Ubuntu Software Centre handles now .deb installations in Maverick

By , Published September 3, 2010

Installing an application from a .deb file in Ubuntu 10.10 has changed.

Sorta.

In previous editions of Ubuntu a dedicated tool for installation .deb files – called Gdebi – would open up after double-clicking on a .deb file. This window allowed you to read a provided description, see files included with the package and, most importantly, offer you an easy 'one-click' installation button to instigate the grunt.

Package Installer - fotoxx_006[3]

In Ubuntu 10.10 .deb's are now handled via the Ubuntu Software Centre by default, with a double-click of a .deb launching the store and  opening up an installation page equally as simple as gdebi.

Screenshot[3]

The move is a smart one; no more is .deb package installation left aloof of the desktop experience but finally handled by the same tool you'd, logically, expect it to.

Thanks to VS8

Related posts:

  1. “Where is it?” – Ubuntu 10.10 Software Centre now tells you where to find your newly installed app
  2. Maverick Software centre adds animated apps bar
  3. 12 Days of Xmas: Day Seven – Ubuntu Software Centre
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  • http://twitter.com/ThomasBerends Thomas Berends

    I really think that 10.10 is a great step to reach the ‘normal’ user.

    • http://twitter.com/Retj Retj

      I guess “Average user” it’s more accurate term.

    • http://twitter.com/Retj Retj

      I guess “Average user” it’s more accurate term.

  • http://CoryClaxon.com/ CoryClaxon

    I personally prefer Gdebi…

  • http://www.google.com/profiles/nosrepa Zach

    Install software, it does?

  • Anonymous

    For consistency sake, this is brilliant, been waiting for this for a while. But I hope that on older machines, that the Software Centre isn’t too slow, and that it doesn’t take a while to load the SC up just to install a package, that would otherwise be a relatively quick task with GDebi.

    It also hope that Firefox will actually handle .deb files now – I’ve had several instances where Firefox didn’t know what to do with a .deb file, and then proceed to delete it. This happened to my mate too, on a fresh Lucid install.

    Offtopic – In your second screenshot, you have no window borders, and your sound-menu is open? Is that a bug, or just the way you’ve got your machine set up?

  • http://omgubuntu.co.uk/ d0od

    It’s a bug with my super-slow netbook rather than Ubuntu ;)

  • Anonymous

    It is nice but can end up making rogue applications look legitimate in the future.

    There should be an indicator that states from an external non verified source.

    • http://twitter.com/valbaca88 Valentin Baca

      It does have a warning next to the install button “Only install this file if you trust the origin” which is actually more than Gdebi had

      • http://cldx.blogspot.com/ Joern Konopka

        That info-bar should be the element to change to a more warning color, not the background as stated below, besides that the idea of putting emphasis on the fact its “foreign” software is a really good approach.

  • Anonymous

    Awesome. Whenever I use Gdebi, It sort of feels old, idk, it somehow makes the application in installing feel archaic, and out of date. Is that weird?

  • Aldo Mann

    A nice movement, but I allways feel like a turtle in USC, if they could fix the speed of the program (well it’s no slooow, but it is not as fast as the rest of the desktop, at least for my four laptops).

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  • Anonymous

    Funny, I just right clicked and Opera deb and clicked install via Software Center a couple hours ago and wondered since when that was an option.

    Very nice integration, I like it!

  • http://nironan12.deviantart.com/ Nate

    There’s a setting where it will default to Gdebi, right? If I wanted fancy shmancy I’d visit the Software Centre itself… just my preferences.

  • zekopeko

    They should definitely do a different background when installing stuff that isn’t from the repos.

  • http://twitter.com/GlennDCitrix Glenn Dobson

    So far I’ve only upgraded my netbook to the Maverick beta, I link it in general but wish I could auto hide the sidebar :( I think I actually prefer the old remix experience more.

  • Anonymous

    well a good thing about software center is that if you have several debs to install, it doesnt need to open/close multiple windows

    so for just one deb it takes 3 o 4 seconds more, but for many debs you can actually save time/clicks

    also it keeps track/history and stuff :)

  • Raptor

    the software centre still not doing the updates. =/

  • zekopeko

    It will never do updates.

  • zekopeko

    It is old. IIRC it came with the first or second Ubuntu and didn’t change since then.

  • http://immux.wordpress.com Immux

    maverick so cool.
    can it used in previous versions (aka, lucid) ?

  • http://www.martinsmucker.com Michael Martin-Smucker

    Last I heard, updates through the Software Center is the plan for the future… has this changed?

  • Inameiname

    With the Ubuntu Software Centre handling debs, how can you install them from the terminal? Does ‘sudo dpkg -i’ still work, or is there an equivalent?

