[Bug 830492] [NEW] Downloads should not lock apt

[James Haigh]

Public bug reported:

It should be possible to download while installing, or download 2 things
at once.

Currently an apt-get command with '--download-only' will lock apt
(/var/lib/dpkg/lock). Synaptic even locks apt just by being open!

Examples:
* I might be updating my system. The update is still in the download stage, and I want to download and install a small package for something. Currently I would have to stop the download, install the package, and resume the download.
* I'm installing lots of application from the Software Centre. While 1 app is installing the next should be downloading.
* Run apt-get from command line while browsing software in Synaptic.

To avoid multiple instances of apt downloading the same file, each
partial file should have it's own lock (For example,
/var/cache/apt/archives/partial/inkscape_0.48.1-2ubuntu2_i386.deb would
have inkscape_0.48.1-2ubuntu2_i386.lock). It may also be necessary to
prevent updating package lists (sudo apt-get update) when any download
lock exists as well as apt's main lock.

** Affects: apt
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Affects: synaptic
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Affects: apt (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Affects: synaptic (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Also affects: apt
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Also affects: synaptic (Ubuntu)
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Also affects: synaptic
   Importance: Undecided
       Status: New

** Description changed:

  It should be possible to download while installing, or download 2 things
  at once.
  
  Currently an apt-get command with '--download-only' will lock apt
  (/var/lib/dpkg/lock). Synaptic even locks apt just by being open!
  
  Examples:
  * I might be updating my system. The update is still in the download stage, and I want to download and install a small package for something. Currently I would have to stop the download, install the package, and resume the download.
  * I'm installing lots of application from the Software Centre. While 1 app is installing the next should be downloading.
- * Run apt-get from command while browsing software in Synaptic.
+ * Run apt-get from command line while browsing software in Synaptic.
  
  To avoid multiple instances of apt downloading the same file, each
  partial file should have it's own lock (For example,
  /var/cache/apt/archives/partial/inkscape_0.48.1-2ubuntu2_i386.deb would
  have inkscape_0.48.1-2ubuntu2_i386.lock). It may also be necessary to
  prevent updating package lists (sudo apt-get update) when any download
  lock exists as well as apt's main lock.

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/830492

Title:
  Downloads should not lock apt

Status in APT:
  New
Status in The synaptic package manager:
  New
Status in “apt” package in Ubuntu:
  New
Status in “synaptic” package in Ubuntu:
  New

Bug description:
  It should be possible to download while installing, or download 2
  things at once.

  Currently an apt-get command with '--download-only' will lock apt
  (/var/lib/dpkg/lock). Synaptic even locks apt just by being open!

  Examples:
  * I might be updating my system. The update is still in the download stage, and I want to download and install a small package for something. Currently I would have to stop the download, install the package, and resume the download.
  * I'm installing lots of application from the Software Centre. While 1 app is installing the next should be downloading.
  * Run apt-get from command line while browsing software in Synaptic.

  To avoid multiple instances of apt downloading the same file, each
  partial file should have it's own lock (For example,
  /var/cache/apt/archives/partial/inkscape_0.48.1-2ubuntu2_i386.deb
  would have inkscape_0.48.1-2ubuntu2_i386.lock). It may also be
  necessary to prevent updating package lists (sudo apt-get update) when
  any download lock exists as well as apt's main lock.

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