No Application Data Found

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

Same here. On upgrading from 15.10 to the 16.04 b2 the Gnome Software app shows a shopping bag icon and 'No Application Data Found' on the All tab. Installed tab shows nothing. Blank screen. And the Updates tab shows a check icon and 'Software is up to date'.

Clicking the menu in Software shows a vertical bar with no text items.

Can attach screens if required.

I think this has to do with the /var/cache directory, at least that is what I suspect based on my own experience.

Workaround that worked for me:

    sudo apt purge gnome-software ubuntu-software
    sudo apt autoremove
    sudo apt install gnome-software ubuntu-software

Tried your idea #3 and no difference. Still the Software application with nothing on offer or listed as installed.

Did you run `sudo apt update` after the installation?
Is the appstream package installed?

Tried #3 and #5 but it didn't help.

I attached the output 'gnome-software' prints when started. I think these bugs are related:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1573052
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1573453

Nope. No difference after an update.

There's an Ask Ubuntu question about this bug.

http://askubuntu.com/questions/760278/the-new-software-center-in-ubuntu-16-04-shows-no-application-data-found/762186

The accepted answer did not solve the problem for me, but it might help someone else.

Hmm, this is a really odd bug, the l10n settings should have zero influence on this.
Can you please run `sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose` and `appstreamcli status` and paste the output somewhere?

$ sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose
[sudo] password for jhartley:
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Refreshing AppStream cache
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Reading: /var/cache/app-info/xmls/fwupd.xml
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: plan.desktop was already added with the same priority.
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: flcheckers.desktop was already added with the same priority.
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: flblocks.desktop was already added with the same priority.
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: flsudoku.desktop was already added with the same priority.
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Replaced 'language-selector.desktop' with data of higher priority.
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: zathura-pdf-poppler.desktop extends zathura.desktop, but zathura.desktop was not found.
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: WARNING: Skipped component 'com.steelseries.rival-legacy.firmware': The component is invalid.
** (appstreamcli:3435): DEBUG: Removing old rebuild-dir from previous database rebuild.
AppStream cache update completed, but some metadata was ignored due to errors.
22:14:53:~
$ appstreamcli status
AppStream Status:
Version: 0.9.4

Distribution metadata:
 /usr/share/app-info
  - XML: 1
  - No icons.

 /var/lib/app-info
  - YAML: 12
  - Ic...

Holy carp! Ignore my lengthy post above: The issue is now fixed for me! Ubuntu Software window is now full of things!

This likely means that `appstreamcli refresh-cache` was likely never called... Weird.

This is not really critical: It only affects a few users, does not cause data loss, and has an easy workaround.
Would still be useful to find out why this happens...
@tartley: Did you run `apt update` previously, without gnome-software showing apps? Do you maybe have repositories which are inadequately signed installed (e.g. Google Talk)?

"and has an easy workaround"

Please do tell me the 'easy workaround'. I've tried everything in several posts and still I have no data in Ubuntu Software. :(

@ronnietucker: Did you try running `sudo appstreamcli refresh --force`? If that didn't help, can you paste the output of `appstreamcli status` somewhere?

Sure. Here's what I get:

$ - sudo appstreamcli refresh --force
AppStream cache update completed, but some metadata was ignored due to errors.

$ - appstreamcli status
AppStream Status:
Version: 0.9.4

Distribution metadata:
 /usr/share/app-info
  - XML: 1
  - No icons.

 /var/lib/app-info
  - YAML: 12
  - Iconsets:
     ubuntu-xenial-updates-main
     ubuntu-xenial-main
     ubuntu-xenial-universe
     ubuntu-xenial-multiverse

 /var/cache/app-info
  - XML: 1
  - YAML: 1
  - No icons.

Upstream metadata:
  - Found 46 components in legacy paths.

Summary:
The system metadata cache exists.
We have information on 1822 software components.

Okay, this looks good.
Can you please run `killall gnome-software ; gnome-software --verbose` in a Terminal and attach the full output you see to this bugreport as textfile, or paste it somewhere (e.g. paste.debian.net)?

This is the output from the killall command.

Unfortunately the top of the output is a bit chopped. There was so much text I could only scroll back to what you see here.

