I discovered almost the same issue, as Sapemi reported. I also started with a clean install of ubuntu MATE 20.04.
After installing gnome-software /var/log/apt/history.log shows what has been installed:
gnome-software:amd64 (3.36.1-0ubuntu0.20.04.0),
libappstream-glib8:amd64 (0.7.16-1ubuntu1, automatic),
apt-config-icons:amd64 (0.12.10-2, automatic),
gnome-software-common:amd64 (3.36.1-0ubuntu0.20.04.0, automatic)
Starting gnome-software in Mate Terminal looks pretty much like Sapemi reported:
11:36:02:0910 GLib-GIO g_app_info_get_name: assertion 'G_IS_APP_INFO (appinfo)' failed 11:36:07:0580 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0580 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0580 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:07:0581 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:08:0218 Gs plugin appstream took 5,0 seconds to do setup 11:36:08:0224 Gs enabled plugins: desktop-categories, fwupd, os-release, packagekit, packagekit-local, packagekit-offline, packagekit-proxy, packagekit-refine-repos, packagekit-refresh, packagekit-upgrade, packagekit-url-to-app, appstream, desktop-menu-path, hardcoded-blacklist, modalias, odrs, packagekit-refine, rewrite-resource, packagekit-history, provenance, systemd-updates, generic-updates, provenance-license, icons, key-colors, key-colors-metadata 11:36:08:0224 Gs disabled plugins: dpkg, dummy, repos 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0524 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0525 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0525 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:26:0525 XbSilo xb_builder_node_unlink: assertion 'XB_IS_BUILDER_NODE (self)' failed 11:36:27:0365 Gs Only 0 apps for popular list, hiding 11:36:27:0367 Gs Only 0 apps for recent list, hiding 11:36:27:0370 Gs hiding category audio-video featured applications: found only 0 to show, need at least 9 11:36:27:0371 Gs hiding category productivity featured applications: found only 0 to show, need at least 9 11:36:29:0926 Gs CSS parse error 1:107: Using one color stop with linear-gradient() is deprecated.
gnome-software opens the graphical interface as expected, but closing the window only closes the window, gnome-software itself doesn't terminate ! It is necessary to terminate the job with ctrl-C. Otherwise it runs and runs and runs .... :
ps -elf | grep gnome-software
0 S randalf 64285 1847 6 80 0 - 289960 poll_s 02:26 pts/0 00:00:06 gnome-software
0 S randalf 64781 1847 0 80 0 - 2353 pipe_w 02:28 pts/0 00:00:00 grep --color=auto gnome-software