  • Inameiname

    It would cetainly be THEE app if that were true. Especially now since it’s come out Synaptic won’t be installed by default in Natty. It’d be the hub for it all if that was true, the software center, the update manager, and if it could be expanded a little more, the Synaptic equivalent.

    • http://cldx.blogspot.com/ Joern Konopka

      I don’t think it would be too wise to put too much of Synaptic into the Software Center, Synaptic should remain something for the more advanced user while Software Center should be as accessible as possible even for Ubuntu Virgins.

  • http://twitter.com/explodingwalrus Carl Draper

    Just right click the .deb and go to ‘properties’ then ‘open with’ and select gdebi from the list :)

  • Mohan

    Yep noticed that last night when I did an upgrade, but I forgot to backup one of my favourite wallpaper it a headlights in the back with rain drops on the window. If anyone has it please let me know.

  • mpt

    It was the plan for the future only for a brief period around May and June of 2009. Then I realized it was a bad idea.

  • http://www.martinsmucker.com Michael Martin-Smucker

    Hmm, apparently I caught the rumor during that window and never heard otherwise. Or else I selectively blocked any news to the contrary because I thought it sounded like a pretty neat idea. I trust your judgement, though. Care to elaborate on why it’s a bad idea?

  • mpt

    Ubuntu Software Center doesn’t change anything about dpkg, just like gdebi didn’t. So you can still use dpkg from the terminal.

  • http://twitter.com/inkubux Francis Belanger

    It just makes to much sense, but judging from the screenshot it’s hard to see the difference between a normal app and a downloaded one. it should be more obvious

  • mpt

    Sorry, I should have explained in my previous reply.

    Anyway, there’s two reasons. First, because when people are notified that updates are available, it’s not at all likely for them to be inspired to install or remove other stuff at the same time. And second, because the updates process is usually an interruption, so it should be as simple and unobtrusive as possible, unlike USC.

    More details: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareUpdates#approaches

    • http://cldx.blogspot.com/ Joern Konopka

      In this case it would be interesting how people expect their system to be updated, with an Ubuntu Update you update every package that offers newer versions, be it Applications or System Updates, Windows doesn’t do that, neither does f.e. iOS, System Updates are something totally different from updating your Apps.

  • mpt

    Do you have statistics on USC in Maverick being slower than gdebi for opening a .deb, or slower than Synaptic for installing or removing a package? If so, please report a bug with the numbers. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center Thanks.

    There are a bunch of responsiveness problems in USC in Maverick at the moment, which may make it seem slower than it is.

    We didn’t “forget advanced options for packages management”. They just weren’t as high priority as pretty much everything that has been implemented so far. Whether Synaptic ships in 11.04 depends entirely on whether enough people contribute to porting the rest of Synaptic’s features. (If anyone wants to help out, a couple of simple features you could start with are “Reinstall” and “Remove Including Settings”.)

    • Alaukik

      1 feature i would like to point out is proper dependencies error
      for eg yester i tried to install mythtv from usc but it fialed with a VERY stupid error it said the pakages clash or some dependencies unresolved and in the details it said “mythtv” WTF am i supposed to do? with synaptic it gave “mythtv bckened but it is not going to be installed i tried to installed mythtv backend which then told me about mythtv-transcode-utils which told me about qt4-qt3support(something like this ) which then gave me the message that 4-5 things are required to have a lower version number(stable than) than some beta version i have i maunally forced it and every thing went right .
      How am i supposed to do that via USC?

      • mpt

        Sorry, I don’t understand what you’re trying to say.

      • http://cldx.blogspot.com/ Joern Konopka

        Well (sorry its kinda hard to understand what you are actually trying to explain) , it seems you either installed packages from some .deb or ppa that didn’t match the versions expected by the version of mythtv in the official repos, thus the clash.

        To answer your question: Your’e not supposed to do that via USC at all, if you installed yet unsupported packages from some distant source you should be aware that they might clash with some repo packages and if your’e smart enough to install those packages in the first place it’s assumed your’e smart enough to resolve your dependency issues yourself too.

        Solution: Uninstall the packages you got from the third party source and reinstall mythtv with the fitting dependencies from USC. Or get in touch with the Third Party for a mythtv version thats compliant with your “beta” packages.

        Sorry but things like that just happen if you experiment.

  • Regunirun

    I agree with zekopeko.. A slightly different background would be pretty beneficial in differentiation. After all, it isn’t “In the cloud” any longer.

  • Aldo Mann

    Well, I use Maverick USC, installing things and opening .debs it’s as quick as Gdebi or Synaptic, but the interface sometimes get a tiny lag opening categories or going to an app info. I feel it heavy but quick, I think it’s just what you say ;)

    Oh, ok. When I read that Synaptic would be removed on 11.04 it didn’t said all you are talking about. Now I’m really happy about the decission :)

  • Anonymous

    Cool idea, instead of a bright blue ski, a red/orange sky.

