Alternative for add-apt-repository for installing new ubuntu packages

Background

add-apt-repository is a way for Ubuntu system to add 3rd party repository for installing certain unofficial software packages. However, add-apt-repository is not builtin in Ubuntu. You need to install software-properties-common as a prerequisites. Personally, I think they take too long while I am writing a Dockerfile. So, I have found an alternative for doing the same thing.

How to

Generally, there are 2 things we need to do:

• Add the repository
• Add the key for that repository

Add the repository

You can simply add following two lines into /etc/apt/sources.list. (Here I want to add python 2.7.1x packages into the Ubuntu system)

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/jonathonf/python-2.7/ubuntu trusty main 
# deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/jonathonf/python-2.7/ubuntu trusty main

Add the key for that repository

apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys F06FC659

The last argument F06FC659 is the KEY ID. Take a look from this blog to find out the ID of a key.

Finally

Update the list and install the package you want

apt update
apt install XXXYYY

References

• https://askubuntu.com/questions/173496/alternative-to-sudo-add-apt-repository-ppaupubuntu-com-web
• https://askubuntu.com/questions/493460/how-to-install-add-apt-repository-using-the-terminal
• https://www.ghacks.net/2011/03/31/adding-missing-ppa-keys-to-an-apt-keyring/

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