Gnome shell extension update: ERROR

Solution 1:

First, installing Gnome Shell extensions from the Gnome Extensions website is not by default supported in an Ubuntu install. So you enable and do this on your own responsability. This is not a matter of "the system apparently being unfinished.".

Many Gnome Extensions are made by volunteers like you and me (or rather, those who know java scripting anyway -;). The interface against which developers make extensions is 1) poorly documented and 2) still changes between versions. Accordingly, a newer version working on a newer version of Gnome Shell may not work anymore on an older version.

Your best bet probably is to disable automatic updates of extensions. If an extension breaks, remove it and try reinstalling it, however specifically selecting a "Shell version" from the drop down menu.

The most reliable experience with Gnome Shell extensions is to install them preferably from the Ubuntu software sources, i.e., using Ubuntu Software or through the command line (type sudo apt install gnome-shell-extension then Tab to autocomplete to see all available packages). These versions were specifically tested for your current Ubuntu version.

Solution 2:

Ubuntu 21.04 is an interim release and this issue would probably benefit from being reported as a bug here so developers can be aware of it before release of the next LTS expected April 2022.

Interim releases will introduce new capabilities from Canonical and upstream open source projects, they serve as a proving ground for these new capabilities. Many developers run interim releases because they provide newer compilers or access to newer kernels and newer libraries, and they are often used inside rapid devops processes like CI/CD pipelines where the lifespan of an artefact is likely to be less than the support period of the interim release. Interim releases receive full security maintenance for ‘main’ during their lifespan.

this reference explains more.