If a package is shipped with a default configuration file and this one changes on an updatea + you have this file changed, it will create this as pacnew file so that your configuration is not getting overwritten, it could be that config structure is changed or they add new parts / remove parts, so it can be good to check the difference (diffing), them after merging you can remove the pacnew file.
3 Likes
Why not. Then we should also add meld to the list of packages installed by default.
1 Like
could also use other diff tools:
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pacman/Pacnew_and_Pacsave
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/List_of_applications/Utilities#Comparison,_diff,_merge
diffuse could be more suitable than meld.
1 Like
I have never done this so do i have a bunch of pacnew files? I have just ignored the message thinking pacman knows what it’s doing. 
2 Likes
And I’m pretty sure that rarely (if ever) caused you any problems. Usually, it’s safe to ignore pacnew files, and when intervention is necessary, 99% of the times it’s perfectly fine to just overwrite your old config with the pacnew file.
Thanks … i just couldn’t see wanting to compare these files every time i see a pacnew file. Lately it has been a lot. I couldn’t even force myself to read through the arch wiki about pacnew.
A quick look through current and pacnew with meld will usually tell you in seconds whether to mix and match, replace current, or kill pacnew… It rarely leads to researching anything!
I made a pacman hook to update my mirrorlist every time I update my system but this fails since a week or so.
I’m getting timeouts.
When I run the time command I get this:
$ time reflector -c CA -c US --protocol https --age 8 --sort rate --number 18
[2020-12-11 13:01:36] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.rit.edu/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:01:42] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:01:48] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:01:55] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.kernel.org/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:01] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.rutgers.edu/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:07] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.dal10.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:13] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.mia11.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:19] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.sfo12.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:25] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.wdc1.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:32] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://dfw.mirror.rackspace.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:38] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://iad.mirror.rackspace.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:44] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://ord.mirror.rackspace.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:50] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://arch.mirror.constant.com/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:02:56] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.ocf.berkeley.edu/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:07] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.dc02.hackingand.coffee/arch/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:13] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.lty.me/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:19] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://muug.ca/mirror/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:25] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.sergal.org/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:31] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.sonic.net/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:37] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://arch.mirror.square-r00t.net/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:42] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.stephen304.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:48] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.xtom.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:03:55] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://repo.ialab.dsu.edu/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:01] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.scd31.com/arch/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:07] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://iad.mirrors.misaka.one/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:13] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://archmirror1.octyl.net/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:19] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://arch.rrig.gs/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:25] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.mit.edu/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:30] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://arch.hu.fo/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:37] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://ftp.sudhip.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:43] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://zxcvfdsa.com/arch/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:48] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.ette.biz/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 13:04:49] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.ava.dev/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): HTTP Error 403: Forbidden
################################################################################
################# Arch Linux mirrorlist generated by Reflector #################
################################################################################
# With: reflector -c CA -c US --protocol https --age 8 --sort rate --number 18
# When: 2020-12-11 12:04:49 UTC
# From: https://www.archlinux.org/mirrors/status/json/
# Retrieved: 2020-12-11 12:04:49 UTC
# Last Check: 2020-12-11 11:42:39 UTC
Server = https://mirrors.rit.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirrors.lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirrors.kernel.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirrors.rutgers.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.dal10.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.mia11.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.sfo12.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.wdc1.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://dfw.mirror.rackspace.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://iad.mirror.rackspace.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://ord.mirror.rackspace.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://arch.mirror.constant.com/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirrors.ocf.berkeley.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.dc02.hackingand.coffee/arch/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.lty.me/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://muug.ca/mirror/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.sergal.org/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
real 3m19,915s
user 0m5,217s
sys 0m2,729s
@Lemon
If you try that command from the Netherlands, you’ll likely get timeouts, and it will be slow.
What happens if you change Canada and US to Netherlands (and possibly other nearby countries)?
Also, I think you don’t have to update the mirrorlist that often.
You can update the mirrorlist only if there are permanent issues with any of the mirrors.
I am aware of the fact that this is a bit overkill to update daily but I wanted it automated.
I’ll better use a systemd timer or a cron job.
Well, the time for the NL…
$ time reflector -c NL --protocol https --age 8 --sort rate --number 18
[2020-12-11 15:49:46] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.ams1.nl.leaseweb.net/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:49:52] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://archlinux.mirror.wearetriple.com/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:49:57] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.koddos.net/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:02] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.neostrada.nl/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:07] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://arch.mirrors.lavatech.top/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:13] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://archlinux.mirror.pcextreme.nl/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:18] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.mijn.host/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:23] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://archlinux.mirror.liteserver.nl/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:29] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.serverion.com/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:34] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirror.tarellia.net/distr/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:39] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://mirrors.daan.vodka/archlinux/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
[2020-12-11 15:50:44] WARNING: failed to rate http(s) download (https://arch.jeweet.net/community/os/x86_64/community.db): Download timed out after 5 second(s).
################################################################################
################# Arch Linux mirrorlist generated by Reflector #################
################################################################################
# With: reflector -c NL --protocol https --age 8 --sort rate --number 18
# When: 2020-12-11 14:50:44 UTC
# From: https://www.archlinux.org/mirrors/status/json/
# Retrieved: 2020-12-11 14:47:52 UTC
# Last Check: 2020-12-11 13:59:04 UTC
Server = https://mirror.ams1.nl.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://archlinux.mirror.wearetriple.com/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.koddos.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.neostrada.nl/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://arch.mirrors.lavatech.top/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://archlinux.mirror.pcextreme.nl/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.mijn.host/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://archlinux.mirror.liteserver.nl/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.serverion.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirror.tarellia.net/distr/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://mirrors.daan.vodka/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch
Server = https://arch.jeweet.net/$repo/os/$arch
real 1m4,188s
user 0m1,473s
sys 0m1,105s
Anyway, it seems like its downloading at max speed according to my speedometer in the panel.
Yes. Reflector already has a systemd timer at
/usr/lib/systemd/system/reflector.timer.
It is a weekly timer, and even weekly is usually more than enough.
You can enable it:
sudo systemctl enable reflector.timer sudo systemctl start reflector.timer
and @manuel already done implementing it 
I would say vim is too nerdy for most users to edit diff files?
1 Like
I think vim would cause its own set of issues for a lot of users.
4 Likes
for me too I do not use vim at all, it is too nerdy for me, I have lost enough brain on reminding all my i3
keybindings 
but indeed it is looking nice 
4 Likes
Note that using this new Pacdiff button may require manual intervention.
As the pacman update output shows, one must copy the new EOS_WELCOME_PACDIFFERS setting
EOS_WELCOME_PACDIFFERS=(kdiff3 kompare diffuse meld diff)
from file
/etc/eos-script-lib-yad.conf.pacnew
to
/etc/eos-script-lib-yad.conf
Note that you can (of course) modify the order of the diffing programs in the variable. The first one found will be used as the diffing program in pacdiff.
Edit: fixed file path.
3 Likes
Does this require one to have vim installed?
==> ERROR: Cannot find the vim -d binary required for viewing differences.
Edit: Also don’t understand the manual intervention.
Note: “vim -d” is actually not supported by Welcome here.
Manual intervention means: if you want to use this Welcome’s new Pacdiff button, you should copy related configuration into your existing configuration file, as explained in my previous post.
If you don’t want to use it, then you don’t have to do any manual intervention.
1 Like
I don’t see this file.
i do not have this file at all