Some distributions, sensibly have Synaptic Package Manger present by default (Devuan, PCLOS, PCLOS Debian) or have it in a separate 'Applications Installer' as part of a Welcome Screen like Q4OS does:
I had an issue recently, after doing some Beta testing for SoftMaker Office 2026/NX.
If I launched a document from my Documents folder it bizarrely opened up SoftMaker Office NX after a few weeks ago I had run:
sudo apt-get remove softmaker-office-nx
So I ran it again - couldn't find anything, but suspect it might have been down to the fact that it might have been installed via Gdebi or Q4OS's OSI.
So opened the terminal, navigated back to root folder and searched for SoftMaker Office NX and lots of entries came back (and here is the rub) on some of them they were embedded in Timeshift snapshots so I deleted all the current snapshots, leaving the original created at point of install.
Submitted a help request but needn't have bothered. Why? Synaptic saved the day!
Searched for softmaker - and lo and behold, two entries:
SoftMaker Office 2024 and
SoftMaker Office NX
So the next move was obvious - 'Mark for Complete Removal' - problem solved!
I agree ... Mint includes it in it's Main Menu and it is my go to when trying to find and download new apts .... I believe Arivisian was the one who pointed me in it's direction while on Zorin 17 along with Ubuntu Cleaner two programs that I use constantly ....
I am quite certain that the ZorinGroup Will Not Take that option.
Synaptic is rock solid, capable, reliable. Gnome Software is flashy, limited, but allows more options like Snap and Flatpak, is unreliable, uninformative and bawky.
For years, they preferred unreliable but flashy [Modern! Polished! (Ignore the unreliability and weird problems)] Gnome Software over rock steady and reliable Synaptic.
No, if anything, they will encourage us to embrace Microsoft Gnome harder.
Erm, not for me. There is a fast lightweight alternative that has to be run as root and that is Apper. These days I stick with Synaptic.
I love how PCLOS Debian has an update indicator that appears on the taskbar when updates are available. You have the option of right-clicking it if showing red and select view updates and then you can choose either Synaptic Package Manager or CLI update method. I prefer the Synaptic option as you can see what is gouing to be updated. The CLI command appears to run faster but you only see the process and then view the log of updates that have been installed.
There would be an Option ... but I would doubt that it would be good for Linux Starters.
When the Zorin Devs would kick out Snap, they could preinstall Synaptic for the .deb Packages and for Flatpaks they could preinstall Bazaar.
But I guess, then People would ask if there isn't a one-for-all Solution. And then, we would have to say ''Yes, there is: Gnome Software. But it is a bit meh. But when You want try it ...''
Not so sure as I was show how to use it in my first few months of coming from Windows 10 .... with the right documentation and a little help from this forum I think it could be doable ..... not saying I didn't make some mistakes but I can't remember using the Gnome Store to download much of anything .... I either used Synaptic or found apps From 3rd parties on line which I still do ....
In fact I deleted a bunch of of Zorin preinstalled software and got in trouble deleting some mandatory ones which caused me to reinstall Zorin so many times I could do it in my sleep .... but thank god for the members of this board I survived even though I doubted I would ever learn at age 70 + ..... LOL
Aravisian spent hours and even days helping me work through some of stupid things I did with my tinkering and newbie mistakes but he and many others hung in there and I survived ...
Even though I don't use Zorin as my daily driver .... I use Mint for personal reasons with Zorin 17.3 as dual boot ..... I choose to use this board over any other OS forums ..... IMHO
I think Synaptic is quite easy to use. Being new to a system does not create a necessity for brainless applications.
What Synaptic lacks over Gnome Software is support for Snap and Flatpak and the flashy U.I.
Synaptic is utilitarian. It is a grid, with options laid out in tables. Gnome Software is a sales pitch, with huge icons and displayed artwork.
These reasons give Gnome Software priority, despite reliability.
In the time I have spent here, I often comment that Gnome Software can be seen as a stepping stone for a new user. The very reason this comment was delivered so often was new user complaints about the software store. It is not even popular to new users.
