Convert Synaptic to use PolicyKit authentication

[Delan Azabani]

Synaptic would be a lot better if it used PolicyKit authentication rather than gksu. Benefits?

- being able to run synaptic's UI as user, which is
- - - - more secure
- - - - keeps settings in ~user
- PolicyKit's pkexec dialog is nicer and doesn't dim the whole screen by default
- brings it more consistent with other related Ubuntu apps (update-manager, software-center)

[Gabe Gorelick (gabegorelick)]

I agree, PolicyKit is generally better than gksu, but I think most resources are going towards adding features to software-center to bring it up to feature parity with update-manager and synaptic. Also, update-manager still uses gksu.

[Delan Azabani (azabani)]

In Maverick update-manager uses PolicyKit. I also believe that software-center is going to be a friendly channel to install software from, but as synaptic is a complex and powerful software why would we bother porting all of its functionality over?

[Gabe Gorelick (gabegorelick)]

From the Software Center wiki [1]:
"Later versions may include recommendation features, replace Synaptic, APTonCD, and most of the Computer Janitor, and integrate with Update Manager. Replacing other utilities will make handling software easier, improve user safety, free space on the Ubuntu CD, and provide a prominent showcase for Ubuntu and partner software."

That being said, I agree that if synaptic's features aren't brought to software-center, it makes sense to port synaptic to use polkit. But that's just my 2 cents.

[1] https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareCenter