Check for new BOINC update

Added in 5.8 as an automatic function.

Could there be some kind of indicator for this in the GUI, not just in the message stream, where it will get lost or ignored? Perhaps with the icon in the tray changing colors, the way Windows Update does?

Or could the new 6.4 or above versions auto-update themselves?
Possibly download the new version when there's an internet connection and flag it available for install upon the next restart of BOINC, not unlike Firefox and Adobe Acrobat Reader do? Or is this still considered a security risk?

This feature needs careful thought about the user controls, and it HAS to be under user control for a wide range of use cases.

Some people won't want auto-update. They need an easy way to turn it off.

Some people only want auto-update -- set it and forget it. They need an easy way to turn it on.

Some people will want to do updates manually, but they will appreciate an easy GUI interface, for that -- easier than the initial download and install. They will want some kind of indication that there is a new update (not just in the message stream), and/or a way they can take an action to check for new updates (or verify that they are up to date).

As already mentioned, this exists for other software in the form of Windows Update, FireFox? and Acrobat. Add Apple Software Update to the list. We need to design the interface so that it works well (Apple and Firefox do, IMHO, Acrobat does not). Windows Update is widely familiar so perhaps worth emulating, at least in general?

There has to be user control over this functionality or the people who don't like however it's done will be annoyed.

Something worth emulating from Windows Updates is the configuration options:

• Download and install automatically.
• Download and notify, but ask before installing.
• Notify, but ask before downloading or installing.
• Disable updates.

We currently have a design doc on AutoUpdate.

It hasn't been fully implemented as yet.