This is a gsoc project idea by kiwinote. Please ensure to read https://wiki.ubuntu.com/kiwinote/gsoc2010 first.

Mini projects

Each of these mini projects should take no longer than a week to complete. A selection of these (or other) mini projects will be completed during gsoc2010.

Integrate gdebi functionality

This mini project will involve extracting the required metadata from the package and displaying it in a 'details' view.

Quote from software-center specification: "Integrating those various utilities will make handling software easier, socially improve security, hopefully free space on the Ubuntu CD, and provide a prominent showcase for Ubuntu and partner software."

Integrate apturl functionality

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareCenter#apturl

This mini project will involve implementing the apturl startup parameters. 'custom package lists' must be implemented to make this behaviour fully functional.

Quote from software-center specification: "Integrating those various utilities will make handling software easier, socially improve security, hopefully free space on the Ubuntu CD, and provide a prominent showcase for Ubuntu and partner software."

Categorise 'provided by Ubuntu' view

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+bug/528051

32000 items should not be viewed as a list. It is slow and not easily browsable.

Sort list views by title, rather than package name

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+bug/541950

Packages are currently sorted by package name, rather than title name. This makes lists hard to browse.

Remove 'view' menu

The 'view' menu filters between the 'main' and 'universe' sections. This is quite similar to the channel filters located under the 'get software' section. The 'provided by Ubuntu' view could for instance be split into 'Ubuntu: maintained by Canonical' and 'Ubuntu: community maintained' (or something like that). The 'view' menu can then be removed.

Implement 'this is where the application can be found' tile

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+bug/420517

As in mockup in bug report. Or have a 'launch' button.

Categorise 'installed software' view

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SoftwareCenter#installed

Per spec.

Bug fixing/triaging

Software-center has too many open bugs. Quite a few of them need closing/fixing.

Add your ideas here

Timeline

Comments

Please add any comments here. Alternatively you can contact me via https://launchpad.net/~kiwinote.