How does a PPA work?
 

Hi all

It has come to my attention, that if you want to install something and look for it on the internet of how to do it.
You something see something like this

When I use those commands, the CLI asks me if I want to add the PPA.
Can this be harmful for my OS or anything?
What does it do?

Thanks!

BR

Dragonix

Hi:

Yes; if it's not the official repository that is suitable to your distro (Ubuntu)
Insure that you have an Official repository in your sources list from Ubuntu.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Re...ries_in_Ubuntu

The repositories http: address (when you add the PPA) will allow you to get updates and disto upgrades from Ubuntu for your distribution. Also you will get security updates as well that will keep your system not only up to date but protected from vulnerabilities.

Your update manager should alert you at the top right hand corner of your desktop environment when updates become available.

To learn more about PPA's and other stuff about your distro go to:

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+ppas
https://help.launchpad.net/Packaging/PPA
And the Ubuntu Forum:
http://ubuntuforums.org/forumdisplay.php?f=326

Have a great day!

PPAs are Personal Package Archives. They are NOT official Ubuntu/Canonical repositories at all and do not have official Ubuntu/Canonical backing. They are there so people can provide other packages that may or may not already be in the official Ubuntu/Canonical repositories due to legal or other reasons.

Can adding a PPA to your system cause damage? No.
Can installing packages from a PPA onto your system cause damage? Possibly. You really need to follow all instructions.

Read through the links about PPAs that have been provided above. If you really must use a PPA to get what you need then at least understand what they are.

That's why I asked about it ;)
I found it strange that sometimes I see a guide with PPA's and then another guide (to install the same thing) without PPA's..
So actually, it's better to install the original (no PPA) software then using PPA's.

Is it sometimes possible that you want/need to install software when you NEED to use PPA? But this is probably custom software?

Software in PPAs that has an equivalent in the official repository is often customised to suit a certain purpose. The purpose maybe to give more functionality, for e.g. a codec that isn't available as standard officially. Other times the software just isn't available officially but is in someones PPA. I used to find the best thing to do was do soem reading on what was available and if I really did need something outside of official repos then use a PPA but one that had good reviews from people who I had learned to value their technical opinions.

Thanks! All I needed to know ;)