Adding extra software sources (graphically)

Introduction

Ubuntu Linux comes with a fair amount of software installed and you can always add more through the Add/Remove Software program (replaced with Ubuntu Software Centre in Ubuntu 9.10 Linux) or Synaptic. It's possible to create a bigger pool of software to draw from than Ubuntu Linux initially uses (which means more software) through a tool in the System > Administration menu called Software Sources.

Steps

1. Click the System then Administration then Software Sources menu option.
2. You should see a dialogue box showing some Ubuntu software sources. These are the main sources Ubuntu draws from for its pool of available software. You can add to that pool in the next step.
3. Click the Other Software tab within the Software Sources dialogue box.
4. You should see a couple of listings beginning with http://archive.cannonical.com and ending with partner. Check them off by clicking on the box beside them.
5. Leave the CDROM source box unchecked or Synaptic and other programs will always beg you to put in your Ubuntu Linux CD, and this can get quite annoying.
6. Click the Close button at the bottom of the dialogue box

Note: the screen shot taken above isn't entirely accurate. I took this screen shot after upgrading from Jaunty to Karmic Koala. I really should click the edit button and change this to Karmic. Don't worry if that doesn't make sense, it will later.

After doing all these steps a new dialogue box like the one below:

Once these steps are done you will have added to the pool of software Ubuntu Linux can draw from. Within Synaptic or the Ubuntu Software Centre you'll be able to see the difference in extra software.

If you click on some of the other tabs in the Software Sources dialogue box you'll see things like other sources for updates. We don't recommend checking the pre-release and unsupported updates on a machine you intend to only have stable software running on. If you don't mind software possibly breaking go ahead and check these bleeding edge sources.

End Result: