Description of Ubuntu Software needs update

[Gunnar Hjalmarsson]

When Ubuntu Software (package ubuntu-software) replaced Ubuntu Software Center (package software-center) in 16.04, we made some changes which focused on the new name.

https://help.ubuntu.com/stable/ubuntu-help/addremove-install.html

However, there is a limitation with Ubuntu Software compared to its predecessor: It shows and installs applications rather than packages, and thus various help tools cannot be installed through Ubuntu Software. A suitable GUI to browse and install packages is Synaptic (separate page already exists).

An improved description of Ubuntu Software, including this limation, would be desired.

[Chris Perry (clissold345)]

I had a quick look at this. Ubuntu Software seems to list a wide selection of packages (it uses the term "application" but some of the things it lists are not in my opinion applications). It doesn't restrict itself to particular repositories. For example, I see that some packages from Multiverse and Universe are listed.

I see that it doesn't list fop (from Universe) or docbook (again from Universe). I think this point about missing packages is a general problem (it won't just confuse writers looking for fop or docbook). For example, mbrola (from Multiverse) - something to do with speech synthesis - sounds as if it might have a small group of enthusiasts - but Ubuntu Software doesn't list it (though confusingly it does list a frontend to mbrola).

I'd say that a user might quickly outgrow Ubuntu Software and then he/she needs the full story from Synaptic.

[Gunnar Hjalmarsson (gunnarhj)]

Basically I think Ubuntu Software lists things with a .desktop file, which makes it available in Dash once installed. This needs to be checked with some developer though.

[Gunnar Hjalmarsson (gunnarhj)]

@Will: Can you please give us a hint to help us describe Ubuntu Software properly in the desktop guide?

[Will Cooke (willcooke)]

ack. I will speak to Robert Ancell and ask him to summarise.

[Robert Ancell (robert-ancell)]

GNOME Software (branded as Ubuntu Software in Ubuntu) installs / removes applications (defined below). Applications come from the Ubuntu archives or the snap store (confusingly this currently allows non-graphical snaps, but I consider that a bug to fix). It also provides firmware updates. While GNOME Software does have a mechanism to do updates, the primary interface for updates is Update Manager.

An application is required to have:
 - A .desktop file (so the shell can launch it)
 - Suitable metadata (this is why some traditional Debian packages might not show).

The description you linked to seems accurate to me.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package ubuntu-docs - 17.04.1

---------------
ubuntu-docs (17.04.1) zesty; urgency=medium

  * scripts/validate.sh:
    - Modified so it can be called via a symlink from 'ubuntu-help/C'
      or 'html'.
  * power-hibernate.page:
    - Changed command due to upstart->systemd transition.
  * Bump version to 17.04 / zesty.
  * html/ubuntu.xsl:
    - Make unordered lists bulleted and not numbered (LP: #1649554).
  * keyboard-layouts.page:
    - Note about how to show rarely used xkb layout variants.
  * Updated ubuntu-help.pot.
  * debian/compat, debian/control:
    - Bump to debhelper version 9

  [ Chris Perry ]
  * tips-specialchars.page:
    - Section "Compose key" updated (LP: #1624778).
  * addremove-ppa.page:
    - Revise PPA description (LP: #1628706).
  * keyboard-layouts.page:
    - Move text of marginal note.
  * mouse-middleclick.page, mouse-touchpad-click.page:
    - Revise description of middle-click from touchpad (LP: #1617718).
  * power-lowpower.page:
    - Update since related control in "System Settings -> Power" has
      been removed (LP: #1599264, LP: #1641786).
  * accounts-add.page, net-firewall-on-off.page:
    - Minor clarifications.
  * net-wireless-*.page, net-problem.page:
    - GUI conformity modifications (LP: #1637126)
    - New shared section (LP: #977251)
  * addremove-install.page, addremove-remove.page:
    - Clearer description of Ubuntu Software's focus on applications
      (LP: #1637861).
    - Mentioning of snaps (LP: #1658785).
  * printing-setup.page:
    - Section about network printer added (LP: #1630272).
  * mouse-mousekeys.page:
    - Improved description of mouse keys (LP: #964727).
  * disk-*.page:
    - GUI conformity modifications (LP: #1651360).
  * List type explicitly stated on multiple pages.
  * addremove-creator.page:
    - New page describing Startup Disk Creator (LP: #1569532).
  * security-settings.page:
    - New page describing the Security & Privacy panel in System
      Settings (LP: #1200381).

  [ Doug Smythies ]
  * scripts/validate.sh:
    - Changed to --strict validation.
  * ubuntu-help/C/legal.xml:
    - Specify https to avoid a "permanently moved" redirection.

 -- Gunnar Hjalmarsson <email address hidden> Mon, 20 Feb 2017 15:11:00 +0100