Friday, March 13, 2009

Extra Repositories for Ubuntu 8.10 You Might Want

Ubuntu logoImage via Wikipedia
The repository system is a great strength of open-source operating systems, but some people want the latest-and-greatest of a particular application while keeping the core system unchanged. There is also the situation where non-free applications aren't available from within the standard repositories. In these two cases, adding outside repos can help you get the functionality you want. I've done some homework for you and here are the "Extra Repositories for Ubuntu 8.10 You Might Want." Simply open up
System > Administration > Software Sources
and add the repository lines listed below as a third-party repository.

Here are your repositories!

Medibuntu

Medibuntu is the best way to get some video and audio playback capability that isn't included in Ubuntu 8.10 for patent reasons. If you live in a regioon which doesn't support these patents, you can go ahead and get them. Popular packages include:
  • Acrobat Reader
  • Firmware for the ALSA sound system
  • Google Earth
  • DVD decryption
  • MPlayer / MEncoder
  • Non-free codecs and
  • Skype
Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://packages.medibuntu.org/ intrepid free non-free
When you are finished, install the medibuntu-keyring and app-install-data-medibuntu packages.

Wine

Ubuntu 8.10 ships with Wine 1.0, but the development version is able to run many more Windows programs. You can get the latest version from the Wine repository.


Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt intrepid main
When you are finished, install the wine package.



OO.o3

OpenOffice.org 3.0 just missed the cut-off for Intrepid. If you want the additional functionality of 3.0, you'll need to add the PPA for the OO.o team.


Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/openoffice-pkgs/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, upgrade and everything should be fine.


Opera

While Firefox is a great browser, some people just prefer Opera. Opera makes it easy for Debian-based OSes.


Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://deb.opera.com/opera/ stable non-free
When you are finished, install the opera package.

Google Chrome
Google's browser isn't yet available on non-Windows systems, but you can get an automated daily build of Chromium to test. It's not guaranteed to work on any particular day. This is native, not the Crossover Wine version that's been out since as remains at the 0.9 beta version.

Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/chromium-daily/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main When you are finished, install the chromium-browser package.



Banshee

Banshee is an audio and video manager which is seeinging extremely rapid development. New features are added every month.

Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/banshee-team/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, install the banshee package.



VideoLAN Client (VLC)

While I prefer Totem, many people, especially those recently from Windows, prefer the media player they've known and loved for years. VLC is in the repositories, but keeping up with recent versions means adding this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/c-korn/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, just install the vlc package. You can also get apt-cacher-ng from this repo.

Boxee

Boxee is an amazing media center (derived from XMBC) that runs on OS X and Linux, and it does just about everything you could imagine. Right now, it's alpha, and you'll have to sign up on the in order to use the software.

Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://apt.boxee.tv intrepid main
When you are finished, just install the boxee package.

Elisa

If you don't need all the craziness of Boxee and just want a simple media center, take a look at Fluendo's Elisa. It uses GStreamer, already the default A/V decoder on Ubuntu, so it won't add a lot of weight to your installation.


Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/elisa-developers/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, install the elisa package and update your computer.


Netbook Remix

One of the most innovative things to come out of the Ubuntu camp is the neetbook remix interface. Want to try it out?

Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/netbook-remix-team/ubuntu intrepid main
Then follow the detailed instructions on how to get it running.

Gnome Do

This launcher amazes everyone who tries it. These days, it even comes with an optional dock. Although I don't use it daily, I think everyone should give it a shot.

Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/do-core/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, install the gnome-do package.

Deluge

Intrepid comes with the Transmission BitTorrent client installed, and Tranmission is fine, but Deluge is a full-featured client which rivals and may now beat the Azureus cum Vuze client that so many people swore by for years. As a bonus, Deluge is a GTK2 application, so it doesn't use up 50% of your CPU while running several torrents.
Deluge has a wide-array of features, including:
  • Web UI
  • BitTorrent Protocol Encryption
  • Mainline DHT
  • Local Peer Discovery (aka LSD)
  • FAST protocol extension
  • µTorrent Peer Exchange
  • UPnP and NAT-PMP
  • Proxy support
  • Private Torrents
  • Global and per-torrent speed limits
  • Password protection


Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/deluge-team/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, install the deluge package.

