Repositories in Linux
The Linux programs are available to meet the needs of users. Many of these programs are stored in software archives commonly referred to as repositories. A repository is a collection of files that has information about various software, their versions, and some other details like the checksum. It makes it easy to install new software, while also providing a high level of security since the software is thoroughly tested and built specifically for each version of Linux.
Types of Repositories in Linux:
- Main – Canonical-supported free and open-source software.
- Universe – Community-maintained free and open-source software.
- Restricted – Proprietary drivers for devices.
- Multiverse – Software restricted by copyright or legal issues.
On Ubuntu and all other Debian-based distributions, the apt software repositories are defined in the /etc/apt/sources.list file or in separate files under the /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ directory. With the help of this file, the system tracks the location of the program installed so that it can update it. The system uses the APT tool to check against the repo and stores the information about the software and its version in a cache.
As you can see above, sources.list file has uncommented URL links that the system uses to get that package from where the actual software is stored.
Using PPA in Linux
Personal Package Archives (PPA) is a unique software repository intended for non-standard software/updates. The PPA allows application developers and Linux users to create their own repositories to distribute software. It allows us to upload Ubuntu source packages to be built and published as an apt repository by Launchpad. With PPA, we can easily get newer software versions or software that are not available via the official Ubuntu repositories.
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