First Time Users

Welcome!

This page tells you a little bit about the way Ubuntu manages packages, what repositories are, the purpose of this particular repository, and how you can add it to your Ubuntu system.

About Ubunutu ('deb') Packages

Software which has been specifically tuned for Ubuntu comes prepared in packages which are managed by the Ubuntu system. This makes it easy for you to maintain your installed software and provides a central place to update everything - from the Operating System to your Word Processor and your Games.

You can search for and download this from the Ubuntu Repository which you can access from "System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager" menu.

Not all Linux software has been designed specifically for Ubuntu - a lot can be downloaded from other sites and there are a variety of ways to install it, sometimes you even have to compile it yourself! Unfortunately this also means that it is no longer managed by Ubuntu, and updating and maintaining it can become a chore. This type of software is called "third party software".

Some third party software developers still choose to package their software up in Ubuntu packages, including the developers of Oolite. This makes it a lot easier for Ubuntu users to install and manage. There are two options:

  1. Download and install
  2. Add the third-party repository to your apt-sources
We will consider both options in turn.

1. Download and Install

On the face, this is the simpler option, but there is a problem. A lot of software depends on other software, particularly system libraries or data packages. When downloading softare packages individually the user has to track down and download all the dependencies, if they haven't been installed already on your system. This is a pain.

Still, for some simple software packages, this works well. Simply click on the download link for the package, and it should open up in the "gdebi" package tool. This is a graphical tool which allows you to view the details of the package and install it if all dependencies have been met. It may even automatically download and install any missing dependencies if they are available.

2. Add a repository to your apt-sources

This is the preferred option, since once you perform this step, you will be automatically updated to the newest version of the software. This approach also allows the system to download and install any required dependencies.

To manage your apt-sources, follow these steps:

  1. Open "System -> Administration -> Software Sources".
    After prompting you for your password, a screen opens up.
  2. Select the "Third Party Software" tab.
  3. Click "Add"
  4. In the new window, add the "APT line" which the software developer has provided on their webpage.
    For example, the Oolite third-party "Apt line" for Ubuntu 9.04 "jaunty" test releases is:
    deb http://debs.oolite.org/ jaunty test
  5. Click on "Add Source"
  6. Click on "Close"
  7. You should be prompted about out-of-date software. Click on "Reload".
  8. When the update finishes, exit the "Software Sources" application.
    You may be prompted about "GPG Errors" - these are normal for third-party repositories, although high-quality ones will provide you with instructions for importing their "GPG Key" which prevents these messages from being displayed. You don't have to worry about this though.
  9. Finally, open the "Synaptic Package Manager" application as you normally would when installing new software and search for the application in the newly added repository. In this case, "Oolite"
  10. Select to install Oolite and the system will do the rest. Enjoy!

Last Updated: 2009.09.22