opened ubuntu software to search for software, it crushes. the output from dmesg is:
ubuntu-software
(ubuntu-software:6971): Gs-WARNING **: failed to open plugin /usr/lib/gs-plugins-9/libgs_plugin_xdg_app_reviews.so: /usr/lib/gs-plugins-9/libgs_plugin_xdg_app_reviews.so: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory
(ubuntu-software:6971): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered
(ubuntu-software:6971): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered
(ubuntu-software:6971): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered
(ubuntu-software:6971): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered
(ubuntu-software:6971): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/classicmenu-indicator_classicmenu-indicator-light.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/classicmenu-indicator_classicmenu-indicator-light.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/gnome-terminal_utilities-terminal.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-main/64x64/gnome-terminal_utilities-terminal.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/meld_meld.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/meld_meld.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/blender_blender.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/blender_blender.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/k3b_k3b.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/k3b_k3b.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/shutter_shutter.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/shutter_shutter.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/qbittorrent_qbittorrent.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/qbittorrent_qbittorrent.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/geogebra_geogebra.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/geogebra_geogebra.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/audacity_audacity.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/audacity_audacity.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon gimp_gimp.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-updates-universe/64x64/gimp_gimp.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/audacious_audacious.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/audacious_audacious.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/guake_guake.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/guake_guake.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/speedcrunch_speedcrunch.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/speedcrunch_speedcrunch.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/smplayer_smplayer.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/smplayer_smplayer.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/inkscape_inkscape.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-main/64x64/inkscape_inkscape.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/clementine_clementine.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/clementine_clementine.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/filezilla_filezilla.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/filezilla_filezilla.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/synaptic_synaptic.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/synaptic_synaptic.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/stellarium_stellarium.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/stellarium_stellarium.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/geany_geany.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/geany_geany.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/vlc_vlc.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/vlc_vlc.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/gparted_gparted.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-main/64x64/gparted_gparted.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/sound-juicer_sound-juicer.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/sound-juicer_sound-juicer.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/rosegarden_rosegarden.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/rosegarden_rosegarden.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/rhythmbox_rhythmbox.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-main/64x64/rhythmbox_rhythmbox.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/gnome-music_gnome-music.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/gnome-music_gnome-music.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/easytag_easytag.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/easytag_easytag.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon brasero_brasero.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-updates-universe/64x64/brasero_brasero.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/banshee_media-player-banshee.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/banshee_media-player-banshee.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GsPlugin-WARNING **: failed to load cached icon 64x64/audacity_audacity.png: Failed to open file '/var/lib/app-info/icons/ubuntu-xenial-universe/64x64/audacity_audacity.png': Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GLib-CRITICAL **: g_dir_read_name: assertion 'dir != NULL' failed
(ubuntu-software:6971): Gs-WARNING **: failed to get recommended applications: no get_category_apps results to show
(ubuntu-software:6971): Gtk-WARNING **: Error loading image 'file:///usr/share/gnome-software/featured-transmission.png': Error opening file: Too many open files
(ubuntu-software:6971): GLib-ERROR **: Creating pipes for GWakeup: Too many open files
Trace/breakpoint trap (core dumped)
Thanks
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: ubuntu-software 3.20.1+git20160420.1.ca63436.ubuntu-xenial-0ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-51.72-generic 4.4.30
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-51-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.1
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Thu Dec 1 09:50:59 2016
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-11-30 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160420.1)
SourcePackage: gnome-software
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.