Hmm, the head of the output would have been more interesting...
But anyway, it looks like you have a `/var/cache/app-info/yaml/xenial-main_amd64.yml.gz` file - any idea where that came from?
Can you run:
```
rm -r /var/cache/app-info
sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose
```
To clean that up, and also attach the output of the refresh command?

rm -r /var/cache/app-info

rm: descend into write-protected directory '/var/cache/app-info'? y
rm: descend into write-protected directory '/var/cache/app-info/xapian'? y
rm: descend into write-protected directory '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default'? y
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/postlist.baseB'? y
rm: cannot remove '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/postlist.baseB': Permission denied
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/termlist.DB'? y
rm: cannot remove '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/termlist.DB': Permission denied
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/postlist.baseA'? y
rm: cannot remove '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/postlist.baseA': Permission denied
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/spelling.baseA'? y
rm: cannot remove '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/spelling.baseA': Permission denied
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/record.baseB'? y
rm: cannot remove '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/record.baseB': Permission denied
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/record.baseA'?
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/termlist.baseB'?
rm: remove write-protected regular empty file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/flintlock'?
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/spelling.DB'?
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/termlist.baseA'?
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/spelling.baseB'?
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/iamchert'?
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/record.DB'?
rm: remove write-protected regular file '/var/cache/app-info/xapian/default/postlist.DB'?
rm: descend into write-protected directory '/var/cache/app-info/xmls'?
rm: descend into write-protected directory '/var/cache/app-info/yaml'?

-------------------------------------------------------------

~$ sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose

** (appstreamcli:4541): DEBUG: Refreshing AppStream cache
** (appstreamcli:4541): DEBUG: Reading: /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml
** (appstreamcli:4541): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:4541): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:4541): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:4541): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:4541): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:4541): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/ap...

`sudo rm -r /var/cache/app-info`, obviously... ;-)

I didn't want to sudo it juuuuuuust in case. :D

sudo rm -r /var/cache/app-info

----------------

ronnie@ronnie-desktop:~$ sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose

** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Refreshing AppStream cache
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/gb.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: No metadata-specific subdirectories found in '/var/cache/app-info'
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: plan.desktop was already added with the same priority.
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: flcheckers.desktop was already added with the same priority.
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: flblocks.desktop was already added with the same priority.
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: flsudoku.desktop was already added with the same priority.
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Replaced 'firefox.desktop' with data of higher priority.
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Replaced 'thunderbird.desktop' with data of higher priority.
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: thunderbird.desktop was already added with a higher priority.
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: org.gnome.Software.desktop was already added with a higher priority.
** (appstreamcli:5519): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: firefox.desktop was already added with a higher priority.
** (a...

Okay, that looks okay-ish (it's weird that there are ID collisions for firefox.desktop and other stuff, that shouldn't happen...).

If the issue isn't fixed, the full log of GS would help. You can store it in /tmp via:
`killall gnome-software ; gnome-software --verbose | tee /tmp/gnome-software.log`

I think that's it fixed! I can see items and categories. Which is more than I could see last time!

Thank you!

So, this issue was basically misconfiguration and interference of bad AppStream metadata...
I need to think about this a bit more, maybe I can come up with something to fix these issues automatically...
(Although reliably removing cruft metadata will be difficult - ideally, that data shouldn't have been introduced)

The command in #21 fixed the issue for me.

While I agree `rm -r $x` is the obvious solution, I didn't know what $x was supposed to be and this was the first mention I saw of it.

Here is the list of things I've tried (in order, not sure if the order made a difference in fixing)

- changing language and restarting (didn't work)

- sudo apt purge gnome-software ubuntu-software
    sudo apt autoremove
    sudo apt install gnome-software ubuntu-software (didn't work)

- sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose (didn't work)

- sudo rm -r /var/cache/app-info && sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose (didn't work)

- killall gnome-software ; gnome-software --verbose | tee /tmp/gnome-software.log (then ctrl-c and it worked)

I'm assuming some combination of this fixed it. Hopefully this helps in finding the correct solution

None of the above worked for me. Instead, there were several plugins that gave the following error:

Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

I later got a similar error at /var/cache/app-info/xmls/fwupd.xml

For the time being, I removed the fwupd.xml files (after making a backup) and all works fine again. When I check the mimetype it shows application/xml; I'm not sure where the application/x-go+xml is coming from.

I tracked my problem down to a bad entry in /usr/local/share/mime/globs (and /usr/local/share/mime/globs2). The application go-gui had registered files of type *.xml to x-go+xml.

I tried everything suggested but nothing works for me.

Attached is output of gnome-software --verbose

Everything seems to go bad at line 32713

Additional info re: my comment above. I have Ubuntu 16.04 running on two PCs, an Asus laptop and HP desktop. On 7/7 both were having this issue but since then the laptop somehow self corrected after applying updates a couple of days later. The desktop is still not working but all updates have been run.

Side note: I discovered that if I run command sudo gnome-software from terminal, Software Center opens with all applications showing normally. Is that a viable workaround? I'm reluctant to try installing applications that way because I don't want to have to run them as root. Any thoughts?

I tried all the mentioned commands and none worked for me! when I open it using gnome-software it shows the categories without images for less than a sec and then goes to no application page! and prints this output:
(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_add_category_apps on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_add_categories on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to get recommended applications: no get_category_apps results to show

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to get popular apps: no popular apps to show

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to get featured apps: no featured apps to show

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:30382): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_add_distro_upgrades on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/o...

