Uninstall cask report the cask is not installed while it is

[ngocphamm]

This is the commands and its output

~ ❯❯❯  brew cask list
...omitted...
launchrocket
...omitted...
~ ❯❯❯  brew cask uninstall launchrocket
Error: launchrocket is not installed
~ ❯❯❯  brew cask edit launchrocket

That's I cannot uninstall and reinstall to update launchrocket to its latest release.

[rolandwalker]

Hi!

Yes, this often happens simply because the version number incremented.

The launchrocket distribution gets downloaded and stored in a versioned directory under /opt/. But when you attempt uninstall, that command looks up the new version number from the very latest Cask. Then it constructs what the new versioned directory name would be, then it finds nothing there.

The backend code is at an in-between stage here. We are in the process of adding better support for versions and ultimately getting to a brew cask upgrade command that works. There are several steps until we get there. For instance, we need to save a copy of the Cask used at install time, rather than consulting a new Cask in which things have shifted.

As it stands, this is rather a deep bug with no single fix. The maintainers are actively working in this area, and contributions are welcome.

[ngocphamm]

Thank you for your very detail answer, @rolandwalker. I can wait. Jus thought it would be useful to notify people here.

[rolandwalker]

Hi!

Just thought I'd let you know that newly-submitted #3066 is one step toward solving this and several other issues.

[ngocphamm]

Awesome! I wonder that will Cask create the metadata files for existing casks or I have to re-install those casks?

[rolandwalker]

It will only affect new installs. And it doesn't fix your uninstall bug (yet). That has to come in the next change. But we are working on it!

[ngocphamm]

Cool! Thank you for your hard work on a "free" stuff like this. 👍

[cyberyoung]

any progress on this issue?

[rolandwalker]

You can follow the progress on #4678, though most of the action right now is tracked on #4688.

Relevant to this issue, brew cask uninstall --force was recently added, which will uninstall all versions of a Cask.

[cyberyoung]

OK. Thanks.
Looking forward to brew cask upgrade.

[oryband]

👍 on this. I just upgraded to new xbmc and this just installed another package next to my old (version) one. Uninstalling just uninstalled the new version while keeping the old one in place and listed in brew cask list and couldn't uninstall it. Using --force solved the problem.

[smackesey]

+1. Just ran into this with fantastical package.

[myoung34]

This is still an issue for me as well. --force works, but I didn't know until I came here.

[vitorgalvao]

No need to keep bumping the issue. We know it still happens, that’s why it is still open. Bumping it won’t make it happen faster. PRs are very much welcome.

[vitorgalvao]

Closing in favour of #14058.