Problem/Motivation
Updating Drupal core currently requires manually uploading core files or a complex environment such as Drush. Drupal's competitors, Wordpress and Joomla, allow core updates within the web UI. We should provide this, so novice users can easily keep their site secure and up-to-date.
Proposed resolution
Allow core updates to be installed the same way contrib updates are installed.
Remaining tasks
#538660: Move update manager upgrade process into new authorize.php file (and make it actually work)
#22336: Move all core Drupal files under a /core folder to improve usability and upgrades
#606190: Fix handling of database schema updates in update manager workflow
#509010: Build a Package signing system for d.o. so that people can securely and simply download and verify packages
User interface changes
None
API changes
None
Data model changes
None
Original report by dww
Update manager is now in core (#538660: Move update manager upgrade process into new authorize.php file (and make it actually work)), meaning end-users can upgrade missing updates (and install new code) via the web UI. Yay!
Unfortunately, making it able to upgrade Drupal core was just too complicated for the initial patch, and threatened to derail the entire effort getting into D7. Sadly, I think this is going to have to be punted to D8, but I'm opening an issue about it for discussion and so we have a stake in the ground for this effort in the future.