Ubuntu 16.04 software center doesn't have many apps

The Ubuntu Software app in Ubuntu does not have the same software in it as the classic Ubuntu Software Center has. Not only is there missing software in the Ubuntu Software app, but the Ubuntu Software app also has some GNOME software in it that the Ubuntu Software Center doesn't have. To be sure of finding all the available software, you need to have both the Ubuntu Software app and the Ubuntu Software Center installed. If you want to broaden your search to include snap packages in Ubuntu 16.04 and later, you have to search in the terminal to find available snap packages too.

Ubuntu 18.04 and later

Ubuntu Software and Synaptic are the top two software apps in Ubuntu 18.04 and they complement each other in functionality.

It should be noted that because software can be installed from both of these two GUI applications, only one of the following two applications should be opened and used to install software at the same time.

• Ubuntu Software / Software – gnome-software
• Synaptic package manager – synaptic

Ubuntu 17.04/17.10

• Ubuntu Software – gnome-software
• Synaptic package manager – synaptic
• Debian Package Search – packagesearch

Ubuntu 17.04 doesn't have Ubuntu Software Center in its default repositories. Synaptic Package Manager works fine in Ubuntu 17.04 and shows all the apps like Ubuntu Software Center does, however Synaptic does not provide the same rich user experience as Ubuntu Software.

When I searched for a way of improving the package search functionality in Ubuntu 17.04, I found Debian Package Search (packagesearch). Debian Package Search is a GUI for searching packages and viewing package information. Debian Package Search can be installed alongside Synaptic and Ubuntu Software to add additional search functionality to Ubuntu 17.04 and 17.10 (discontinued in 18.04 and later).

Search in Debian Package Search can be done by:

• pattern
• tags (based on the debtags system, a new way of categorizing Debian packages)
• files
• installed status
• orphaned packages

Additionally a lot of information about the packages is displayed, including the files belonging to them.

Ubuntu 16.04/16.10

Ubuntu Software Center works fine in Ubuntu 16.04 and shows all the apps as it did in earlier versions of Ubuntu. Ubuntu Software Center can be installed in Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 16.10.

sudo apt install software-center 

The new software center was a mess for the first couple of hours, and this faulty version doesn't seem to refresh itself while it keeps running in the background even after you've closed the window.

You can force quit it by invoking

killall gnome-software

When you start the software center again it should update and look like a proper software center.

It's actually a very nice program now.

I have experienced the same problem. Until it is fixed, I suggest using Synaptic package manager. All the packages are available there and it works very well.

sudo apt-get install synaptic

sudo apt-get install gksudo

gksudo synaptic

(it is safe to skip a step if already installed)

Search for your package (application) by name and right click and mark for install. Then click apply. You can uninstall by the same method.