[ubuntu] How do I install small programs like smart-notifier?

Packages available in the system are missing in gnome-software. I made a new installation yesterday and at least these were missing lm-sensors, fancontrol and hardinfo. You can of course use sudo apt install, sudo apt-get install or synaptic.
There were also other problems. After an installation was made the status field showed remove, but only for a brief moment, and then showed install again. Most confusing, did it install or not. After installation of some downloaded packages the text "Could not find 'Application name'" was shown. Examples are Chrome, Dropbox and Steam. Dropbox and Steam was possible to start from the Dash, but in case the user don't know, this is a serious problem. Chrome was very well hidden. The workaround I found was to open a terminal, run the command google-chrome and then lock Chrome to the Launcher.