Google Gadget

Google used to host a repo itself, but that went away and we are just left with a PPA for Google Gadgets. It's for Hardy (8.04), but there doesn't appear to be a problem with running it on Intrepid. Caveat emptor.


Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/googlegadgets/ppa/ubuntu hardy main
When you are finished, install the google-gadgets package.

Mythbuntu

If you installed Mythbuntu and want to keep up with the latest release of MythTV, including all kinds of extra plug-ins:

  • mytharchive create and burn DVD's from MythTV - binary file
  • mytharchive-data create and burn DVD's from MythTV - data files
  • mythcontrols External controls for MythTV
  • mythflix netflix module for MythTV
  • mythgallery Image gallery/slideshow add-on module for MythTV
  • mythgame Emulator & PC Game frontend module for MythTV
  • mythmovies Find nearby movies and cinema listings
  • mythmusic Music add-on module for MythTV
  • mythnews An RSS feed news reader module for MythTV
  • mythphone a phone and videophone module for MythTV
  • mythplugins Metapackage for MythTV plugins
  • mythvideo A generic video player frontend module for MythTV
  • mythweather Weather add-on module for MythTV
  • mythweb Web interface add-on module for MythTV
  • mythzoneminder view status and display footage recorded with zoneminder
Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mythbuntu/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, update your installation.

Compiz

Compiz Fusion comes standard on Ubuntu, but you might want to keep up with the mosst current version to have all that extra BLING.

Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/compiz/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, update your installation.

Miro

"Miro is a free HD video player." Somehow, the website's description falls so short that I don't know how Miro is as successful as it is. They must be going understated. It aggregates a browser, an RSS reader, a bittorent client, and a video player. Want TV on your computer? Get miro.


Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/pculture.org/miro/linux/repositories/ubuntu intrepid/
When you are finished, install the miro package.


Shutter

recommends Shutter (recently renamed from GScrot), an extremely capable screenshot tool. Features include:
  • take a screenshot of your complete desktop, a rectangular area or capture a website
  • take screenshot directly or with a specified delay time
  • save the screenshots to a specified directory and name them in a convenient way
    (using special wild-cards)
  • Shutter is fully integrated into the Gnome Desktop (TrayIcon etc.)
  • generate thumbnails directly when you are taking a screenshot and set a size level in %
  • Shutter session collection


    • keep track of all screenshots during session
    • copy screeners to clipboard
    • print screenshots
    • delete screenshots
    • rename your file
  • upload your files directly to Image-Hosters (e.g. ), retrieve all the needed links and share them with others
  • edit your screenshots directly using the embedded drawing tool.
Add this line to Software Sources:
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/shutter/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main
When you are finished, install the shutter package.

Other Possibilities

Commenters recommend and the Ubuntu PPA search to find repositories for applications you may need. AppSpot even has a grouping of recent searches to spur your imagination.

Keys

You'll have some package manager complaints about keys if you're not careful. Import these keys to get rid of the warnings. recommends using the NO_PUBKEY value (e.g. C5E6A5ED249AD24C) to add the key with the following command.
sudo apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com C5E6A5ED249AD24C

If you use the manual method, open
1) a browser
2) a text editor
3) Software Sources
Open the page from the http: lines listed below, then copy the part of the displayed text which begins at "
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----"
and ends at "
-----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----"
Paste that into your text editor and save it as delugekey.gpg or something similar. Then use Software Sources to import the saved key file in the "Authentication" tab.

OpenOffice - http://keyserver.ubuntu.com:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x60D11217247D1CFF

Gnome-DO - http://keyserver.ubuntu.com:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0x28A8205077558DD0

Deluge - http://keyserver.ubuntu.com:11371/pks/lookup?op=get&search=0xC5E6A5ED249AD24C

The following two keys can just be "saved as ...."

Google -

WineHQ - http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/Scott%20Ritchie.gpg









46 comments:

  1. What about Transmission's repositories?

    Reply
  2. Interesting! Thanks!
    Are there also repositories for Hardy Heron available, especially for Openoffice 3.0 and VLC?

    Reply
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  4. hi, nice collection of repositories

    you can search many more ubuntu repositories at

    https://edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+ppas

    or

    http://ppa-search.appspot.com

    Reply
  5. Nice write up.
    Been looking for a GTK alternative to amarok and banshee might be it.

