There is a nice overview about apt-build, the package I’m talking about here. So I will not say much. Only so far as what to do to try it out. On my system gnomes system manager is fairly slow. So I gave it a try:

1. install the bundle:

   sudo aptitude --reinstall install apt-build
   

2. configure your processor (dpkg-configure asks you about it)
3. add deb-src to sources.list if you haven’t already
4. run it on gnome-system-manager:

   sudo apt-build install gnome-system-manager
   

And there you have it. You might want to copy the list of packages that apt-build installs via apt-get build-dep so you can mark them as auto installed using aptitude when done:

sudo aptitude markauto list_of_packages_you_copied_before

or, even easier, use apt-builds –remove-builddep option.

It really does make a difference!

If you’re really keen or you happen to have an older system just wasting away try this:

sudo apt-build world

and see what happens

There is a neat cheat sheet out in PDF format from FOSS covering, among many others, the new Ubuntu Uncomplicated Firewall ufw, special packages, of course apt-family package management, services a.k.a init scripts and daemons, …

It’s released under CC-BY-SA 3.0. By the way, did you know

Type the phrase “REISUB” while
holding down Alt and SysRq (PrintScrn) with
about 1 second between each letter. Your system
will reboot.

It really is very simple, especially if you are familiar (like I was) with the Debian apt system. All you have to do for the 7.04 “Feisty Fawn” release as suggested by Ubuntu Community:

1. Add the repository line to your sources.list by hand (sudo vi /etc/apt/sources.list && sudo aptitude update) or via the GUI (Applications -> Add/Remove… -> Preferences -> Third-Party Software -> Add… and don’t mistakenly hit “Revert” afterwards; hit Close!):
   deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu feisty-commercial main

2. Even though they suggest to search for “Opera” with the graphical user end (it’s called Synaptic Package Manager) it wouldn’t list it for me. So I went:
   sudo aptitude install opera

3. Hit Enter for aptitudes question to install additional packages.

After the install run you find Opera listed in the Applications menu (in your Gnome desktop panel menu bar, i.e. upper left corner) sorted in as Internet Application. By the way, the standard keyboard shortcut for that menu is Alt+F1.

Edit: The code line above starting with “deb” is to be one single line!

References:

• opera.com
• Ubuntu Repositories