In Arch Linux and distributions based on it, such as Manjaro, the graphical interface Octopi provides package management powered by pacman. However, Octopi sometimes fails to report pending updates for software from the AUR (Arch User Repository), even when newer versions are available. This step-by-step guide explains how to enable and verify update checks for outdated AUR packages. The setup takes about five minutes.
Prerequisites
To follow this guide, you need a running Arch Linux or Manjaro installation, an installed version of octopi including its notification daemon (Octopi-Notifier), and administrative privileges (sudo). Because AUR packages are compiled from source, the base software development packages must be installed on your system:
sudo pacman -S base-develYou will also need an AUR helper installed, such as yay or pacaur.
Step 1: Configure the AUR Helper in Octopi
Before Octopi can query updates from the AUR, you must specify which helper tool it should use.
- Launch Octopi from your desktop environment’s application menu.
- Open Octopi’s preferences/settings dialog.
- Select your installed AUR helper (such as
yayorpacaur).
If you want to skip manual confirmation prompts during build and installation processes, you can enable the --noconfirm option in the settings. This builds AUR packages non-interactively.
Step 2: Enable AUR Update Checks in the Octopi Notifier
The toggle to check for outdated AUR packages is not located within the main window’s general preferences, but in the separate settings menu of the system tray icon.
- Locate the Pacman icon for the Octopi-Notifier in your system tray (usually at the bottom right in KDE Plasma).
- Right-click the notification icon and open the notifier’s Options or settings.
- Check the box to enable checking for outdated AUR packages.
- Save the settings.
Step 3: Manually Check for Updates
To apply the new configuration immediately and synchronize your package lists, trigger an update check.
- In the main Octopi window, click the Output tab at the bottom.
- Click the Refresh button at the top, or select the update check option from the tray icon’s context menu.
The console output will display the status of the check:
Checking for Updates
Command terminatedVerification
Whenever a newer version of an installed AUR package becomes available, the Octopi-Notifier icon in the system tray turns orange or yellow (a red icon typically indicates updates from the official repositories). Alternatively, you can verify the status via the terminal using your configured AUR helper:
yay -SyuIf updates are listed here, Octopi must also display the corresponding AUR updates in the notification area and package list following its check.
Troubleshooting
The notifier does not detect new versions despite available package updates
Cause: The AUR helper is not configured properly, or the notifier process is not running in the background.
Solution: Verify in Octopi’s settings that yay is selected, and make sure that the Octopi-Notifier is enabled in your desktop environment’s autostart settings.
Reverting Changes
To disable automatic AUR update checks again, open the context menu of the notifier tray icon once more. Uncheck the option for AUR update checks in the settings. The system will then only check for updates from the official repositories.
Conclusion
Octopi isolates AUR update checks inside the notification icon’s configuration menu to ensure system stability. Once enabled, you can easily track new versions of installed AUR software. As a next step, consider adjusting the check frequency in the notifier options to match your workflow.
Sources: Forum: Manjaro Linux Forum, computer-experte.ch, forum.manjaro.org