Ubuntu Software Center, or simplySoftware Center, is a discontinued high-level graphical front end for the APT/dpkg package management system. It is free software written in Python, PyGTK/PyGObject based on GTK. The program was created for adding and managing repositories, as well as Ubuntu Personal Package Archives 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.
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 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 Sourcesapplication 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 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 Ubuntu 9.10 ;April 2010 — version 2.0.2 shipped with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS ;October 2010 — version 3.0.4 shipped with Ubuntu 10.10 ;April 2011 — version 4.0 shipped with Ubuntu 11.04 ;October 2011 — Ubuntu 11.10 ;19 December 2011 ;April 2012 — Ubuntu 12.04 In August 2015 Chris Hoffman of PC World 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 freesoftware applications. In November 2015 Canonical announced that development would end and the application would be replaced by GNOME Software in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.
