Software Center only provides a subset of software available in repos

[Jeff Lane ]

I needed to re-install recordmydesktop for some debug usage and opened up the Software Center in Xenial and attempted to do so.

Searches for 'recordmydesktop' in the software-center returned nothing, as the screenshot shows.

However, it's plainly available if you do an apt-cache search:

bladernr@galactica:~$ apt-cache search recordmydesktop
gtk-recordmydesktop - Graphical frontend for recordMyDesktop screencast tool
recordmydesktop - Captures audio-video data of a Linux desktop session

So it seems that the software-center is not aware of some things (maybe only in Universe?)

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: software-center (not installed)
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-8.23-generic 4.4.2
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-8-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20-0ubuntu3
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Mon Feb 29 10:09:46 2016
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-02-11 (17 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Alpha amd64 (20160210)
SourcePackage: software-center
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Jeff Lane  (bladernr)]

I verified that all the repos are open (Main, Universe, Multiverse and Partner) and I can pull packages from them using apt-get. However as software-center seems to have no config mechanism of it's own, I have to presume it's using the same apt-cache or at least the same repo data that apt-get uses.

[Kiwinote (kiwinote)]

Reassigning to gnome-software rather than the (ubuntu) software-center. At the moment gnome-software appears to show only those apps which are both already installed on my system and have a desktop file.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[kg (box-dev)]

I do not think this is a duplicate of bug #1548933. That bug is in reference to the Software Centre not showing any software except the software already installed. This one is in reference to the Software Centre not showing all software that can be installed, even though it does show *some* software.

For example on my system, the new Ubuntu Software does not show FlightGear, but the old Ubuntu Software Centre (which I still have installed) does.

[Jeremy Bícha (jbicha)]

Flightgear missing is bug 1591115 which is fixed in xenial-proposed and will be fixed in xenial-updates soon (probably this week).

non-graphical programs missing from the Software app is probably bug 1553211. It's a design decision for the Ubuntu Software/GNOME Software app to only show graphical "apps."