.DEB Files No Longer Supported by 20.04!?!?

[bionic3epl]

Did Canonical make 20.04 no longer support .deb files or will they be supported again once it's officially released?

[sgage]

What are you talking about? They are moving some apps over to snap, but the deb/dpkg/apt system accounts for practically all of the system. What have you encountered that makes you think that deb is no longer supported?

[bionic3epl]

I tried to install a .deb file and the snap store said "Not Supported".

[guiverc]

I have noticed no changes on this box (bumped to focal Oct-2019) nor on any QA-test installs of focal either, though I tend to use package managers or more commonly terminal to install packages.

[P-I H]

snap store don't support installation of .deb files for example google-chrome. You have to use software, but software isn't installed as default and you have to install it.

[mc4man]

I tried to install a .deb file and the snap store said "Not Supported".
If you have a .deb that you downloaded then

sudo apt install /path/to/whatever.deb

If you want a package manager that only list.deb packages install & use synaptic

[bionic3epl]

Synaptic won't show in snap store nor a package manager will show in snap store in 20.04. Could that be because it's still in beta?

[bionic3epl]

I just tried that term command & it says "Unsupported File". Could that all because it's still in beta stage?

[corradoventu]

In Ubuntu 20.04 new app named 'Ubuntu software' is really snap-store. Snap-store does not support .deb files (I hope is just a bug)
For .deb files You need gnome-software (old Ubuntu Software) or synaptic.
You can install with 'sudo apt install synaptic' and 'sudo apt install gnome-software'

Edit: In the attachment 'Software' is gnome-software and 'Ubuntu Software' is snap-store with same icon! to make fun of users!

[P-I H]

@corradoventu, earlier today the icons were different, but as you write they are the same now "Ubuntu Software" = "Snap Store" and Software the usable version is "gnome-software". Perhaps everybody need to post in this thread https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/is-ubuntu-software-going-to-be-remove-for-snap-snap-store/14542 to make Canonical to withdraw the decision to use "Snap Store" in Ubuntu 20.04.

Perhaps it's not needed, checked now and Ubuntu Software behaves much better. Both Tweaks and Synaptics are available,

[bionic3epl]

It says Gnome Software has no installation candidate.

[TheFu]

Seems that the fix is to NOT use a GUI for installing software.

[bionic3epl]

How can you not use a gui to install software?

[CelticWarrior]

How can you not use a gui to install software?

You can use commands instead, as always.

[TheFu]

Open a terminal, type the commands. No GUI needed.

98% of all "Unix" servers on the internet don't have any GUI. We install, remove, configure them all-the-time without any GUI at all. I made up the 98%, it is probably more like 99.5%.

Most computers usually don't have any GUI.

On ubuntu, you can install software without any GUI using apt, apt-get, aptitude, snap and a few other techniques. When you do that, you'll have a little more control over the type of installation that happens.

But if you are running/using 20.04, these questions really should already be known. 20.04 isn't for beginners at this point. Beginners really should wait until July or so before touching 20.04.

IMHO.

[mc4man]

Obviously one could go

sudo apt install synaptic
As far as snap-store it certainly does show .deb packages, see screen

[corradoventu]

Just installed from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Beta amd64 (20200402)
snap-store does not start https://bugs.launchpad.net/snap-store/+bug/1870578

[P-I H]

@TheFu, but I'm not an exrienced user and need to use GUI applications. My favorite now is Software with flathub support.

@bionic3epl sudo apt install gnome-software works

[mc4man]

Just installed from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Beta amd64 (20200402)
snap-store does not start https://bugs.launchpad.net/snap-store/+bug/1870578

That Beta works fine here, snap-store or alt. command of snap-store.ubuntu-software both open it no issue.
The main problem they have is it's not found in the Dash or included in the launcher..
(- did you file check your image?

[corradoventu]

Yes, my image is ok, automatically checked at install. Snap store start ok installed on my desktop from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Beta amd64 (20200331)
while does not start on my laptop installed from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Beta amd64 (20200402)
snap store works fine on same laptop different partition installed from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Alpha amd64 (20200329)

[mc4man]

Yes, my image is ok, automatically checked at install. Snap store start ok installed on my desktop from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Beta amd64 (20200331)
while does not start on my laptop installed from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Beta amd64 (20200402)
snap store works fine on same laptop different partition installed from Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Alpha amd64 (20200329)

Not sure what you're using, the beta image was last modified on 04/03
http://releases.ubuntu.com/20.04/

[bionic3epl]

If wait until July, what date in July? If "or so" then what MM/DD/YYYY?

