12 Days of Xmas: Day Seven – Ubuntu Software Centre

By , Published December 23, 2009

“What?????” people scream.
“Serious.” I say back, nodding.

Yes the Ubuntu Software Centre is my 6th favourite application of the year!

It was one of the Karmic Koalas’ big selling points – an easier more efficient way to find and install applications and it certainly did what it set out to do in Karmic – making a saner, calmer, easier to naviagate “add/remove” replacement. 

By Ubuntu 11.04 it will have replaced pretty much ever software installation method – from Synaptic to Gdebi.

The mock-up (subject to change) paints it like so: -

Lucid
In the mean time we’ll be getting iteration two in Lucid Lynx, bringing with it: -

  • Non-Application package management presented in an “understandable way”
  • Subcategories for applications 
  • Non-Application packages such as fonts, screensavers, etc
  • Review and rating system
  • Apt-URL launches Software Centre on appropriate screen
  • Instructions on where to find the launcher for your newly installed apps

It may not be the fabled one-stop-shop just yet, but for taking its first tentative steps on the road of redefining software installation, the USC gets a pat on the back from us.

Article originally appeared on omgubuntu.co.uk

Related posts:

  1. 12 Days of Xmas: Day Five – ViewNior
  2. 12 Days of Xmas: Day Three – CoverGloobus
  3. 12 Days Of Xmas: Best Apps Of 2009 €“ Day One
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  • Anonymous

    what are non-free ubuntu sw ?
    i remember nero …
    what else ?

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      I can’t say i know too many since i never look.

      Pixel isn’t free but is extremely good – it’s a graphics application much like photoshop.
      There’s a DVD playback application you can buy in the Ubuntu shop…
      … errrm…. i would suspect the rest will be games!

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      I can’t say i know too many since i never look.

      Pixel isn’t free but is extremely good – it’s a graphics application much like photoshop.
      There’s a DVD playback application you can buy in the Ubuntu shop…
      … errrm…. i would suspect the rest will be games!

    • daniel

      Stata and SPSS (some statistical analysis software) have Linux versions. I have only used them on the university, because at home I only use R which is FOSS and much more powerful (but have no GUI).

      I think the main idea behind selling software in USC is to give ISVs a “welcome to Linux” message.

    • daniel

      Stata and SPSS (some statistical analysis software) have Linux versions. I have only used them on the university, because at home I only use R which is FOSS and much more powerful (but have no GUI).

      I think the main idea behind selling software in USC is to give ISVs a “welcome to Linux” message.

      • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

        Definitely.

        Paid applications have a lot more to prove in FOSS land – they really need to show they’re worth parting cash for. I can imagine, if paid apps prove viable, that we’ll see “iphone/android” type application development for Linux – not so much full-blown applications but mini, single task apps. (twitter clients, service front-ends, etc)

        • http://orkutcidio.deliriocoletivo.org Peterson Espaçoporto

          Certainly, but in the case of twitter clients, we have so many good ones I really can’t imagine why anyone would want to buy one =S

        • http://orkutcidio.deliriocoletivo.org Peterson Espaçoporto

          Certainly, but in the case of twitter clients, we have so many good ones I really can’t imagine why anyone would want to buy one =S

      • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

        Definitely.

        Paid applications have a lot more to prove in FOSS land – they really need to show they’re worth parting cash for. I can imagine, if paid apps prove viable, that we’ll see “iphone/android” type application development for Linux – not so much full-blown applications but mini, single task apps. (twitter clients, service front-ends, etc)

  • David

    “12 Days of Xmas: Day Six – Shotwell (Plus a peek at Shotwell 0.4!)”

    and then

    “12 Days of Xmas: Day Six – Ubuntu Software Centre” – Don’t you mean Day 7?

  • David

    “12 Days of Xmas: Day Six – Shotwell (Plus a peek at Shotwell 0.4!)”

    and then

    “12 Days of Xmas: Day Six – Ubuntu Software Centre” – Don’t you mean Day 7?

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Ahh! Thank you!

      • David

        You’re welcome!

        And your blog is my favorite Ubuntu blog :-) Keep it up!

        • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

          =D

        • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

          =D

      • David

        You’re welcome!

        And your blog is my favorite Ubuntu blog :-) Keep it up!

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Ahh! Thank you!

  • http://www.linuxmint.com/ Jimbo

    The software centre blows. The interface is crappy and it takes away features from the old add software app. In future versions of Ubuntu it will be great I’m sure, but at the moment its crap.

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      I really like the USC. My sister, who doesn’t know the difference between OpenOffice and Firefox for the most part, loves it. She finds it really easy to use and i guess that was their aim.

      Most of my package management is done via the terminal (SVN, git, bzr, etc) or via synaptic. I’m really looking forward to how they approach Synaptic-type management in the USC.

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      I really like the USC. My sister, who doesn’t know the difference between OpenOffice and Firefox for the most part, loves it. She finds it really easy to use and i guess that was their aim.

      Most of my package management is done via the terminal (SVN, git, bzr, etc) or via synaptic. I’m really looking forward to how they approach Synaptic-type management in the USC.

    • David

      I think I agree with what you are saying. The planned features for the Software Center are great, but I don’t know if it was quite ready to be implemented into Ubuntu for the Karmic release. It still is very bland and even ugly.

    • David

      I think I agree with what you are saying. The planned features for the Software Center are great, but I don’t know if it was quite ready to be implemented into Ubuntu for the Karmic release. It still is very bland and even ugly.

    • Anonymous

      Agreed–I’ve opened it twice and been stumped both times at how to tell if I already have an ap installed or not (reading through a giant list isn’t going to cut it).

      I closed it and went back to synaptic which makes it vividly apparent.

      Actually, to be honest, I went back to apt-get. But for browsing around, I’ll be using synaptic until the USC’s ui becomes substantially more usable.

    • Anonymous

      Agreed–I’ve opened it twice and been stumped both times at how to tell if I already have an ap installed or not (reading through a giant list isn’t going to cut it).

      I closed it and went back to synaptic which makes it vividly apparent.

      Actually, to be honest, I went back to apt-get. But for browsing around, I’ll be using synaptic until the USC’s ui becomes substantially more usable.

  • http://seifsallam.co.cc/ Seif Sallam

    to try the latest Software Center version
    use > ppa:software-store-developers/ppa
    from > https://launchpad.net/~software-store-developers/+archive/ppa

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Oh thanks for that link!

    • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

      Oh thanks for that link!

  • http://kroulee.com Brandon Sheppard

    The USC works perfectly, and is nice and easy to use. I think its pretty ugly though. Mostly the colours.

  • http://kroulee.com Brandon Sheppard

    The USC works perfectly, and is nice and easy to use. I think its pretty ugly though. Mostly the colours.

  • Anonymous

    Can’t they sell music/videos/ from the via the USC?

  • Anonymous

    Can’t they sell music/videos/ from the via the USC?

  • nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

    ehh I find software centre makes it a lot harder than synaptic to find an app I want. Everybody gives package names online, so you have to go through the added step of searching for it and that. Of course command line is cool too. Software centre shows decent info about programs, but it bothers me that it makes package names not as handy

  • nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

    ehh I find software centre makes it a lot harder than synaptic to find an app I want. Everybody gives package names online, so you have to go through the added step of searching for it and that. Of course command line is cool too. Software centre shows decent info about programs, but it bothers me that it makes package names not as handy

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/4FMTI3IRO6MBXQH4NY6CPQWZHM Abhishek

    I just love Synaptic package manager for all the intricate details it provides (version number, actual package name, size, dependencies and the rest of the stuff). I just hope when they dump Synaptic, they at least ensure that all of Synaptic features are imported in the new Ubuntu Software Center (though they can classify that as advanced level and hide it from novice users).

    • JMan

      you will still be able to use synaptic, there will just be no “official” need for it.

  • Anonymous

    USC is not perfect yet, but it sure will be awesome! What I miss is the ability to right-click on a software and -then selecting install, reinstall or remove. Anyone knows if it will be implemented in 2.0?

  • curveclimber

    Yeah, I don’t know what they’re thinking but the Software Center has less features than the Add/Remove software app from Ibix. Back then it was easy to see what was installed, see summaries for each app, and filter for various categories. I hope all this mucking about with how to download software isn’t just so they can sell stuff, because that doesn’t interest me in the least.

    • Anonymous

      It’s not as good as add/remove yet, but I think it will rock! They wanted to have it in karmic so that it will be stable in 10.04 (which will be LTS).

  • Anonymous

    WANT!

    I agree that USC currently blows, but the planned app looks great.