software-center crashed with ValueError in raw_decode(): No JSON object could be decoded

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

This is a common error according to errors.ubuntu.com so we need to fix it via a SRU.

Hello Ryan, or anyone else affected,

Accepted software-center into precise-proposed. The package will build now and be available in a few hours. Please test and give feedback here. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/EnableProposed for documentation how to enable and use -proposed. Thank you in advance!

This bug was fixed in the package software-center - 5.2.2

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software-center (5.2.2) precise-proposed; urgency=low

  [ Michael Vogt ]
  * lp:~mvo/software-center/whatsnew-leak-lp985389:
    - search filter fix for the case when the "installed-only"
      filter leaks into subsequent searches (LP: #985389)
  * lp:~mvo/software-center/fix-lp994632:
    - add a dep to ensure we get the correct ubuntu-sso-client-gtk
      (LP: #994632)
  * lp:~mvo/software-center/proper-error-on-unknown-files:
    - show a proper error message when attempting to open unknown
      file types (LP: #944868)
  * lp:~mvo/software-center/lp921799:
    - fix crash when decoding screenshots JSON (LP: #921799)
  * lp:~mvo/software-center/lp959612:
    - fix crash when selecting the Installed view very quickly
      after startup (LP: #959612)

  [ Ken VanDine ]
  * lp:~ken-vandine/software-center/lp_982567:
    - Check if the proxy is enabled, if the proxy host is set but not
      enabled we shouldn't attempt to use the proxy (LP: #982567)

  [ Gary Lasker ]
  * lp:~gary-lasker/software-center/fix-crash-lp969732:
    - need to explicitly declare the needs-refresh signal in the
      AppTreeStore class to prevent a crash (LP: #969732)
  * lp:~gary-lasker/software-center/fix-crash-lp870822:
    - don't crash if we don't get a pkgversion object back
      (LP: #870822)
  * lp:~gary-lasker/software-center/fix-shutdown-crash-lp996333:
    - never crash when writing out the software center config file on
      shutdown (LP: #996333)
  * lp:~gary-lasker/software-center/fix-makedirs-race-crashes:
    - fix crash on race when creating the cache or config directories
      (LP: #743003, LP: #621182)
  * lp:~gary-lasker/software-center/fix-crash_lp973379:
    - ensure that the cache is ready before using the recommender
      service (LP: #973379 )
  * lp:~gary-lasker/software-center/toolbar-buttons-insensitive-during-startup:
    - set the toolbar buttons insensitive for the duration of time that the
      lobby panels are initializing (LP: #999486, LP: #994341)

  [ Robert Roth ]
  * lp:~evfool/software-center/bug532072:
    - escape markup for support info and license (LP: #993279)
    - ellipsize summary at trailing end (LP: #532072)
  * lp:~evfool/software-center/lp626037:
    - subtle background color tweak for consistency
      between views (LP: #626037)
  * lp:~evfool/software-center/lp835005:
    - no need for the software-properties dialog to be modal
      to software-center (LP: #835005)
  * lp:~evfool/software-center/lp839389:
    - don't display an "icon not found" image in the Unity
      launcher when a report a review window is opened (LP: #839389)
  * lp:~evfool/software-center/867588:
    - capitalize the first letter of the package summary
      (LP: #867588)
  * lp:~evfool/software-center/lp876657:
    - make sure the search field does not disappear when an
      install or remove is in progress (LP: #876657)
  * lp:~evfool/software-center/lp987797:
    - fix alignment in the reviews part of the appdetails (LP: #987797)
  * lp:~evfool/software-center/lp844768:
    - show a indeterminate progress bar when software-center waits for
      another ...