[bionic3epl]

I found a work around, use the terminal to install GDebi & use GDebi to install .Deb packages> https://www.ubuntu18.com/install-gdebi-ubuntu-18/

Now I'm just waiting for a response about another problem. Ubuntu 20.04's kernel 5.4 causing slow internet & internet cutoffs.

[mc4man]

Finally saw what causes this nonsense.
The Ubuntu beta contains an older so-called stable version of snap-store that does not find or show .deb packages.
Previous dev installs of 20.04 may have gotten a newer version .
So on my using install had 20200401.4cde4f1, on the beta it has 20191114.a9948d5, the former is from April, the later from Nov.

Why they haven't promoted the current beta, no idea...

If one wanted to get a 'working' snap-store from the beta install go

sudo snap refresh snap-store --beta

Or install older ubuntu-software via apt..
Or dispense with Ubuntu package managers altogether & use synaptic for .deb's, cli for snaps.

[TheFu]

Nice catch.

[kneutron]

I found a work around, use the terminal to install GDebi & use GDebi to install .Deb packages> https://www.ubuntu18.com/install-gdebi-ubuntu-18/

Now I'm just waiting for a response about another problem. Ubuntu 20.04's kernel 5.4 causing slow internet & internet cutoffs.

--You shouldn't even need gdebi, if you're installing e.g. Nomachine NX you can just ' dpkg -i *.deb ' as root. If that fails, try ' apt-get -f install '. Tested and confirmed on 20.04 beta: ):P


root@ubuntu2004zfs2:~/dnld# dpkg -i *.deb
Selecting previously unselected package nomachine.
(Reading database ... 195699 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack nomachine_6.9.2_1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking nomachine (6.9.2-1) ...
Setting up nomachine (6.9.2-1) ...
NX> 700 Starting install at: Tue Apr 07 15:45:09 2020.
NX> 700 Installing: nxclient version: 6.9.2.
NX> 700 Using installation profile: Ubuntu.
NX> 700 Install log is: /usr/NX/var/log/nxinstall.log.
NX> 700 Compiling the USB module.
NX> 700 Installing: nxplayer version: 6.9.2.
NX> 700 Using installation profile: Ubuntu.
NX> 700 Install log is: /usr/NX/var/log/nxinstall.log.
NX> 700 To connect the remote printer to the local desktop,
NX> 700 the user account must be a member of the CUPS System Group: lpadmin.
NX> 700 Installing: nxnode version: 6.9.2.
NX> 700 Using installation profile: Ubuntu.
NX> 700 Install log is: /usr/NX/var/log/nxinstall.log.
NX> 700 Creating configuration in: /usr/NX/etc/node.cfg.
NX> 700 Installing: nxserver version: 6.9.2.
NX> 700 Using installation profile: Ubuntu.
NX> 700 Install log is: /usr/NX/var/log/nxinstall.log.
NX> 700 Creating configuration in: /usr/NX/etc/server.cfg.
NX> 700 Install completed at: Tue Apr 07 15:45:48 2020.
NX> 700 NoMachine was configured to run the following services:
NX> 700 NX service on port: 4000

[Redalien0304]

some people like Gui installer or both

[chris-c-thomas]

I was able to install Dropbox using 'sudo dpkg -i dropbox.deb'.

Steam on the other hand is giving me python errors. It says python is not available. I can't seem to install python2 though, which is what I'm assuming it's referencing to? I already have python3 installed.

[mcellius]

chris-c-thomas, it looks like I'm having the same problem, but with a different application:

This morning on one of my computers I found the programming editor Atom missing on one of my computers running 20.04 beta. When I tried to reinstall it - it had previously been installed from a ppa - I was told it couldn't be installed because a python dependency was missing. So I tried downloading the file to install it that way, but of course with Ubuntu no longer able to handle .deb files, that didn't work. I installed gdebi then, and tried to install the file, only to be told that a python dependency was missing. I tried then to install using apt on the command line (missing python dependency again) and as a snap package - no go - so I no longer have Atom. Oh well, it's a beta. But I assume - I HOPE! - this is a known problem and is being worked on. Anyone know what was removed from python, and if this is in the queue to be fixed?

[Claus7]

Hello,

FYI:
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-20.04-Continue-Py2-Drop

Regards!

[mcellius]

Hello,

FYI:
https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-20.04-Continue-Py2-Drop

Regards!

Yes, but evidently python2 is still installed:


:~$ python
Python 2.7.18rc1 (default, Apr 7 2020, 12:05:55)
[GCC 9.3.0] on linux2

It seems that python2 hasn't been removed, but just one or more packages within it.

