The developers of Linux Mint, a popular Linux distribution, have announced a new feature for the Update Manager that's meant to encourage regular and frequent updates.

Some users in the Linux community have scoffed at this, saying it's too much like Windows' infamous forced updates. So what's really going on?

Linux Mint's New Update Notifications

In a March 31 blog post, the Linux Mint development team detailed how Mint's Update Manager application will soon start showing desktop notifications when a user has gone for a significant amount of time without applying any updates to the operating system. A small dialog will appear prompting the user to either view the updates, set up automatic updates, or snooze till later.

Previously, the only indication of available updates has been a tiny red dot in the taskbar. The developers of the beloved Linux distribution claim they're adding the feature in response to research showing that a significant number of Mint users ignore any and all updates for extended periods, missing critical security updates in the meantime.

The team found in interviews with Mint users that many "were sensitive to the importance of applying updates but didn’t do so simply because they were never really told to."

Learn More: How to Update Linux Mint via the Desktop

The Mint team then saw it as their responsibility, in creating a user-friendly, secure, "works out-of-the-box" operating system, to remind users about updates when it might have slipped their minds.

A few in the Linux community, however, have seen this as the Mint project taking a turn for the worse.

Update Reminders Gone Too Far?

One of the most commonly cited reasons for switching to Linux from Windows or macOS is the imposition of frequent and large updates from those OSes on their users. It's understandable, but this move by the Linux Mint team might recall bad memories for those users and feel like a rejection of the libre and hands-off philosophies that many users associate with Linux.

So is Linux turning into Windows?

Not really. The Mint blog goes on to make it clear that the Update Manager still won't ever apply an update without your consent. The Mint team reiterated, "This is your computer not ours." The feature is merely a notification function, not an automatic update protocol.

By default, Update Manager won't show any reminders for an entire 30 days after applying any update at all. In PC security time, that's still a very generous, and some might say dangerous duration to allow between updates.

If the notification system still feels too tyrannical for you, its function is totally configurable. The Mint blog acknowledged some users have real reasons for not updating, so those users are totally free to take control of the notifications.

By opening the Update Manager's Preferences dialog, you can extend the reminder wait period to 90 days, or disable the feature altogether. Update Manager itself can be disabled if you prefer updating via command line. Thus, Mint remains an operating system totally in control of the user.

Linux Mint Gets Serious About Updating

From a security point of view, the decision taken by the Linux Mint development team is quite important for the users. The developers have clearly mentioned that they won't be enforcing updates on a system. In addition to that, users still have the choice to turn off the new feature if they want to.

Also, looking at the big picture, reminding users of pending updates would not only reduce the number of outdated systems, but will also enhance the overall security of computers running Linux Mint.

The great thing about Linux is that there are tons of distros out there to choose from. If this news turns you off to Mint, why not compare it to others and make a switch?