sources.list

definition

The sources.list file works in conjunction with the apt-get command to retrieve pre-built packages for installation. The file is basically the roadmap for apt-get to know where it may download programs for installation on your system.

location

Your sources.list file is found at: /etc/apt/sources.list. Access to this is generally found through use of the terminal:

via GNOME:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

via KDE

sudo knote /etc/apt/sources.list

generic

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

editing

It is up to you what is listed in your sources.list file. Many outside parties have setup repositories for package distribution in addition to the base repositories supplied by Ubuntu. Each case is different, but unless you know what you're doing (and in that case, you're probably not reading this Wiki) you should still to the basics below.

common template

Below is a common sources.list file that will give you access to most additional programs you need. Be sure to backup your original list before making any changes! This can be done, again from the terminal, by:

sudo cp /etc/apt/sources.list etc/apt/sources.list.backup

Basic sources.list including updates, security, ubuntu supported & community supported.

5.10 Breezy

# Ubuntu supported packages (packages/source)
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy main restricted
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security main restricted

# Ubuntu community supported packages (packages/source)
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-updates universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security universe multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-security universe multiverse

5.04 Hoary

# Ubuntu supported packages (packages/source)
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary main restricted
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-updates main restricted
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-security main restricted
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-security main restricted

# Ubuntu community supported packages (packages)
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary universe multiverse
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-updates universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-updates universe multiverse
deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-security universe multiverse
deb-src http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-security universe multiverse

backports

Many users also include the Ubuntu Backports:

(The Ubuntu backports project provides packages from the development version, built for the latest stable release. This way you can mix stability with being on the bleeding edge. Use with care.)

Breezy 5.10

# Ubuntu backports project (packages/source)
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu breezy-backports main restricted universe multiverse

Hoary 5.04

# Ubuntu backports project (packages/source)
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu hoary-backports main restricted universe multiverse