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raddevus
Asked: 2020-10-15 14:18:34 +0800 CST

Is the Snap Store replaced with Ubuntu Software? Or Why was Snap Store removed from my Ubuntu 20.04 installation?

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Update Note: This question is different than Has 'Ubuntu Software' been renamed to 'Snap Store'? because as I learned it seems that the Snap-Store has been renamed to Ubuntu Software -- the opposite of the other question. The Ubuntu Software icon shows up but the actual command that runs is snap-store (see the answer posted to this question).

I upgraded to Ubuntu 20.04 about 2 weeks ago (from 18.04). I had the Snap Store in my installation and had ran it. Today I went to run it and couldn't find it. Then learned there is Ubuntu Software app which shows my Snaps in it.

Is Ubuntu Software a complete replacement for Snap Store?

I'm a developer and I deployed my Software via SnapCraft (https://snapcraft.io/cyapass) I notice that my app shows up in Ubuntu Software: cyapass software

So, does this mean I don't need the Snap Store any more? Does Ubuntu Software include everything that is deployed to Snap.io?

Also, I notice that SnapCraft is installed but when I attempt to search for it, it doesn't show up. Do you know why that might be?

snapcraft

snap search fail

Inadvertently Removed?

Was there some update that inadvertently removed the Snap Store?

Update

Here's another part that makes it a bit confusing.
If I look in "Ubuntu Software" app I see the following are installed:

intalled pkgs

Notice that you see the icon for Snap Store, but Ubuntu Software is not shown at all.

Update 2

Check this out. When you run the command:

$ snap-store

You may also see a toast / pop-up that looks like the following:

toast - ubuntu software

Even though you started up snap-store it says that "Ubuntu Software is ready".

software-center snap 20.04

1 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    Right after I posted, I thought about it and tried:

    $ snap-store

    When I ran that command, the Ubuntu Software app started on my machine.

    So I suppose the answer is that Ubuntu Software is now the same thing as Snap Store.

    Starting it from the command line is $ snap-store.

    However, I see it as an icon as:

    ubuntu software icon

    That is a little confusing. Probably just all part of ongoing changes.

    Update

    Also, notice that if I search for the Ubuntu Software item to see it in Ubuntu Software then I see the following (notice it shows that it is not installed) item which is similar to Ubuntu Software but is named Gnome Software. This is all a bit confusing.

    Gnome Software

    I also found that we can run another command to get more information:

    $ snap info snap-store

    snap info

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