apport falls back to python's webbrowser.py module, if xdg-open is not available, which also utilizes xdg-open.
$ ipython3 import Python 3.6.3 (default, Oct 3 2017, 21:45:48) Type "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. IPython 5.1.0 -- An enhanced Interactive Python. ? -> Introduction and overview of IPython's features. %quickref -> Quick reference. help -> Python's own help system. object? -> Details about 'object', use 'object??' for extra details. In [1]: import webbrowser In [2]: webbrowser.open('http://www.ubuntu.com') Out[2]: True In [3]: This tool has been deprecated, use 'gio open' instead. See 'gio help open' for more info. ** Also affects: python3.6 (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New ** Changed in: python3.6 (Ubuntu) Status: New => Triaged ** Changed in: python3.6 (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided => Low -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to apport in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1721948 Title: gvfs-open/xdg-open shows message about 'gio open' which confuses user Status in Apport: Fix Released Status in gvfs: Fix Released Status in apport package in Ubuntu: Triaged Status in gvfs package in Ubuntu: Invalid Status in python3.6 package in Ubuntu: Triaged Status in xdg-utils package in Ubuntu: New Bug description: Steps to reproduce: 1. Install Ubuntu 17.10 2. Try to report bug with Apport by terminal command `apport-bug apport` Expected results: apport-bug reports bug silently Actual results: get output in the terminal $ apport-bug apport This tool has been deprecated, use 'gio open' instead. See 'gio help open' for more info. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10 Package: apport 2.20.7-0ubuntu2 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-12.13-generic 4.13.3 Uname: Linux 4.13.0-12-generic i686 ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu2 Architecture: i386 CurrentDesktop: MATE Date: Sat Oct 7 13:50:23 2017 InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-08-26 (41 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.10 "Artful Aardvark" - Alpha i386 (20170826) PackageArchitecture: all SourcePackage: apport UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/apport/+bug/1721948/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp