Ubuntu
gnome-software package

Is it possible to add ubuntu-restricted-extras to ubuntu-software (gnome-software)?

Asked by Thanos Apostolou on 2017-07-28

Ubuntu-restricted-extras is a package which I recommend for installation to every new Ubuntu user. However, currently it isn't shown under the ubuntu-software (gnome-software). So, I don't want to recommend new users to use terminal in order to install something simple as that. Is it possible to include it under gnome-software, maybe under the "Add-ons" category?

I don't know if this can be done easily, but maybe you can hack it somehow?

Question information

Language:
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Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu gnome-software Edit question
Assignee:
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Solved by:
actionparsnip
Solved:
2017-07-28
Last query:
2017-07-28
Last reply:
2017-07-28
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : #1

What is the output of:

lsb_release -a; uname -a

Thanks

Thanos Apostolou (thanosapostolou) said : #2

Output of `sb_release -a; uname -a`:

No LSB modules are available.
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu Artful Aardvark (development branch)
Release: 17.10
Codename: artful
Linux thanos-GA-970A-DS3 4.11.0-11-generic #16-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jul 12 20:40:19 UTC 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

gnome-software version 3.25.4-1ubuntu1

Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : #3

Then I suggest you report a bug. Artful is not ready and not stable. There will be feature holes and issues up to (and even a few weeks after) release.

Thanos Apostolou (thanosapostolou) said : #4

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : #5

https://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=ubuntu-restricted-extras&searchon=names&suite=artful&section=all

It's in the multiverse repository.

You probably shouldn't be using prereleases. I suggest you wipe the install off and do a clean install of Xenial. Xenial is LTS and supported til April 2021 and will act as you expect

Thanos Apostolou (thanosapostolou) said : #6

Yes I know that it's in the repositories. It's just isn't shown under the gnome-software. Since gnome-software from version 3.24 (ubuntu 17.04 has still 3.22) has added support for codecs (gstreamer plugins) and fonts under the "Add-ons" category, I was wandering if it is possible to add ubuntu-restricted-extras package there as well.

But you were right. I created a bug report as a suggestion/request which is more suitable than a question.

actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : #7

Check you have the multiverse repository enabled

Thanos Apostolou (thanosapostolou) said : #8

Yeah the multiverse repository is enabled and I can find the package using synaptic. Are you saying that you can find it through the gnome-software too?

actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : #9

If you run:

sudo apt-get update

Is it then visible in the GUI application?

Thanos Apostolou (thanosapostolou) said : #10

No. It has no difference. I haven't fully understood how gnome-software works, but I believe that it needs an application to have an appdata.xml file in order to be listed. Ubuntu-restricted-extras is a metapackage so I don't believe it has any such file, but maybe it can be "hacked" or something so that it can be listed as an Add-on, since it's really useful in my opinion.