Check if an updated package exists on your device

Overview {#overview}

When developing for Fuchsia you sometimes need to confirm that the package you’ve just built has been installed in your package server and cached on your device.

The Packages tool lets you see if a package is out of date in your package server or on your device.

The Fuchsia DevTools Packages tool shows the packages in your package server and alerts you when a new package has not been cached on your device.

About package caching

When you make a change to a component, your build system creates a new version of the package that contains that component and adds that updated package to your package server.

When your Fuchsia device restarts the component, that device first checks the package server for updates. For many Fuchsia packages, if your device finds an update for that package, your device caches the updated package in its local storage.

Note: In Fuchsia, not all packages are cached in its locals storage. However, in most cases, the packages that you are developing should be cached.

Package caching can fail if a package resolution error occurs. For example, if the device is out of disk space, the device won’t cache the new package. Instead of running the new version of the component, your device runs the previous version of the component.

You can confirm that the most recent version of the package is in your package server and that it has been cached on your device by reviewing the Fuchsia DevTools Packages tool.

Prerequisites {#prerequisites}

  • A hardware device that is set up to run Fuchsia or the Fuchsia emulator.
    • The device should be paved and running. If you haven’t already installed Fuchsia, see the Get Started documentation for your device or the emulator.
  • Fuchsia DevTools running and connected to your device, including a running package server.
  • Your development environment, allowing you to build components and install them as packages in your package server.

Confirm your updated package has been cached

Note: Fuchsia DevTools automatically checks for new packages every thirty seconds. To see the status of your package immediately, click the Refresh button.

  1. Click the Packages tab.

    The left pane lists the packages in your package server, including the package’s shortened merkle root, size, and date the package was last modified, if available.

    The right pane lists the packages cached on your device, including the package’s shortened merkle root, size, and date the package was last modified, if available.

    Check if an updated package exists on your device - 图1

  2. Update your component and push its package to your package server.

  3. Check the Packages tool’s left pane to confirm that your updated package exists in your package server by checking its modification date.

    In Fuchsia DevTools, any packages that have been updated in your package server but haven’t been cached on your device are marked in red.

    Check if an updated package exists on your device - 图2

  4. Restart the component on your device.

  5. Confirm that your package name is no longer in red.

    If the name of your package is still in red, your device has not cached the updated package.