    Reply
  6. For the repositories that don't have a gpg key, all you have to do is do apt-get update. it will give you a error with a sequence of numbers and letters. like this..
    W: GPG error: http://ppa.launchpad.net intrepid Release: The following signatures couldn't be verified because the public key is not available: NO_PUBKEY C5E6A5ED249AD24C
    W: You may want to run apt-get update to correct these problems
    just do the following
    apt-key adv --recv-keys --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com C5E6A5ED249AD24C do this for everyone that doesn't have a gpg file.

    Reply
  7. I just want to thank the author and Mr. Allaun for the tip

    Reply
  8. UBuntu sounds like a pretty cool place.

    RT
    www.privacy.at.tc

    Reply
  9. You need to list Blueman. The bluetooth manager that comes with Intrepid sucks. Blueman adds capabilities and integrates into the existing lan manager. Blueman is in the PPAs.

    Reply
  10. Wow! Great list, didn't know they had PPA's for them.

    Reply
  11. https://launchpad.net/~shutter/+archive is a good one too.

    Reply
  12. the playdeb.net repository is great too, if you want to install games.

    Reply
  13. The GLZA,
    Thanks for the suggestion. I wanted to include PlayDeb.net, but the repo states that it is only for Hardy. While it may work for Intrepid, there were too many package for me to test before this article went out.

    Daeng
    p.s. I included Vadi's Shutter suggestion.

    Reply
  14. If everything goes above your head just install latest ubuntu-tweak and head over to third party sources!
    grab it from getdeb.

    Reply
  15. It's funny that you have to grab the ubuntu logo from wikipedia, while it's already in your ubuntu machine after a default install. Thanks for this article anyway

    Reply
  16. I don't "have to" do it, but the Zemanta blogging extension for Firefox makes it easy and painless -- much moreso than uploading, adding, and positioning. Thanks for the dry wit anyway.

    Reply
  17. From the VLC repo section. It should be apt-cacher-ng.

    You have:
    "You can also get apt-cache-ng from this repo."

    Reply
  18. And this post shows perfectly why Linux will always be an OS for geeks.

    I know, I know. You Linux fans see all this as perfectly normal.

    Reply
  19. Every application installation system has pros and cons. Most of us aren't blind to this. Windows' system creates out-of-date systems which become botnets. This is "normal" because of Windows' market share. Package repositories are limited, but up-to-date. The Application Installation Situation on Linux Distros.

    Reply
  20. Here you can find a site with sources.list for Ubuntu, Mint, Debian.
    Each sources.list contain more than 200 repository. And here there is also a repo-finder to search repository that contain packet that you want.
    http://www.sourceslist.netsons.org/

    Reply
  21. Yes it's true http://www.sourceslist.netsons.org is a site dedicated to sources.list. Very good!

    Reply
  22. brilliant list, thanks very much

    Reply
  23. In Mepis 8 official and community repos you can find: oo3, wine 1.1.15, vlc 0.98a, miro 2.0.2, XBMC 8.10 (Boxee is based on it), Wine 1.1.15, deluge 1.1.3 and many many more.

    I would recommend you having a look at MEPIS: http://www.mepis.org/ (version 8 was released a few weeks ago)

    You can also check:
    http://www.mepiscommunity.org/en/node/273

    Reply
  24. I couldn't get VLC REPOS to stop spitting errors - so I went to c-korn's repos (https://launchpad.net/~c-korn/+archive/ppa) and installed his PPA key

    Reply
  25. Just a small update to @Allaun's comment about adding keys, make sure you use 'sudo' before that command.

    Reply
  26. Just a quick note. Mythbuntu's PPA for intrepid is actually


    deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mythbuntu/ppa/ubuntu intrepid main

    Reply
  27. Shit! Indeed. Thanks for noticing. Fixed.

    Reply
  28. ooooohhh this is so frustrating! All seems easy & straightforward and then at the end it hits the "twisty little passages, all alike" bit... by which I refer to the "Keys" section.

