[tedge]

Ubuntu 18.04 is the first release to include my app, PikoPixel (pixel-art editor), in its repository (universe): https://packages.ubuntu.com/bionic/gnustep/pikopixel.app

I had to tweak PP's packaging to get it to appear in the Ubuntu Software app, so I can provide a bit of info about this part of the article:

My assumption for now is that the Ubuntu Software application only shows updates for packages that were installed through it. Further, the list of installed applications that it shows is very clearly a subset of those that are actually installed on the system. Color me befuddled.

The Ubuntu Software app (& similar software-center apps, such as GNOME Software, KDE Discover, etc.) only shows distro packages which have valid AppStream metadata: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AppStream

The AppStream metadata is generated automatically by running appstream-generator (https://github.com/ximion/appstream-generator ) on Ubuntu's repositories. However, on some packages the metadata can't be generated, due to an error - either the package has missing info, incorrect formatting, or possibly it's an issue with appstream-generator.

Here's a list of packages in the Ubuntu Bionic universe repo that have issues (packages with errors are unlikely to appear in Ubuntu Software): http://appstream.ubuntu.com/bionic/universe/issues/index.htm...

List of packages with successfully generated metadata in Ubuntu Bionic universe (should appear in Ubuntu Software): http://appstream.ubuntu.com/bionic/universe/metainfo/index.h... (Package names link to the generated metadata xml file).

[peatmoss]

Hey, congrats! How'd you find the experience of writing a new app in GNUStep? I feel like in some better metaverse, the GNUStep project would have ridden Apple's rise in popularity to be a solid contender / alternative to the Apple ecosystem.

[Klonoar]

I second this! I've looked at GNUStep in the past for a few different things, but it always looks so woefully unmaintained.

[HankB99]

When I tried an early beta (of 10.04) I was unable to find the mosquitto client tools in the software store. Neither does it show up in either list you linked. I guess it was left out for other reasons.

At one point there was a setting in the software store to show all available packages. It has been removed.

At present I am only aware of command line tools for finding S/W that includes all available packages. (`snap` and `apt`) I guess Ubuntu are dumbing down Linux. They have succeeded. I think it's dumb.

[HankB99]

Edit: Should have been "18.04". I need a better proof reader. (Perhaps that is why this was downvoted.)

[AnIdiotOnTheNet]

If only we lived in a world where developers could just distribute their application binaries to the end user without having to rely on a storefront.

[slazaro]

You know you can still do that in Linux, right? The package managers are just a convenience.

[erikpukinskis]

This is one of the reasons why the web is so successful.

(0-click install, instant app download, deep links, and 100% device compatibility are the others)

[lobo_tuerto]

SourceForge?

[metalliqaz]

Whenever I find an application hosted on SourceForge, I assume it is abandoned.

[majewsky]

> GitHub

FTFY