Ubuntu – Unsupported software

lubuntuunsupported-packages

I came across this command in the lubuntu users mailing list:

ubuntu-support-status --show-all

When I ran it after sudo apt-get update and sudo apt-get dist-upgrade, the summary at the top shows this:

[11:38 AM] ~ $ ubuntu-support-status --show-all
Support status summary of 'vasa1-Inspiron-1545':

You have 1059 packages (82.5%) supported until July 2014 (9m)

You have 224 packages (17.4%) that are unsupported

Among the "unsupported" software, I see:
aria2
audacity
flashplugin-installer
geany
gnome-icon-theme-full
gnome-mplayer
gnome-system-tools
openbox
pcmanfm
synaptic
thunar
ttf-mscorefonts-installer

My OS is Lubuntu 13.10.

Any idea why such common software is shown as "unsupported"?

My question may be related to How do you use or what is wrong with ubuntu-support-status? but I don't think it's a duplicate.

And I don't think it's covered by this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/update-manager/+bug/849532

Best Answer

It's been pointed out that "unsupported" in this context is just that Canonical isn't responsible for providing support for the particular package from Day 1 of a release.

From a non-comprehensive use of apt-cache show package_name, it appears that supported packages, found with ubuntu-support-status --show-supported, are in the main pool and also in the restricted pool as noted by Ibere Fernandes in the lubuntu users mailing list.

For example, running apt-cache show zenity, a supported package has this line:
Filename: pool/main/z/zenity/zenity_3.8.0-1_amd64.deb
and
Supported: 9m

And, running apt-cache show fglrx has:
Filename: pool/restricted/f/fglrx-installer/fglrx_13.101-0ubuntu3_amd64.deb
and
Supported: 9m

But, running apt-cache show thunar, an unsupported package, has:
Filename: pool/universe/t/thunar/thunar_1.6.3-1ubuntu1_amd64.deb
and no mention of a support period.

This, from What are Repositories?, is relevant:

The repository components are:
Main - Officially supported software.
Restricted - Supported software that is not available under a completely free license.
Universe - Community maintained software, i.e. not officially supported software.
Multiverse - Software that is not free.

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