of Calibre that really likes the update model from Kovid just the way it is !

Personally, after the update notification I read the "What's new" Section first and then decide if I want to download the new release or wait another week. The weekly updates are great because you get to know new features "bit-by-bit" and not as a large chunk which you have to read through at once and because bug fixes will find their way so fast into new releases.

I.e. the last release introduced icons for the cover grid which I find very usefull but contain a nasty bug if you use more than one rule. I soon discovered in the forum that this bug was well known and fixed by Kovid and so I am looking forward to the new relase tomorrow

For me Kovid handle updates and the documentation about it in best practice and I want to say for this.

As stated before: If you don't like updates that frequent, turn the notifications off, I think it's that simple.

+ from me too. I do the same.

Kovid's diligence to maintaining his product, getting it to users in its most maintained form, his responsiveness to real needs and his ability to ignore the "noise" so that it does not compromise his objectives is outstanding.

I make that comment from a position of having used many other software products and had very competent software engineers in my project teams building critical real time systems for aviation, etc. Massive great thumbs up from me.

[FinancialWar]

Except his diligence does not achieve any real additional benefits for anyone.

Everything has it's marginal utility curve, the update frequency is way beyond it's optimum frequency.

[PeterT]

So in your opinion it's better to have a massive release every "x" months, followed by a long wait to fix any issues, as opposed to a more rapid new feature / bug fix on a weekly basis.

No need to install new versions; just hold off and do it every 6 months if that makes you happy.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by FinancialWar

Except his diligence does not achieve any real additional benefits for anyone.

Everything has it's marginal utility curve, the update frequency is way beyond it's optimum frequency.

You are under no obligation to update. You can ignore the update, and hide the notification -- and the option to do so is a part of the update notification.

Your statement that it does not achieve any additional benefits for anyone is clearly wrong -- all I have to do is prove that one person benefits, and you have been proven wrong. And that person is me. (And many other people here on MobileRead, who may declare themselves if they wish.)

If you would like to say that it doesn't achieve anything for you, you are welcome to say so, and you will of course be correct -- you are qualified to speak for yourself. In which case, you may turn off the notification and everyone will be happy.

Many people do just this. They turn off the notification and if something ever doesn't work, they update and see if any of the many bugfixes fixed it.

Considering how often Kovid adds new features, it would be disastrous for the power users if he only released sporadic major updates.

[gbm]

Originally Posted by FinancialWar

Except his diligence does not achieve any real additional benefits for anyone.

Everything has it's marginal utility curve, the update frequency is way beyond it's optimum frequency.

The update frequency is optimum for Kovid.


bernie

[theducks]

Please tell all the News sites to synchronize their update schedule with your idea of a release schedule for Calibre getting advanced previews so as to have the plugins ready for their great coming out .

Have you bothered to look at the release notes?
I have not seen 1 release in YEARS that does not have updates for different news or metadata sources.

So you want everyone ELSE to wait Weeks/Months to see a fix for broken sources

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by gbm

The update frequency is optimum for Kovid.


bernie

@gbm we ought to call him 'Kaizen' Kovid

"Profit in business comes from repeat customers, customers that boast about your project or service, and that bring friends with them." W. Edwards Deming

BR

[DoctorOhh]

to the 5 or so posts previous to mine. If you don't want to update then choose not to update, but don't go around whining about how it benefits no one. Have you heard the saying about opening your mouth and removing all doubt? Some times it is the hardest thing to do. And obviously using this post as an example I am not the best at following the advice either.

Originally Posted by theducks

Have you bothered to look at the release notes?
I have not seen 1 release in YEARS that does not have updates for different news or metadata sources.

Metadata sources require an update but most News recipe updates do not require a downloaded calibre update.

Originally Posted by Starson17

The current version of the recipe is obtained before it is used, so you don't need to do anything in most cases. However, parts of the recipe handling code may be updated, or new recipes may be added and old ones removed, so you may want to update Calibre on a reasonable schedule. Custom recipes are not updated from online, so if you have modified any recipes, or obtained recipes from here and are running those recipes, you need to update them manually.

[JSWolf]

I like the update frequency as it is. I know that once someone is said to be fixed, I know I can get these fixes in a week or less. That works for me. Calibre 2.0 already have a number of fixes made to it due to people finding a lot of little things that needed tweaking.

Don't change a thing.

[Josieb1]

As someone who recently updated then went back a version can I just say that I am personally happy with just being notified of the update and then having the option to ignore (which I should have done this time, but that's my issue nothing to do with the update).

Also I am very very grateful to Kovid and all others who spend their own valuable time on Calibre, after all it is FREE and I would never ever complain about anything that is Free.

[FinancialWar]

Good software does not require frequent updates, eg MS office or auto update in the background, eg Google Chrome.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by FinancialWar

Good software does not require frequent updates, eg MS office or auto update in the background, eg Google Chrome.

This statement is meaningless.