GNOME Software is a new software center ('add/remove programs' application) for any GNU/Linux system using GNOME desktop environment. At this time, there are just a few third-party reviews about GNOME Software. This article is a general beginner guide about how to use GNOME Software. For this purpose we use the GNOME Software in Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus. Thanks to the developers who created GNOME Software. We hope this article helps new users.
Note
At the last time, apparently Ubuntu developers changed the GNOME Software branding into Ubuntu Software. That's why you will see in Ubuntu 16.04, the software center name is Ubuntu Software not GNOME Software. Despite this change, they are still the same software. You may check the About and find the credit is still given to the original GNOME Software developers. We use the Ubuntu Software here as an example. So if you are using Ubuntu GNOME or another GNU/Linux with GNOME, this article will still apply for now.
User Interface
The GNOME Software interface built simply. Even, it is much more simpler than its predecessor, Ubuntu Software Center. Approximately there are 6 functional things in the GNOME Software interface:
- All tab: the default page in Ubuntu Software. It shows the front page.
- Installed tab: showing the list of installed software in the system.
- Updates tab: showing the list of ready to be upgraded in the system.
- Search bar: helps you find the software.
- Featured Application: images slider showing different popular software every time you start GNOME Software.
- Editor's Pics: some software suggestions for you.
Search
Type anything in the search bar and let GNOME Software find it for you. For example, here we search for inkscape software. If you can't find anything while searching, that means you have no repository database yet, so please do Reload first.
Install
To install a software, first search for it > and find Install button, press Install button > an Authenticate dialog appears > type your Ubuntu password > press Authentication > wait while installing > finish. You can access the new software installed from Ubuntu menu. Installation progress has no detailed information and no download speed. Your progress duration depends on your network download speed.
Uninstall
To uninstall a software, first find it > find Remove button > press Remove button on its entry.
Upgrade
To upgrade a particular installed software, first open Updates tab > find Install button > press Install button on its entry. To upgrade the whole updates available, press the single Install button on the top-right corner like number 3 in the image below.
More Information
- GNOME Software is free software with GNU GPL 2 license. See https://git.gnome.org/browse/gnome-software/tree/COPYING.
- Official website: https://wiki.gnome.org/Apps/Software.
- Source code: http://git.gnome.org/browse/gnome-software/.
- Report bugs to https://bugzilla.gnome.org/page.cgi?id=browse.html&product=gnome-software.