- Getting Acquainted with Unity
- Using Applications
- Using Ubuntu in Your Language
- Configuring a Printer
- Keeping Your Computer Updated
- Adding and Removing Programs and Packages
- Upgrading to the Next Ubuntu Release
- Ubuntu and Multimedia
- Backing Up
- Customizing Ubuntu?s Look and Feel
- Unity in Other Devices
- Summary
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
This chapter is from the book
Adding and Removing Programs and Packages
No operating system or piece of software is perfect. In addition, new features may be added that users want or need. Because of this, Ubuntu developers periodically release security and other updates to software. These updates are placed into the Ubuntu repositories and are easy to install.
Most of the updates to your machine will be security related. In other words, the developers have found a weakness in a particular program in Ubuntu and have released a fix for it. A small number of updates also are released to fix some critical bugs. For a home user, there is generally no reason not to install these updates right away, as not installing them might leave your computer open to security breaches.
When problems are discovered that could lead to security issues, like buffer overflows or remote exploits, they are fixed and the updates are released as quickly as possible, even though the danger is usually remote. Ubuntu developers also have a very strict policy about not putting newly released versions of programs with significant and untested function changes or new features into stable versions of Ubuntu. This practice keeps your system more stable by not introducing new problems.
Installing Updates
Ubuntu checks the Ubuntu repositories once a day to see if there are any new versions of software you have installed, and it tells you when you need to update your machine. If security updates exist, a pop-up window will appear. If other updates are found, they will also be made available. You can check whether updates are available by using the Software Updater application, which can be found on the Dash. The entry there either will say “Software Up to Date” or will inform you of available updates.
Ubuntu 14.04 handles package updates by launching Software Updater. Users are notified of security updates on a daily basis and are also notified when new Ubuntu versions are released. Because 14.04 is a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, by default it notifies users about only new LTS releases, meaning that it will likely remain silent until April 2016. This behavior may be changed by clicking Settings at the bottom left of the Software Updater window.
Learning about What Was Updated
The update window, shown in Figure 3-18, shows you what will be changed. In the details pane, it indicates what got fixed and how. It might also list a Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) number. The CVE number is a unique identifier for a security vulnerability. You can look it up on http://cve.mitre.org to see what the exact flaw was. However, most people don’t need to worry (and really don’t care) about these details.
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Figure 3-18 The update window
Installing an Application That Is Not in the Repositories
Although the repositories contain a huge selection of packages, sometimes the package you need is not available there. The first thing you should check is that you have enabled the additional repositories such as universe and multiverse. You can do this from Software Updater by searching for these repositories on the Dash. Hover over Ubuntu Software Center to view its menu. Under Edit, select Software Sources to ensure that the boxes are checked for main, universe, restricted, and multiverse. (See help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu for more details.)
If you have enabled these extra repositories and your package is still not there, do a quick hunt with a search engine to see if you can find a repository (known as a Debian or APT repository) for your package. If you find one, use the Repositories dialog box you have just played with to add the new repository, and then use Synaptic to install the package.
One common type of extra repository you may encounter is called a personal package archive (PPA). Good information about using PPAs is available at https://help.launchpad.net/Packaging/PPA/InstallingSoftware.
If no repository is available, look for a Debian package (.deb) for the application, most likely available from the software company’s Web site. For example, as Adobe provides a Debian package for its Reader software on its Web site, and Skype does the same for its VOIP software. If you find such a .deb package, download it and double-click it to install.
Finally, if all else fails, you may need to download the source code and compile it using instructions found at https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CompilingSoftware.