    • Anonymous

      an underground cave background !

      • Anonymous

        Even better! It would look scary!

  • http://slolinux.si kv1dr

    Nice. All functions in one application :)

    Offtopic: They must change update manager in ubuntu. I would like to see that update manager appers in indikator applet, when new updates are aveliable. :)

  • http://twitter.com/piratelv Levi

    This makes a lot more sense, however I do hope they clearly mark that the person is installing a deb file.
    Because if they eg download firefox 4 deb and the software centre starts up saying install firefox. the user can think there installing the old version, or maybe even thinking it comes from a repo with updates.

  • Anonymous

    yea, but the software center has a queue … and cookies

    join us ;)

    • Bgates

      But the cake is a lie?

  • Guest

    will USC eventually have ppa purge functionality. This would be great for fixing broken systems.

    • mpt

      That would be a fine addition. If anyone is interested in implementing it, please let me know so we can work out a design for it.

  • http://twitter.com/shishimaru1000 Salvatore Cresce

    This is a very coherent move,but I prefer the fast GDebi.

  • 6205

    I am always uninstalling Software Centre after installation. What will handle *.deb files after that ?

    • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/7GXJ4CL5A6A5YPPUO47UQXGP5Y Johan

      Get gdebi-gtk from repos.

  • Dr_willis

    how about gdebi from the command line?

    ‘sudo gdebi foo.deb’ would install the deb and the needed dependencies

    I found this feature very handy in scripts and so forth. (or over ssh)

  • http://twitter.com/ushabtay Uri Shabtay

    a giant leap in the right direction

  • http://twitter.com/alketii Alket Rexhepi

    Does it say ” The older version is in software repos… ” ?

  • Anonymous

    Started using ubuntu at 8.04 it has changed loads since then :)

  • Anonymous

    can in install more than one .deb file at a time now?

  • ActionParsnip

    stick to gdebi. Loading the whole software centre is a bit silly for a deb install when gdebi is light and fast

  • Green

    I’ve become a fan of USC as of lately. Didn’t find it very useful compared to synaptics, but in 10.10 it’s become an essential tool! Thought if it’s going to handle .deb files I wish it becomes a great deal faster than in the beta. Other than that, I’m very pleased with 10.10 so far.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/C6S22ANL35LHAH27EX43XFQKTQ Klau3

    Installing software was easy with Gdebi too.
    The problem for an averaged user was: “How do I uninstall .deb software?”.

    Is it now possible to remove installed .deb within the software center?

    • mpt

      Yes, software installed from a standalone .deb should show up under “Installed Software”, just like any software you installed from a repository. You can remove it from there.

      • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/C6S22ANL35LHAH27EX43XFQKTQ Klau3

        Great to hear!

        Hmmm, Google Chrome shows not up in maverick USC after .deb installation. Will see next days if it appears else I would have to write a bug report.

  • http://thealphanerd.wordpress.com/ Calvin

    Heck no.

    I don’t use Software Centre, it’s a lethargic, CPU-overworking piece of crap.

    I use synaptic and gdebi, at least they do their job without any problems and I find they do it better.

    • https://launchpad.net/~pavolzetor Pavol Klačanský

      yes, I think all GUI apps are CPU-overworking, dpkg and apt rocks :-), but for basic users is Software Center good friend, and more and more ubuntu users are noobs :/, me too

      • http://thealphanerd.wordpress.com/ Calvin

        Software Centre has some nasty performance issues, mainly by kicking in the fans when idle.

        Plus it’s a lot faster to add multiple packages using synaptic.

  • Scottish guest

    so whats wrong with Gdebi? its a fine tool, does the job without hassle and isnt bloated!

  • Rinia_iku

    Well nice to hear that USC is getting better and better but I think it needs to check if the software is in the repos.
    If so ask the user if he wants to install from repos or get updates for the application.
    if the version the user is installing is older than the version in repos ask if he/she likes to install the newer version.
    If the version the user is installing is newer then do something like keep in mind to get updates as soon as a newer version of the application is getting in the repos and so on

  • http://twitter.com/Retj Retj

    I’ve Waiting for this for ages… even proposed the idea on idea graveyard errrr —ubuntu brainstorm…

  • http://twitter.com/Retj Retj

    I’ve Waiting for this for ages… even proposed the idea on idea graveyard errrr —ubuntu brainstorm…

  • http://twitter.com/pererik87 Per Erik

    but it’s not working :/ posting bug report :/ Like the idea thou

 
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