Debian snapper apt script to include full apt command including arguments as snapshot description

00 README.md

This gist includes an enhancement to Debian's snapper package.

The current (as of 2023-07-23) snapper package includes an apt configuration that will automatically take snapper snapshots when you use apt to install/remove/etc. It will add use "apt" as the description of the pre/post snapshot.

With the below changes to the /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/80snapper file and associated dpkg-pre-post-snapper.sh file, snapper will include the full apt command, including the arguments, in the snapshot description.

For example:

$ sudo apt install funky
...

$ snapper list
...
525  | pre    |       | Sat 22 Jul 2023 11:32:47 PM EDT | root | number   | apt; apt install funky  |
526  | post   |   525 | Sat 22 Jul 2023 11:32:48 PM EDT | root | number   | apt; apt install funky  |

80snapper

# https://gist.github.com/imthenachoman/f722f6d08dfb404fed2a3b2d83263118
# https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=770938

DPkg::Pre-Invoke { "/path/to/dpkg-pre-post-snapper.sh pre"; };
DPkg::Post-Invoke { "/path/to/dpkg-pre-post-snapper.sh post"; };

dpkg-pre-post-snapper.sh

#!/bin/bash

# this script is an enhancement of https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=770938

# we need to work up the process tree to find the apt command that triggered the call to this script
# get the initial PID

PID=$$

# find the apt command by working up the process tree
# loop until
# - PID is empty
# - PID is 1
# - or PID command is apt
while [[ -n "$PID" && "$PID" != "1" && "$(ps -ho comm "${PID}")" != "apt" ]] ; do
    # the current PID is not the apt command so go up one by getting the parent PID of hte current PID
    PID=$(ps -ho ppid "$PID" | xargs)
done

SNAPPER_DESCRIPTION="apt"

# assuming we found the apt command, get the full args
if [[ "$(ps -ho comm "${PID}")" = "apt" ]] ; then
    SNAPPER_DESCRIPTION="$(ps -ho args "${PID}")"
fi

# main event

# source /etc/default/snapper if it exists
if [ -e /etc/default/snapper ] ; then
    . /etc/default/snapper
fi

# what action are we taking
if [ "$1" = "pre" ] ; then
    # pre, so take a pre snapshot

    # if snapper is installed
    # and if snapper snapshots are not being disabled using the DISABLE_APT_SNAPSHOT variable
    # and if /etc/snapper/configs/root exists
    if [ -x /usr/bin/snapper ] && [ ! x$DISABLE_APT_SNAPSHOT = 'xyes' ] && [ -e /etc/snapper/configs/root ] ; then
        # delete any lingering temp files
        rm -f /var/tmp/snapper-apt || true

        # create a snapshot
        # and save the snapshot number for reference later
        snapper create -d "${SNAPPER_DESCRIPTION}" -c number -t pre -p > /var/tmp/snapper-apt || true

        # clean up snapper
        snapper cleanup number || true
    fi
elif [ "$1" = "post" ] ; then
    # post, so take a post snapshot

    # if snapper is installed
    # and if snapper snapshots are not being disabled using the DISABLE_APT_SNAPSHOT variable
    # and if the temp file with the snapshot number from the pre snapshot exists
    if [ -x /usr/bin/snapper ] && [ ! x$DISABLE_APT_SNAPSHOT = 'xyes' ] && [ -e /var/tmp/snapper-apt ]
    then
        # take a post snapshot and link it to the # of the pre snapshot
        snapper create -d "${SNAPPER_DESCRIPTION}" -c number -t post --pre-number=`cat /var/tmp/snapper-apt` || true

        # clean up snapper
        snapper cleanup number || true
    fi
fi

Excellent. I was looking for something like this. I need the apt command arguments when i list snapper to help find which snapshot I want to rollback to. I often try out new apps and need to rollback from time to time, and isnt always directly after installing.

I made a few changes to mine. I limited the description to 80 characters, as I often have very long apt arguments and 80 is more than enough. I also added a way to find PID's for apt-get and Discovery, so I can capture those arguements as well.

Here is what I changed. I am using in Kubuntu 26.04. I am not sure if this is the best way, but this works well for me.

Note: When installing .deb files with Discovery, the parent process will be packagekitd but the command with arguments will be plasma-discover, so I found a workaround below.

while [[ -n "$PID" && "$PID" != "1" && "$(ps -ho comm "${PID}")" != "apt" && "$(ps -ho comm "${PID}")" != "apt-get" && "$(ps -ho comm "${PID}")" != "packagekitd" ]] ; do
# the current PID is not the apt command so go up one by getting the parent PID of hte current PID
PID=$(ps -ho ppid "$PID" | xargs)
done

SNAPPER_DESCRIPTION="apt"

# assuming we found the apt command, get the full args
if [[ "$(ps -ho comm "${PID}")" == "apt" || "$(ps -ho comm "${PID}")" == "apt-get" ]] ; then
SNAPPER_DESCRIPTION="$(ps -ho args "${PID}"|cut -c -80)"
else if [[ "$(ps -ho comm "${PID}")" == "packagekitd" ]] ; then
PID="$(pidof plasma-discover)"
SNAPPER_DESCRIPTION="$(ps -ho args "${PID}"|cut -c -80)"
fi
fi