Ubuntu Software Center, or simply Software Center, is a discontinued high-level graphical front end for the APT/

dpkg dpkg is the software at the base of the package management system in the free operating system Debian and its numerous derivatives. dpkg is used to install, remove, and provide information about .deb packages. dpkg (Debian Package) itself i ...

package management system A package manager or package-management system is a collection of software tools that automates the process of installing, upgrading, configuring, and removing computer programs for a computer in a consistent manner. A package manager deals w ...

. It is

free software Free software or libre software is computer software distributed under terms that allow users to run the software for any purpose as well as to study, change, and distribute it and any adapted versions. Free software is a matter of liberty, no ...

written in

Python Python may refer to: Snakes * Pythonidae, a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia ** ''Python'' (genus), a genus of Pythonidae found in Africa and Asia * Python (mythology), a mythical serpent Computing * Python (pr ...

PyGTK PyGTK is a set of Python wrappers for the GTK graphical user interface library. PyGTK is free software and licensed under the LGPL. It is analogous to PyQt/PySide and wxPython, the Python wrappers for Qt and wxWidgets, respectively. Its ori ...

PyGObject PyGTK is a set of Python wrappers for the GTK graphical user interface library. PyGTK is free software and licensed under the LGPL. It is analogous to PyQt/PySide and wxPython, the Python wrappers for Qt and wxWidgets, respectively. Its origi ...

based on

GTK GTK (formerly GIMP ToolKit and GTK+) is a free and open-source cross-platform widget toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs). It is licensed under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License, allowing both free and proprieta ...

. The program was created for adding and managing repositories, as well as Ubuntu Personal Package Archives (PPA) and on Ubuntu, the Ubuntu Software Center also allowed users to purchase commercial applications. Development was ended in 2015 and in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS. It was replaced with

GNOME Software GNOME Software is a utility for installing applications and updates on Linux. It is part of the GNOME Core Applications, and was introduced in GNOME 3.10. It is the GNOME front-end to the PackageKit, in turn a front-end to several package manage ...

Development history

In early 2009 Ubuntu developers noted that package management within Ubuntu could be improved and consolidated. Recent releases of Ubuntu, such as Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) included five applications for package management which consumed space and other resources, as well as provide confusion to users. Applications could be downloaded using the basic ''Add/Remove Applications'' or with the

Synaptic Package Manager Synaptic is a GTK-based graphical user interface for the APT package manager used by the Debian Linux distribution and its derivatives. Synaptic is usually used on systems based on deb packages but can also be used on systems based on RPM pac ...

. The

Software Updater __NOTOC__ In several Linux operating systems, the Software Updater (previously known as Update Manager) program updates installed software and their associated packages with important software updates for security or with recommended patches. It ...

provided updating for installed packages and ''Computer Janitor'' cleaned up packages that were no longer needed. The ''Software Sources'' application allowed user selection of the package download location. Ubuntu developers set as a goal: Canonical introduced the Software Center gradually, starting with

Ubuntu 9.10 Ubuntu releases are made semiannually by Canonical Ltd, the developers of the Ubuntu operating system, using the year and month of the release as a version number. The first Ubuntu release, for example, was Ubuntu 4.10 and was released on 20 Oct ...

(''Karmic Koala'') with complete functionality expected by Ubuntu 11.10, in October 2011. By May 2011, the plan had mostly been completed: ;October 2009 — version 1.0.2 shipped with

(''Karmic Koala'') :Introduced a new simple interface for locating, installing, and removing software, with better security based on

PolicyKit Polkit (formerly PolicyKit) is a component for controlling system-wide privileges in Unix-like operating systems. It provides an organized way for non-privileged processes to communicate with privileged ones. Polkit allows a level of control ...

instead of gksudo. ;April 2010 — version 2.0.2 shipped with Ubuntu 10.04 (''Lucid Lynx'') LTS :The Software Center added lists of non-application packages in a simplified manner and also provide subcategories for applications and Personal Package Archives. ;October 2010 — version 3.0.4 shipped with Ubuntu 10.10 (''Maverick Meerkat'') :Allowed users to purchase software and showed a history of past installations, removals and purchases, including undoing specific changes. ;April 2011 — version 4.0 shipped with Ubuntu 11.04 (''Natty Narwhal'') :Added user rating and reviewing software, and the ability to see ratings and reviews of other participating Ubuntu users. ;October 2011 — Ubuntu 11.10 (''Oneiric Ocelot'') :Software Center's fifth version was rewritten in GTK3, improving design (better integration with system theme, promoting banner added, nicer listing of apps), start-up time was improved too. Software Center was partially prepared for touch control by including larger icons. Software Center also brought Unity Launcher integration, sorting by ratings and system requirements for applications. Some GDebi technology was also integrated to improve speed when handling

.deb deb is the format, as well as extension of the software package format for the Debian Linux distribution and its derivatives. Design Debian packages are standard Unix ar archives that include two tar archives. One archive holds the cont ...

files. ;19 December 2011 :An online edition of the Ubuntu Software Center was released, the ''Ubuntu Apps Directory''. The Web store shows the same content as the Software Center application, with a download button that opens the application if running Ubuntu or a link to download the Ubuntu operating system installer if running a different operating system. ;April 2012 — Ubuntu 12.04 (''Precise Pangolin'') :Ubuntu Software Center gained new monochrome elements. Canonical created a Web-based developer platform to help programmers to create applications for Ubuntu. Software Center included a new category: "Books and magazines", ability to show video presentations of paid applications and multiple screenshots per one app. And also added progress bar support for Software Centre. In August 2015 Chris Hoffman of ''

PC World ''PC World'' (stylized as PCWorld) is a global computer magazine published monthly by IDG. Since 2013, it has been an online only publication. It offers advice on various aspects of PCs and related items, the Internet, and other personal te ...

'' criticized the application, indicating that Canonical was not maintaining it properly while work on the replacement application was being pursued. In particular, he noted that paid applications were not being supported properly and that Canonical had not informed developers of this. The application still works for installing and managing free software applications. In November 2015 Canonical announced that development would end and the application would be replaced by

in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

References

External links

Ubuntu Apps Directory

wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareCenter

Ubuntu Software Center versions history
{{Ubuntu Dpkg Free software programmed in Python Linux package management-related software Linux PMS graphical front-ends Package management software that uses GTK Software distribution platforms Software that uses PyGObject Ubuntu

Development history

See also

APT graphical front ends

References

External links