software-center crashed with TypeError in decode(): expected string or buffer

Some additional debug info courtesy davmor2:

2011-07-20 18:55:09,515 - softwarecenter.backend.reviews - WARNING - Could not get usefulness from server, no username in config file
/home/davmor2/software-center/softwarecenter/ui/gtk/app.py:1240: Warning: g_object_set_qdata: assertion `G_IS_OBJECT (object)' failed
  self.window_main.show_all()
2011-07-20 18:55:10,081 - softwarecenter.fixme - WARNING - logs to the root logger: '('/usr/lib/pymodules/python2.7/zeitgeist/client.py', 392, 'reconnect_monitors')'
2011-07-20 18:55:10,081 - zeitgeist.client - INFO - Reconnected to Zeitgeist engine...
>>> histogram attr [0, 0, 1, 7, 7], for package tuxguitar
>>> histogram attr [2, 1, 3, 5, 49], for package docky
>>> histogram attr [0, 9, 3, 17, 40], for package calibre
>>> histogram attr [0, 1, 0, 9, 11], for package gweled
>>> histogram attr [1, 0, 0, 11, 16], for package file-roller
>>> histogram attr [0, 0, 1, 0, 0], for package netsurf
>>> histogram attr [0, 0, 0, 0, 5], for package mysql-server
>>> histogram attr [0, 0, 6, 15, 100], for package thunderbird
>>> histogram attr [0, 2, 4, 12, 54], for package deja-dup
>>> histogram attr [2, 0, 0, 0, 0], for package gfax
>>> histogram attr [0, 0, 2, 4, 9], for package kaffeine
>>> histogram attr None, for package python-django-south
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/davmor2/software-center/softwarecenter/backend/reviews.py", line 659, in _on_review_stats_data
    s.rating_spread = simplejson.loads(getattr(r, "histogram", "[0,0,0,0,0]"))
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/simplejson/__init__.py", line 385, in loads
    return _default_decoder.decode(s)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/simplejson/decoder.py", line 402, in decode
    obj, end = self.raw_decode(s, idx=_w(s, 0).end())
TypeError: expected string or buffer

Hi Dustin, this one's actually not fix released yet. It will be released with Software Center version 4.1.10, coming soon in Oneiric. I'll revert the status change. Thanks!

This bug was fixed in the package software-center - 4.1.10

---------------
software-center (4.1.10) oneiric; urgency=low

  [ Michael Vogt ]
  * merged lp:~alexeftimie/software-center/backend-refactor,
    many thanks
  * merged lp:~mmcg069/software-center/search-aid-improvments,
    many thanks
  * add generic "use_cache" to SimpleFileDownloader
  * softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/widgets/exhibits.py:
    - add basic ExhibitBanner widget
  * merged lp:~roignac/software-center/bug-805969,
    many thanks to Vadim Rutkovsky (LP: #805969)
  * merged lp:~aaronp/software-center/more-top-rated, many thanks
    to Aaron Peachey
  * add top rated carousel

  [ Gary Lasker ]
  * softwarecenter/ui/gtk/app.py,
    softwarecenter/ui/gtk/availablepane.py,
    softwarecenter/ui/gtk/catview_gtk.py,
    softwarecenter/ui/gtk/softwarepane.py:
    - improvement for a local debian package install, display a
      "loading" spinner while the package loads and do not show
      the main categories view momentarily
  * softwarecenter/backend/reviews.py:
    - fix crash on an undefined histogram value (LP: #812923)
  * softwarecenter/ui/gtk/historypane.py,
    softwarecenter/ui/gtk3/panes/historypane.py:
    - apply patch from Michael Terry to fix a crash when
      initializing the history pane, many thanks! (LP: #746984)
  * softwarecenter/db/debfile.py,
    softwarecenter/ui/gtk/appdetailsview_gtk.py,
    softwarecenter/ui/gtk/availablepane.py:
    - reduce startup time when installing a deb file by ~50%
 -- Michael Vogt <email address hidden> Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:43:43 +0200