And that is the Point. It would need an Introduction and some Tipps and Descriptions. But Gnome Software is from the Interface pretty easy. You have Names and Icons and a simple Overview.
Sure, when You have used Synaptic a couple Times and You get some Tipps and Explanations, it is fine. Yes, the Interface is not the prettiest but it does the Job. So, that is fine. But You have to know how to use it.
Does this not apply to a large portion of the operating system?
We get a lot of threads asking about the filesystem, which is different from Windows.
Asking about settings management, which is different from Windows.
I agree with your point that Gnome Software is easier to jump into. But we cannot say that it is critically easy - that a different software cannot be used because it has some small learning curve.
Well this is certainly interesting just tried to open Synaptic to check on something and it was gone .... I mean like deleted .... did a search in the Main Menu and nothing showed up had to install a new copy from Mint Software .... this is the first time it has ever happened and no I have not lost my marbles because if it had been there Mint would not have reinstalled it by saying apt is already installed .... the Martians at work again ..... LOL
It can, yes. But then You need an Introduction or something similar for some basic Stuff how to use Synaptic. Gnome Software is here more simple because You have simple Program Names, fitting Icons to it and an Install Button that is colored. This is more a Thing of the Interface.
To introduce Synaptic, one Option could be to use the Zorin Welcome Screen and offer there some kind of Guide through Synaptic what would show the mentioned basic Stuff how to use it. Or it links to a Website where You have that, maybe as a Video Guide or Video Guide Collection. A Video can be sometimes easier because You really see what You have to do in Comparison to a written Description.
I am not so sure about this... Lately, it seems that mostly, users are completely confused about its three-prong package sourcing.
Many ask for pointers on that exact thing. I could argue that Gnome Software needs an introduction tutorial to get started.
Additionally there was a major change in how Software/gnome-software looks. Initially it was sensible with appropriate headings for the different types of Applications which Synaptic maintains as does Apper. Now it just seems to be splattered with Editor's picks and random applications. If I were still using Zorin it (gnome-software) would be ripped out.
Mine is, LOL.
Along with LibAdwaita. Both are completely gone.
I kept it for a long time over the years to help with troubleshooting.
I think I have accrued enough knowledge inside my skull that I no longer need to tolerate it's presence on my build.
Yeah, okay. The Package Format is definetely a Thing. But this should be beside that explained in common because Zorin supports .deb, Snap, Flatpak (and AppImage but they are not via Gnome Software available, so I wrote it in Brackets).
But the overal Interface Interaction is more simple. You search, You click on the Result that has Name and Icon and then there is the Install Button. Synaptic is different there. Again: I don't say it is a bad Tool. I use it, too. And I mention it in Comments here, too. But to have it as default ... not without some kind of Guide.
I mean, Zorin is adressed to Linux Beginners. And when someone starts and might not know about it, Gnome Software is a more low-level Entry in my Opinion.
I guess it is a case of we agree to disagree. Certainly, synaptic has a lot more options that can't be found in Software as I have already highlighted in the Unofficial Manuals.
Zorin OS contains so many things that users ask about. How to navigate, how to use, how to find...
The File Manager.
Settings.
Panel and extensions management (the Zorin Taskbar very much needs a guide!)
There is an entire SubForum devoted to Tutorials & Guides for this very reason. We cannot exclude one package management as needing a guide, but suggest another package management does not need one.
All of package management needs guidance - and Gnome Software definitely needs it. Because:
That is on top of it being uninformative and non-verbose.
It being so vague, losing connection and not displaying application details or even its artwork. It's baffling.
You know that source button, shows if the source is Zorin OS (APT), Flathub or Snap? Gnome did not put that there. It is not there on other distros and did not used to be there on Zorin OS.
The ZorinGroup added that in.
ZorinGroup will not replace Gnome-Software with Synaptic.
But it is not because Gnome Software needs no guide.