I tried all the mentioned solutions and none worked for me! here is the output of sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose:

** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Refreshing AppStream cache
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-backports_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-backports_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-backports_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/ca.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-backports_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: No metadata-specific subdirectories found in '/var/cache/app-info'
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: eog.desktop was already added with a higher priority.
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: libreoffice-base.desktop was already added with a higher priority.
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: thunderbird.desktop was already added with a higher priority.
** (appstreamcli:5211): DEBUG: Detected colliding ids: libreoffice-impres...

and this is the output of sudo gnome-software :

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_add_category_apps on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_add_categories on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to get recommended applications: no get_category_apps results to show

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to get popular apps: no popular apps to show

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to get featured apps: no featured apps to show

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: Failed to create permission org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update: GDBus.Error:org.freedesktop.PolicyKit1.Error.Failed: Action org.freedesktop.packagekit.trigger-offline-update is not registered

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_add_distro_upgrades on appstream: Failed to parse /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml file: cannot process file of type application/x-go+xml

(gnome-software:6185): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Failed to parse /...

I've been watching the "Ubuntu-Software" since I fresh installed 16.04 on another machine.
My complaint was the same; offerings meager.
Now after an upgrade on machine #2 the same software tool appeared.

 Then I tried "Ubuntu Software Center 15.12" and it is the full meal deal. All that I expected albeit in a different GUI form from the 14.04 that I was used to.
select " ubuntu Software Center" from Unity search your computer button and I locked it to the unity launcher. It was there with a different name all ready to go
Works for me.

I've read all the suggestion, but I found my quick solution is by "changing my update server to the original main server", and then it solved my problem with "Ubuntu software center, no application data found" (I've changed my update server last time to singapore based "nus" due to suggestion by my network administrator to enhanced update speed)

Just changed 'software and updates' to download from the main server. After reboot Ubuntu Software is finally displaying packages correctly. Thanks to hendi for the suggestion!!!

`sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose` and `appstreamcli status` worked for me.

....

Maybe this will help somebody, the only thing that works for me:

FoxitReader creates the file /home/nis/.local/share/applications

but gnome-software needs the directory /home/nis/.local/share/applications/

After deleting /home/nis/.local/share/applications all works well again.

(I installed FoxitReader as newcomer from Windows...
and now I tested all things proposed here.
With gnome-software --verbose let's me find the problem.)

> FoxitReader creates the file /home/nis/.local/share/applications

Are you sure it creates a *file* with that name? If so, that's a pretty huge bug in FoxitReader's install process, and we should report it to them.

Yes, FoxitReader version 2.1.0805 does it, I installed it again to check it.
And the uninstall from FoxitReader doesn't removes the created /home/nis/.local/share/applications file.

The content of the file:

[Desktop Entry]
Name=Foxit Reader
Comment=View pdf documents
Keywords=pdf;octet-stream;
StartupNotify=true
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Application;Office;Viewer;X-Red-Hat-Base;
MimeType=application/pdf;application/octet-stream;
Icon=FoxitReader
Exec=/home/nis/opt/foxitsoftware/foxitreader/FoxitReader.sh %F

I tried to report it opening an ticket by Foxit now.

ni (nistra) wrote 6 hours ago:
> ...
> I tried to report it opening an ticket by Foxit now.

Yes, thank you! Please link it here when you have a public ticket (I don't know if Foxit handles these bugs in public).
This bug will break other software wanting to place .desktop files in ~/.local/share/applications/, so it would be good to get this resolved...

Here is what I got on running `sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose` and `appstreamcli status`
on the terminal...still the apps are not appearing on Unbuntu Software.
Please help!!

sumit@sumit-Dell-System-XPS-L502X:~$ sudo appstreamcli refresh --force --verbose[sudo] password for sumit:
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Refreshing AppStream cache
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /usr/share/app-info/xmls/org.freedesktop.fwupd.xml
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: DEP11: Unknown key 'root/Launchable' found.
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/security.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-security_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: DEP11: Unknown key 'root/Launchable' found.
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-updates_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-backports_main_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-backports_restricted_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-backports_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: DEP11: Unknown key 'root/Launchable' found.
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial-backports_multiverse_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz
** (appstreamcli:25608): DEBUG: Reading: /var/cache/app-info/xmls/fwupd.xml
** (appstreamcli:25608): DE...

Also I tried `killall gnome-software ; gnome-software --verbose`

And the output is attached

> 0x1142540~AsStore:store-from-file (gnome-software:26325): Gs-WARNING **: failed to call gs_plugin_refine on appstream: Error opening file: Permission denied

This doesn't look right.
What does `stat /var/lib/app-info/yaml/in.archive.ubuntu.com_ubuntu_dists_xenial_universe_dep11_Components-amd64.yml.gz` (or ls -l) tell you about the permissions/state of the file?

Got same bug on a fresh 17.10 install, system up to date to latest

the bug has been fixxed with installing language support, now the icons showup in gnome-software

@Matthias Klumpp Your #19 post actually worked for me like a charm. Thank you!