Bug#1100084: gnome-software: Outdated apps listed in Editor's choice in GNOME 48

[Jeremy Bícha]

On Tue, Mar 11, 2025 at 3:57 AM sidt <sidtosh4 at gmail.com> wrote:
> The list of curated apps in the following default files shipped with GNOME
> Software are outdated.
>
> - /usr/share/swcatalog/xml/org.gnome.Software.Curated.xml
> - /usr/share/swcatalog/xml/org.gnome.Software.Featured.xml
>
> E.g GNOME dictionary and GNOME photos are archived GNOME projects.
>
> We still use the following options in "debian/rules"
>
>   -Dhardcoded_curated=true \
>   -Ddefault_featured_apps=true
>
> which uses the default files listed above. The recommended fix is to use the
> app list from https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-app-list.
>
> Also refer https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-
> software/-/blob/main/doc/vendor-customisation.md#3-appstream-files-shipped-
> with-gnome-software-for-testing-purposes-only

Yes, we haven't gotten around to packaging gnome-app-list yet and we
are past the deadline where it is possible to get this into Debian 13
"Trixie". However, it is still something that ought to be done for
future Debian releases.

Are you wanting to help package gnome-app-list for Debian?

Dictionary doesn't show in the GNOME Software app for Trixie because
gnome-dictionary is no longer packaged for Debian. But gnome-photos
does show there. I'd accept a merge request or patch to remove
gnome-photos from that file since we are likely to remove that package
from Debian soon after Debian 13 is released. You could also propose
that fix upstream. I don't know if there any other distros other than
Debian (and derivatives) who have not switched to gnome-app-list.

Thank you,
Jeremy Bícha