    Yes as you say, I get "complaints" when Synaptic tries to reload: "GPG error" for wine (one) and ppa (two). I executed the apt-key command as given with seeming success, it said 'key 249AD24C: public key "Launchpad PPA for Deluge Team" imported' but the same errors occur.

    I cannot tell what I am supposed to do with the http lines, when I open them in firefox I get a nice display of a public key block, then what?

    This ought to be fixable using the Authentication tab in the Sofware Sources dialog, no? But when I go there and click "+Import Key File..." it expects me to point to some file on disk. Possibly something constructed using one of those public key links? But how....?

    You were doing SO WELL and then we hit the twisty passages...

    Reply
  29. dcortesi,

    If you use the manual method, open
    1) a browser
    2) a text editor
    3) Software Sources
    Open the page from the http: lines, then copy the part of the displayed text which begins at "
    -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----"
    and ends at "
    -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----"
    Paste that into your text editor and save it as delugekey.pgp or something. Then use Software Sources to import it.

    Thanks for pointing this out. I'll amend the post with these directions.

    Reply
  30. Transmission is written in C, while Deluge is written in python. Both of them use GTK+ for the user interface. I've found that deluge becomes unusable slow after a few hundred torrents, whereas I have over 600 active in transmission without any problems.

    Reply
  31. Synaptic now says, Failed to fetch http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/dists/intrepid/Release.gpg Could not connect to wine.budgetdedicated.com:80 (81.171.111.184). - connect (111 Connection refused) [IP: 81.171.111.184 80]

    Reply
  32. http://wine.budgetdedicated.com is down. Don't know why. It'll probably come back up later.

    Reply
  33. It would help if you posted links to the other keys, like for banshee etc. I found them myself but still...

    Also, do you know of a repo that would have up to date Firefox betas? I can't seem to find them on launchpad.

    Reply
  34. Just use the apt-key method above. It's a lot easier.

    RE: FF3.1, the PPA is here -- https://launchpad.net/~fta/+archive/ppa

    Reply
  35. Really a wonderful job you are doing. keep up the good work.

    By the way, I did read somewhere that folks may try to trick you into adding certain repositories as trusted software sources. So how does one avoid such pitfalls. I mean, Linux is safe because you need to give specific permissions by giving access to the programme with the admin password.
    I really appreciate the effort taken and us 'greenhorns' can really benefit from your work.
    Keep it up !!

    Reply
  36. The number one rule for adding repos is ... DON'T. Most of the problems people have with upgrades are due to third-party repos. If you can make your system work with just the official repos, you're better off.

    Launchpad PPAs and high-profile repos like Medibuntu and Wine offer the next best choice.

    Adding random repos from unknown sources is dangerous and should be avoided. Even if the developer is honest, he/she may have a compromised machine and the repo may be tainted because of it.

    Good luck, greenhorn. ;)

    Reply
  37. Url of http://www.sourceslist.netsons.org is changed in http://www.sourceslist.eu.
    Bye

    Reply
  38. Isn't easier to install ubuntu-tweak and configure all the extra repositories and install packages from it?
    I believe all the repositories you mentioned are included.

    Bye!

    Reply
  39. the open office key won't work. I tried using alluan method and there are no more key errors but it still won't let me install the open office updates.

    Reply
  40. Seth,
    You don't actually have to install anything, just update. If the update is giving you an error, can you copy and paste that here?

    Reply
  41. Any chance to create a Ubuntu 9.04 version of this page? Since it's about due in 5 days. I really like this page and appreciate your work and it would be nice to keep such valuable pages up-to-sate.

    Reply
  42. First, thanks for the compliment.

    I'll probably post one in a month or two. Most of the software coming out in 9.04 is up to date. I didn't notice any major software that missed the cut-off.

    Once FF 3.5, and OO.o 3.1 are out, I'll put up a list (including Network Manager 7.1). Many of the same repos you used for Intrepid can also be upgrade to Jaunty, if you want to give that a try.

    Reply
  43. I did get the open office to work, I'm now on 9.04 though and it already has open office 3, which is nice. Also I used boxee the same way I did from intrepid and it works just fine and is quite handy. This is an excellent list of some great repos.

    Reply
  44. An excellent list....thanks for sharing this nice informative post.

    Reply
  45. An excellent work...thanks for sharing this informative post with us..

    Reply

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