Ubuntu 16.04 software center doesn't have much apps

Question

I have just installed Ubuntu 16.04 32bit. But when I opened its software store, it's not showing the apps I installed in Ubuntu 15.10 like Clementine, Gdebi package installer or synaptic package installer, dconf, acetoneiso etc. what to do i need these softwares.

Answer 1

The Ubuntu Software app in Ubuntu does not have the same software in it as the classic Ubuntu Software Center has. Not only is there missing software in the Ubuntu Software app, but the Ubuntu Software app also has some GNOME software in it that the Ubuntu Software Center doesn't have. To be sure of finding all the available software, you need to have both the Ubuntu Software app and the Ubuntu Software Center installed. If you want to broaden your search to include snap packages in Ubuntu 16.04 and later, you have to search in the terminal to find available snap packages too.

Ubuntu 16.04/16.10

Ubuntu Software Center works fine in Ubuntu 16.04 and shows all the apps as it did in earlier versions of Ubuntu. Ubuntu Software Center can be installed in Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 16.10.

Ubuntu 17.04 and later

Ubuntu 17.04 doesn't have Ubuntu Software Center in its default repositories. Synaptic Package Manager works fine in Ubuntu 17.04 and shows all the apps like Ubuntu Software Center does, however Synaptic does not provide the same rich user experience as Ubuntu Software Center.

When I searched for a way of improving the package search functionality in Ubuntu 17.04, I found Debian Package Search (packagesearch). Debian Package Search is a GUI for searching packages and viewing package information. Debian Package Search can be installed alongside Synaptic and Ubuntu Software to add additional search functionality to Ubuntu 17.04.

Search in Debian Package Search can be done by:

• pattern
• tags (based on the debtags system, a new way of categorizing Debian packages)
• files
• installed status
• orphaned packages

Additionally a lot of information about the packages is displayed, including the files belonging to them.

It should be noted that because software can be installed from all of these four GUI applications, only one of the following four applications should be opened and used to install software at the same time.

• Ubuntu Software
• Ubuntu Software Center
• Synaptic Package Manager
• Debian Package Search

Answer 2

I have experienced the same problem. Until it is fixed, I suggest using Synaptic package manager. All the packages are available there and it works very well.

sudo apt-get install synaptic

sudo apt-get install gksudo

gksudo synaptic

(it is safe to skip a step if already installed)

Search for your package (application) by name and right click and mark for install. Then click apply. You can uninstall by the same method.

Answer 3

Removing unused dependency packages solved this problem for me.

To do this

• open a Terminal (using the Dash menu or CTRL+ALT+T and
• type or insert sudo apt autoremove and press Enter.
• You will be asked for your users password. You will not see anything while typing, this is normal and a security feature.
• Now, restart the software center and try to search your packages.

I hope it works as well for you as it did for me. Unfortunately I have no idea which package caused this problem.

Answer 4

If the method above doesn't work you can try this:

First, open the terminal and type this:

ps aux | grep apt

You will get a result in a table form, we are interested in the apt requests that contain the words http or software in them.

Once you find it, look at the second column. For example this is how it might look like:

username   2514  0.0  0.0  21376   948 pts/1    S+   22:37   0:00 apt-http

The results you get will be similar, but not exactly the same.

Now, we want the second column for the above result: that's 2514 for me. Add it here (put the number you just got instead of 2514)

sudo kill 2514

Repeat the commands until you get no more unnecessary requests (chances are you will have to do it only once).

Now start the ubuntu software and it should work!

Answer 5

The new software center was a mess for the first couple of hours, and this faulty version doesn't seem to refresh itself while it keeps running in the background even after you've closed the window.

You can force quit it by invoking

killall gnome-software

When you start the software center again it should update and look like a proper software center.

It's actually a very nice program now.