difference between Ubuntu software center and Synaptic package manager

[nashtrik]

I shall be grateful if someone enlightens me with the difference between ubuntu software center and synaptic package manger,which is the better of the two and how to use the synaptic package manager. I would also like to know whether installing a software with the synaptic package manager sometomes results in either incomplete files/codecs or a lot of unnecessary ones at other times..? Thanks...

[philinux]

A simple search gets this.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/25724...-package-manag

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1954120

[slickymaster]

Both of them are frontends to the same package management system, apt, but Synaptic is more powerful than Software Center.

[philinux]

Also it was mooted that SC would replace synaptic. That seems to be not happening.

[oldos2er]

Synaptic has a fairly extensive help section, F1 will open file:///usr/share/synaptic/html/index.html in your default browser.

[ibjsb4]

Synaptic loads faster.

[deadflowr]

The software center installs and removes programs and packages.
Synaptic installs, removes, and maintains the packages.(updating, fixing broken packages, etc,etc)
The software center is built for simplicity.
Synaptic is a more robust build.

The software center is for ease of use, installing a package is made simple by just clicking on install and letting it do its thing, with little explanation on what is happening.
Synaptic gives you a detailed look at every step as to what will be done, such as if other packages will be installed as well, or if packages need to be removed.

Synaptic is great if want to install a lot of packages at once.
The software center is great at installing one package at a time.

The software center has great and very informative reviews.
Synaptic has very generic information on a program/package.

[vasa1]

...
The software center has great and very informative reviews.
....

Looks like things have improved since I last used the software center early after 12.04 was released. At that time, the "reviews" didn't appear to be of much use at all.

[deadflowr]

Looks like things have improved since I last used the software center early after 12.04 was released. At that time, the "reviews" didn't appear to be of much use at all.

Yeah, take a program like cryptkeeper.
With 12.04 it has a gsettings problem.
The first review explains what you need to do to get it to work.

I'm not sure how synaptic handles that.

And the fact that if 10 reviews say the program doesn't work, then the chances I'll waste my time trying to install it can go into other ventures.

[Copper Bezel]

Synaptic loads faster.

As much as I really do think the switch to a simpler and more broadly informative front-end with a lot of discoverability as the default for routine package installation was an entirely sensible and good one, this post made me spittake, and I thank you. = )