Score:0

Installing a new version of a software already installed?

cn flag

So I run Discord on my computer and it doesn't come from a repository, it's a downloaded .deb-file.

Sometimes Discord wants me to update with a new .deb-file. But when I download and run that deb file "Ubuntu software" (which looks like a skinned GDebi) just shows that Discord is installed and what version the .deb file is. But instead of asking me if I want to install the new .deb file over the already installed one (which it doesn't list any version information for) it just gives me the option to remove the software.

Image of Are you sure you want to uninstall discord-canary?

So to install a .deb file I need to first remove the software and then click the .deb file again to install it. Seems overly cumbersome.

Sure, I could just do dpkg -i <debfile> but why do we have Ubuntu Software

Image of Ubuntu Software dialog when trying to install new version of discord-canary

David avatar
cn flag
I see this happening with a few different softwares that come from a 3 rd party as a deb. Nothing to do with the version of Ubuntu have had it since 16.04. You will not like the answer. You need to live with it or stop using that software. Whom ever created the software needs to fix it. I have never had luck getting any of 3 different makers do that.
Mårten Woxberg avatar
cn flag
But the software that is associated with opening .deb-files doesn't do what it's supposed to. It opens the .deb-file I've downloaded and gives me the option to uninstall it. BUT in reality I'm uninstallning another version of the same software already installed on my system. But ubuntu-software doesn't provide me the information of what that is...
Mårten Woxberg avatar
cn flag
I tried Gdebi now. That works as expected.It states that "Same version is already installed" and gives me the option to Reinstall or to Remove the package.
Score:1
vn flag

So to install a .deb file I need to first remove the software and then click the .deb file again to install it. Seems overly cumbersome.

This is just how it works, apparently.

Sure, I could just do dpkg -i but why do we have Ubuntu Software

If you want a version of Discord that automatically updates, you could install the Snap version.

To install this, first remove the .deb version you have installed. Then either:

  1. Go to "Ubuntu Software", search for "Discord" and install it.
  2. Run the following from the terminal: sudo snap install discord

Afterwards, to enable all features, run this command: snap connect discord:system-observe

Mårten Woxberg avatar
cn flag
Yeah no. There is no way I'm running the Snap-version if the developer supplies me with a .deb file. I won't get any support running a Snap-version.
Score:0
cn flag

Apparently, the answer is to NOT use Ubuntu Software to open .deb files. Use GDebi instead. Opening a .deb with GDebi states that "Same version is already installed" and gives me the option to Reinstall or to Remove the package.

Pictures of GDebi

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