Software Management

Adding software sources

This section describes how to add software sources, also known as repositories (repos). Adding software sources, like mirrors, can speed up the download of packages and updates to your system.

Graphical method

1. Launch the Software & Updates app (aka software-properties-gtk):

2. Click the Other Software tab

3. Click the Add… button

4. Fill in the path to the software repository you wish to add:

5. Click the Add Source button.

6. Optional: If you need to add keys for the newly added repo, check the Authentication tab:

Filesystem method

By default, you should have this line in your /etc/apt/sources.list file:

deb https://repo.pureos.net/pureos amber main
deb https://repo.pureos.net/pureos amber-security main
deb https://repo.pureos.net/pureos amber-updates main

If you want to add more repos, just edit this text file and the appropriate lines below this first line.

For example, you can add a PureOS mirror is you’re in North America, this will speed up your downloads. Simply add this line to your /etc/apt/sources.list file;

deb https://mirrors.sonic.net/pureos/repo/pureos/ amber main

For Europe, consider using this mirror:

deb https://mirror.linux.pizza/pureos amber main
deb https://mirror.linux.pizza/pureos/ amber-updates main
deb https://mirror.linux.pizza/pureos/ amber-security main

Installing software

Using GNOME Software

This section describes how to install applications in PureOS.

1. Launch Software (aka gnome-software) and click the 3-dot button to expand categories to search for a program:

2. Or just click the search button:

3. …to type in the name of the program you are looking for:

4. Click the result you want:

5. Click the Install button:

6. Enter your password and click Authenticate (or press Enter on your keyboard):

7. Wait for the application to install:

8. The software is now installed!

Using a graphical installer

THis section describes how to install a downloaded .deb package using a graphical installer.

Warning

It is not generally recommended to install packages this way. Installing untrusted 3rd party packages may possibly lead to unexpected security or incompatibility issues.

1. Right-click on a downloaded .deb package file and click Open With Other Application:

2. Click Software Install, then click Select:

3. An installer window will open; click Install to install it:

4. Type your password when asked.

Removing software

Using GNOME Software

This section describes how to uninstall (remove) software using GNOME Software (aka gnome-software, or just “Software”).

1. Launch Software and open the Installed tab.

2. Locate the application you wish to remove, then click Remove:

3. Click Remove at the prompt, and enter your password if asked:

Updating software

Using GNOME Software

Software is usually updated automatically under normal circumstances, but you may wish to manually update your software. This section describes how to update software manually using GNOME Software.

1. Start Software and click the reload button in upper left corner:

2. Wait for the upgrades to download:

3. Click the Restart & Install button once you are ready to install the updates:

Using a terminal

Software is usually updated automatically under normal circumstances, but you may wish to manually update your software. This section describes how to update software manually using a terminal emulator.

Note

Remember to update and upgrade before installing any package.

Update software repos

In a terminal emulator, type the text and press Enter following the command:

sudo apt update

You will be asked for your password type it in and press Enter. When the command finishes, your software repos (information about available packages-applications which can be installed) will be updated.

Upgrade system

Run (type the text and press Enter):

sudo apt upgrade

Note

You can also execute sudo apt full-upgrade to force all packages to upgrade.

You will be asked for your password type it in and press Enter. Then you will be asked to proceed. Press Enter if you want this; press n and then Enter if you do not.

When the command finishes, all the packages you installed will be upgraded to their latest versions available. Sometimes it is advisable to restart your computer.

One-line command

One-line command to update repos and upgrade system afterwards:

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

Upgrading to a newer PureOS release

PureOS has gone under some big changes over the last year or so. In addition to the work being done on PureOS to make it convergent on more devices, we’ve also introduced a new stable version of PureOS called “Amber”. We still continue to update Amber although not as frequently. Important updates, like security updates and other important fixes come in now to two dedicated suites of packages called amber-updates and amber-security.

These ought to have come into your system automatically in a package called “base-files” but if they didn’t, you can add these suites via the Software tool or on the command line.

Simply add these two lines to the /etc/apt/sources.list file:

deb https://repo.pureos.net/pureos/ amber-updates main
deb https://repo.pureos.net/pureos/ amber-security main

Update to the latest Amber before moving to Byzantium.

If you’re ready to move to Byzantium you can simply add the repo via the GNOME Software tool, or you can edit your /etc/apt/source.list file. Here’s what the contents of the file should be for Byzantium:

deb https://repo.pureos.net/pureos/ byzantium main
deb https://repo.pureos.net/pureos/ byzantium-updates main
deb https://repo.pureos.net/pureos/ byzantium-security main

Proceed to perform full update. It is recommended to this via terminal command, so that you can see if any errors come up.

This will update a ton of package on your machine, so be patient until it is done. If no errors reported, restart the system and you have byzantium, the latest stable PureOS release.