Create a destop shortcut to run sudo apt-get update -y

Question

I'm looking for help creating a shortcut to open the terminal and run

sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y && sudo apt-get autoremove -y

I'd like to see the terminal and the progress the update is making if possible.

I know I can create a cron job or set up "Unattended-upgrades" but i'd like to execute the command myself and a desktop shortcut seems ideal.

So far I have created a blank file with this code:

[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Name=Update
Comment=Test the terminal running a command inside it
Exec=bash 'sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y && sudo apt-get autoremove -y'
Icon=utilities-terminal
Terminal=True
Type=Application
Categories=Application;

All that seems to happen though is the cursor spins for a while and I don't know if it has actually run the command.

Thanks

Answer 1

I would create a file called update.sh then right click on the file and go to properties. In there you will see a property called "Allow executing file as program" Check that tick box and save. Now upon double clicking on the file it will now ask you to open it in the terminal and I believe your problem will now be solved.

Goodluck

Answer 2

Your problem is with the Exec line. bash 'command' is not a valid way to execute a command with bash, you want bash -c 'command'. However the exec line already uses a shell to execute the command so you do not need bash wrapper at all and can just use:

Exec=sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y && sudo apt-get autoremove -y

Note that you might find that the terminal window closes right after the last command finishes. If you want to keep it open you can add (depending on your terminal)

TerminalOptions=--hold or TerminalOptions=--noclose (depending on the terminal application you use).

Alternative you can append ; read to the end of the command to keep the terminal window open waiting for some input. This will work even if your terminal does not support an option to keep it open.

Exec=sudo apt-get update -y && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade -y && sudo apt-get autoremove -y; read