Who maintains Software Manager for LM?

[Redit2]

I have found several downloads over the months that simply don't work. The latest is both Tor browser packages are dead. There is a workaround for one of them, but really, we're told to use software manager for all our stuff as it helps ensure security of everything and now youtube has help forums for our forum that doesn't work?

[mikeflan]

I encourage you to submit a software review. Yeah, I know. They make it hard. But that is what I suggest.

More reading that does not directly answer your main question:
viewtopic.php?f=90&t=358266

[Redit2]

Thanks. All 4 reviews since Sept 2019 have been bad about it not working so evidently writing a review doesn't help.

[mikeflan]

Hmmm.
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[Redit2]

Yeah Hmmm. Now find one of those that actually work without following some youtube video that has you making cli entries and not verifying the digital signature which makes it unsafe. Something that WHEN software manager works will do for you to ensure a good signature.

[linux-rox]

I have found several downloads over the months that simply don't work.

IMHO, it's unlikely this is a defect in Software Manager as such, which is just an interface. The problems you describe sound like repo issues.

Have you tried installing the same apps by alternate means, e.g., Synaptic or Terminal?

[yeehawwww]

Some software simply shouldn't be downloaded from the repository or flatpak. Download Tor from the official site.

[Hoser Rob]

Mint is Ubuntu based (except for LMDE) and almost all software not specific to Mint comes from the Ubuntu repos.

[Redit2]

Have you tried installing the same apps by alternate means, e.g., Synaptic or Terminal?

No and there's really not an instruction manual that details all this stuff. I wish there was. I had been told that software manager was the preferred and most secure way to download programs and to do otherwise only invites trouble. I prefer GUI if at all possible and am mildly familiar with Synaptic, but not much. Is that just as safe and how to do it? Thanks.

Just tried downloading Tor via Synaptic and got the same error.

[linux-rox]

I had been told that software manager was the preferred and most secure way to download programs and to do otherwise only invites trouble.

Software Manager is a front-end or wrapper for Synaptic, so there's no security difference between them. Some people find SM easier; I've always found Synaptic more intuitive. An important difference is that SM handles Flatpak, where Synaptic doesn't.

I prefer GUI if at all possible and am mildly familiar with Synaptic, but not much. Is that just as safe and how to do it? Thanks.

Yes, it's safe. I gather you have since figured out how it works.

Just tried downloading Tor via Synaptic and got the same error.

So, my hunch is confirmed. Whatever the problem, it isn't Software Manager. FWIW, I have no difficulty installing Tor in a Cinn 21.1 virtual machine.

You probably should open a thread about each of your problem apps. Or start with one and see whether its solution is generalizable. And, while I understand your preference for GUI, troubleshooting is easier if you use apt, as its error messages are easier to copy and post to the Forum. For example, to install Tor, you would use apt install tor. All lower case; sudo not needed in Mint, though you will prompted for your sudo password.

[Redit2]

A topic here "Launching Tor Browser gives Download Error 404" is exactly the issue I'm having. You said you didn't have the issue, did you try recently? The link worked for me months ago but no longer does. The solution to the above topic is CLI instructions and doesn't validate the digital signature which makes it worthless to me. I think your apt install wont work for me as it will be a CLI and not GUI program for me and also won't verify the digital signature. The comments on many of the software management programs talk about how they don't work. I assume some programs are not maintained as url links on some go nowhere like they don't exist, hence my question of who maintains these and so far it looks like no one. They are there and just eventually die a natural death unless they are very popular.

[Wakatakakage]

• Ubuntu torbrowser-launcher bug reports
• GitHub torbrowser-launcher issues

[linux-rox]

... did you try recently?

Approximately ten minutes before I posted, in a VM snapshot, and only for the purpose of testing the repo. Worked in both Synaptic and apt.

What you do from here is your decision. Good luck.

[Redit2]

• Ubuntu torbrowser-launcher bug reports
• GitHub torbrowser-launcher issues

2 good sites actually addressing the issue thanks.
A topic here "Launching Tor Browser gives Download Error 404" shows it's not isolated and the fix is not secure. Maybe the links will be fixed soon and it will be available.
How the download could be available and signature verify seems more than odd, but maybe its just yet another mystery of the Linux journey.

[linux-rox]

2 good sites actually addressing the issue thanks.

This is why I suggested you open a new thread. You have moved the goal posts.

To confirm what I claimed earlier (and all I claimed), I had no trouble installing these packages:

Code: Select all

user@vbox-cinn-21-1:~$ apt list --installed tor*
Listing... Done
tor-geoipdb/jammy,jammy,now 0.4.6.10-1 all [installed,automatic]
tor/jammy,now 0.4.6.10-1 amd64 [installed]
torbrowser-launcher/jammy-updates,now 0.3.3-6ubuntu1.22.04.1 amd64 [installed]
torsocks/jammy,now 2.3.0-3 amd64 [installed,automatic]

Haven't tried to launch Tor (which I don't use). That wasn't the topic of this thread.

[linux-rox]

Out of curiosity, took a look to see how difficult it would be to solve the Tor problem.
The simple solution is to download and extract the tarball on their website.
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Tarballs don't get updates, though. For those, add Tor's Debian repository.
Tor specifically recommends this instead of the Ubuntu packages.