[mcellius]

I was just now able to install Atom again using snap:


sudo snap install atom --classic

Also, I now have the software store back, now called the snap store. Search for it in the Dash under "ubuntu software." (Even just awhile ago when I did that it didn't work; now it does.)

[chris-c-thomas]

mcellius it seems we have similar issues. Steam isn't in the snap store so I can't go that route. But I also have Atom installed that way and so far so good.

I've noticed my Ubuntu Software and Snap Store have switched at times. Sometimes I see the Snap icon sometimes it's Ubuntu Software.

I still can't figure out the python dependency issue though.

[mcellius]

mcellius it seems we have similar issues. Steam isn't in the snap store so I can't go that route. But I also have Atom installed that way and so far so good.

I've noticed my Ubuntu Software and Snap Store have switched at times. Sometimes I see the Snap icon sometimes it's Ubuntu Software.

I still can't figure out the python dependency issue though.

I don't use Steam so I don't really know, but I just checked in the snap store - which isn't just snaps - and I saw "Steam installer." That might be what you want, and it's not a snap.

Yes, I've seen the name of the store switch around several times, too. Maybe this one will stick ... although since it's more than snaps, maybe not.

Yeah, I don't know what to make of the missing python dependency, either. But since I installed Atom now as a snap, perhaps that's the difference.

Good luck!

[timrichardson]

sudo dpkg -i myfile.deb

[mc4man]

I don't use Steam so I don't really know, but I just checked in the snap store - which isn't just snaps - and I saw "Steam installer." That might be what you want, and it's not a snap.

Yes, I've seen the name of the store switch around several times, too. Maybe this one will stick ... although since it's more than snaps, maybe not.

Yeah, I don't know what to make of the missing python dependency, either. But since I installed Atom now as a snap, perhaps that's the difference.

Good luck!
Re: python, some info here (updated)

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2436073

[jjoeshua]

hello,

does anyone use NetSpeed, I download .deb file,try to install it through Terminal, through Gdebi Packager and I can not making it work, when I open Synaptic I get info of corrupted package..
if anyone using NEtSpeed,can help me to install it?

[Swiftjay]

Finally saw what causes this nonsense.
The Ubuntu beta contains an older so-called stable version of snap-store that does not find or show .deb packages.
Previous dev installs of 20.04 may have gotten a newer version .
So on my using install had 20200401.4cde4f1, on the beta it has 20191114.a9948d5, the former is from April, the later from Nov.

Why they haven't promoted the current beta, no idea...

If one wanted to get a 'working' snap-store from the beta install go

sudo snap refresh snap-store --beta

Or install older ubuntu-software via apt..
Or dispense with Ubuntu package managers altogether & use synaptic for .deb's, cli for snaps.


I have tried this but I still get an error, while I'm fine with using the CLI to install debs I do have an issue with this only because they did state it would be business as usual for the software centre being the snap store in a sense that you can still install debian files. I know this is a beta so I'm sure it'll be fixed for release (hopefully) but still since it is beta and we're close to full release soon, this does surprise me.

[P-I H]

This is what "ubuntu-software" aka "snap-store" and "gnome-software" aka "software" showed yesterday on my installation of Focal Fossa. I understand that Canonical don't want to maintain gnome-software for 5 years, but it''s only two weeks left until release.

[corradoventu]

Ubuntu Software is snap-store, Software is gnome-software. You find snap-store preinstalled, You can install gnome-software via terminal or synaptic.
Currently gnome-software can install .deb, snap and flatpak, snap-store can install snaps and SHOULD install .deb (but does not work) https://bugs.launchpad.net/snap-store/+bug/1870184?_ga=2.11116596.128358601.1585980016-147966048.1585745330

corrado@corrado-x5-ff-0409:~$ snap list
Name Version Rev Tracking Publisher Notes
core 16-2.44.1 8935 latest/stable canonical✓ core
core18 20200311 1705 latest/stable canonical✓ base
gnome-3-34-1804 0+git.2c86692 24 latest/stable/… canonical✓ -
gtk-common-themes 0.1-29-g45e78c5 1474 latest/stable/… canonical✓ -
snap-store 20200410.cbefce5 357 latest/stable/… canonical✓ -
corrado@corrado-x5-ff-0409:~$ apt policy gnome-software
gnome-software:
Installed: 3.35.91-0ubuntu1
Candidate: 3.35.91-0ubuntu1
Version table:
*** 3.35.91-0ubuntu1 500
500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal/main amd64 Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
corrado@corrado-x5-ff-0409:~$