Developer(s) Canonical Ltd. | ||
![]() | ||
Original author(s) Initial release October 29, 2009; 7 years ago (2009-10-29) Stable release 13.10 / October 7, 2013; 3 years ago (2013-10-07) Repository code.launchpad.net/software-center Development status Development ended / 45,000 Apps |
Ubuntu Software Center or simply Software Center was a high-level graphical front end for the APT/dpkg package management system. It was free software written in Python, PyGTK/PyGObject based on GTK+.
Contents
The program was used to add and manage 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 instead.
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. The Software Updater 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 (Karmic Koala) with complete functionality expected by Ubuntu 11.10, in October 2011. By May 2011, the plan had mostly been completed:
In August 2015 Chris Hoffman of PCWorld 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 GNOME Software in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.
APT graphical front ends
Other examples of a high-level graphical front end for APT