[ubuntu-za] APT Sources differences

[Morgan Collett]

On Mon, Dec 29, 2008 at 10:18, Michael <milegrin at gmail.com> wrote:
> Greetings
>
>  Maybe a doff question but what are the differences between the
> following in /etc/apt/sources.list :
>  (writing a little APT Sources howto/guide/doc for myself and some
> newbies at work and some of it is commented in the default
> sources.list but not everything)
>
> deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ <DIST> main

Used during development of the version (intrepid, for example) and up
to the release date.

> deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ <DIST>-updates main (major
> bug fixes after dist release)

Yes.

> deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ <DIST>-security main (thought
> security fixes were also in the first one?)

Security fixes are separated, possibly so that people can choose to
enable -security but not -updates if they want the minimum amount of
updates to stay secure.

> deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ <DIST>-backports main
> (untested newer versions?)

Unofficial backports from a future version - e.g. jaunty packages
rebuilt for intrepid

> deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ <DIST>-proposed main (no idea)

The place packages land before they appear in -updates. This gives an
opportunity for brave souls to test updates before they appear for
everyone.

>
> Then the sub-types
> main    : the main repository

officially supported, free packages

> restricted      : non-free stuff?

officially supported, non-free packages

> universe        : un-supported stuff but what is in it? Newer stuff?

Community-maintained, free packages

> multiverse : un-supported stuff but how is it different from universe?

Community-maintained non-free packages

Main and restricted packages are given special attention by core
developers - mostly Canonical employees. Expect these packages to be
well tested.

Universe and multiverse are maintained by MOTU - Masters of the
Universe, a community team. These repos include many packages synced
from debian unstable and not tested unless someone has a specific
interest in them and cares for them.

Regards
Morgan