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Ubuntu: Adding repositories via URL
Last week I was asked for Google Earth by a not-so-tech-savy Ubuntu user. He found Google's .bin Installer and was asking for help with installing.
I told him, that it would be better to use a software repository and did a short introduction to packaging and repositories. While it was easy to send him a link to a Google Earth package for installation with gdebi, telling him how to enable a third-party repositories was not.
A short search reveals that apturl is able to add repositories via URL, unfortunately this feature is disabled by default.
In my opinion, this decision should be reconsidered: While it is true that third party repositories and third party packages mean a potential harm to the users system, the current handling of third-party software is not consistent.
Installing a Ubuntu package via gdebi is easy and used frequently. Even when installed from a trustworthy source, installation of single packages cause a security risk due to a lack of updates.
If the user decides to install third-party software, it seems just consistent to offer him a comparable easy way of adding a repository. This way, his software will get updated and he will decrease the risk of possible security holes due to outdated software.
If you agree with me on this topic, I'd like you to consider voting for this idea on Ubuntu Brainstorm:
If you don't agree, I'm eager to read your opinion.
Comments
I have created a dedicated
I have created a dedicated package that installs a file to /etc/apt/sources.list.d/. I made this package available in our intranet, so it's easy to install the package after downloading it via Firefox. The package is also contained in the repo. So additonal repositories or changed URLs can be pushed to all the repository users ... Well yes, it wasn't perfectly related, but somehow fits in there ;)
I think apturl for adding
I think apturl for adding repositories is redundant, and I think the way you can use gdebi to achieve the same outcome - currently - is the better solution. See the new playdeb - http://www.playdeb.net/ - for how it can be done with gdebi.
Click on a .deb url to install the package. This package includes/adds a .list file to /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ Then you can run Update Manager, Synaptic Package Manager, or 'sudo apt-get update|install' to get your respository and it's applications.
Very clean, and if feel the best way to implement single click adding of repositories.
(Disclaimer: I work for
(Disclaimer: I work for Canonical, but in no way related to the development of Ubuntu, and I am not an Ubuntu developer in my own time)
The problem that I see with making it easy to add repositories is that those repos will then be used for package upgrades. I recently fixed a laptop where someone had added a PPA expecting just to get a flash package or something, but had ended up with woefully busted network manager packages too.
Installing a single .deb with gdebi does not leave one vulnerable to this kind of future breakage.
think apturl for adding
think apturl for adding repositories is redundant, and I think the way you can use gdebi to achieve the same outcome - currently - is the better solution. See the new playdeb -blueoo.com - for how it can be done with gdebi.
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