PPA Testing

Sometimes during the test cycle one of the developers may ask you to test something specific for them. This is often phrased as

please install application from ppa:xyz  and retest.

As the developers spend most of their time talking in a language that I understand as well as I do Klingon I did ask for an explanation that humans could understand. In the below example, I will use the application application from the ppa ppa:xyz. These two pieces of information will be given to you. After installing an application from a test ppa area, it is wise to remove that ppa from your system else you will pull in any work in progress that the developer or team are doing each time you do a full system update. If you are in doubt of either the application or the ppa full names, please do ask the devs. Do not install ppa's that you do not fully trust, they can be a source of malware, if in doubt.... ASK Some PPA's will ask for acceptance of a GPG key... Again, if in doubt ASK

Adding

sudo -i
apt-add-repository -y ppa:xyz
apt-get update
apt-get install -y application
apt-add-repository -r ppa:xyz
apt-get update
exit

If being asked to accept a GPG key, the steps will be slightly different. At the step

apt-add-repository ppa:xyz

you will asked to accept the GPG key, simply press Enter to accept, provided you trust the PPA.

What the above does:

1. gain sudo privileges

2. apt-add-repository -y ppa:xyz add the ppa called xyz to your system index

3. apt-get update tell your system it is there to be used

4. apt-get install -y application install the application

5. apt-add-repository -r ppa:xyz prevent the ppa from uploading work in progress from the developer

6. apt-get update tell your system the added ppa is to no longer to be used

7. relinquish sudo privileges

Removing

Now, if the new application broke your system, then you need to get rid of it and re-install the current version

sudo -i
apt-add-repository -r ppa:xyz
apt-get update
apt-get -y remove application
apt-get -y install application
exit

What the above does:

1. gain sudo privileges

2. apt-add-repository -r ppa:xyz remove the test ppa area

3. apt-get update tell your system it is no longer to be used

4. apt-get -y remove application remove the new version

5. apt-get -y install application now that the test ppa is no longer in use, the install will 'grab' the one from the normal area.

6. relinquish sudo privileges