Most Debian users are familiar with Synaptic [1], which has reliably served as a GTK-based, front-end package manager for years. Kubuntu users in particular have been utilizing its Qt clone for a long time. In terms of its usage and behavior, it is practically identical to Synaptic. The close connection to Apt, and some of its specialty libraries prevent adoption outside of Kubuntu. RPM-based distributions prefer to take a pass on the tool because of the age factor and the bad state of the maintenance for the gateway between Apt and RPM [2]. Nonetheless, the last two versions became the standard package management tool for Ubuntu, which is not always the case for preset tools.

New Maintainers

The main developers of KDE Frameworks 5 have taken on the issue of maintenance for Muon. The driver behind this effort is the Kubuntu developer Jonathan Thomas. He wants to see the Synaptic alternative Muon become a permanent part of the KDE portfolio, and it looks like this is what has happened. In the meantime, the program carries the version number 5.3.2.

Instead of being directly based on the terminal program Apt, PackageKit [3] has assumed the task of translating program system calls in such a way that the package manager in use can understand them. There are suitable PackageKit back ends for a multitude of programs such as DNF and Zypper, even for Apt. This guarantees widespread use regardless of choices made about a package system. (See the "Availability" box for more information.)

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