Script: Cleanly install latest ntpd-rs Github debs on Ubuntu 26.04 (and resolve time-daemon conflicts)

[upmcplanetracker]

Does anyone else struggle with Ubuntu 25.10+'s time-sync package ping-pong?

While chrony (with NTS) has been the default timekeeper from 25.10 or so onward, trying to swap it out manually on Ubuntu 26.04 often turns into a game of whac-a-mole. Because of meta-package dependencies (time-daemon) and systemd-timesyncd falling back into place, removing one service often prompts apt or systemd to pull in or activate another (ntpsec, systemd-timesyncd, etc.).

To cleanly switch over, I wrote a quick script that pulls whichever version of ntpd-rs you want directly from the official GitHub pre-made .deb releases, installs it, and properly handles checking for, displacing, disabling, or masking competing time services (chrony, systemd-timesyncd, ntp, ntpsec, openntpd, linuxptp, ntpdate, and tlsdate).

Repo here if you want to check it out or use it:
https://github.com/upmcplanetracker/ntpd-rs-updater-ubuntu/tree/main

I built this for myself to cleanly migrate all my Ubuntu 26.04 boxes over to an updated ntpd-rs build without fighting systemd unit conflicts. Since Canonical is actively pushing ntpd-rs as the memory-safe future for Ubuntu, this makes jumping on the bandwagon early a lot smoother.

Feedback, edge cases, and PRs are always welcome!