Synaptic suggestion

[Joel Lapointe]

Hi,


I'm a big fan of synaptic, it is the type of efficient tool that I like.

I'd like to suggest a few improvements to it. I'm not a programmer, so I 
can't contribute by coding. Here are the suggestions :

Suggestion  1.

    - There is a GUI behavior that annoys me. When a list of software 
is being installed/updated/removed... The GUI turns grey (it is locked 
to prevent interference). This is normal, however, this is blocking 
people to explore and chose other packages during the lengthy process. 
In other GUI package stores (gnome-software...) it is possible to 
continue exploration and it is also possible to add packages to the 
installation queue without interfering with the process. This feature 
would be great for Synaptic. It is just a matter of greying/locking the 
appropriate buttons, not all the GUI.

Suggestion 2.

- Another thing, Gnome-Software is classifying packages with a star 
rating according to users. There is also a way to put comments so the 
choice becomes clear. Suggestions according to popularity and editor's 
choice are also proposed. This help the chooser very much. It could be 
done in synaptic. It is just a matter of adding a column with stars in 
the choosing list. Most users won't dive in synaptic during hours to 
find the right package, this prevent good software to be selected 
because it is placed way down in the list.

Suggestion 3.

-I think that gnome software is also compatible with flatpak and snapd. 
To add this capability would greatly improve synaptic. There is also 
Appimages that could be downloaded through the interface. It could also 
turn "on" the executable bit automatically.


All that could make synaptic more competitive with a simpler GUI 
software stores such as Gnome-Software.

Thank you,


Joel Lapointe