Ubuntu – use other tool than Ubuntu Software Center to open apt links

aptlubuntusoftware-center

Without Ubuntu Software Center in Lubuntu I was unable to edit opening apt links in any program in Firefox (see this question). After installing Ubuntu Software Center, that problem is solved, but could I use another program instead of Ubuntu Software Center for the same purpose? I find it too heavy, and to install I prefer the Terminal, gdebi, Lubuntu Software Center or the Synaptic.

(Now that I have the apt option in Firefox/Preferences/Applications, I try to change Ubuntu Software Center to Lubuntu Software Center but this does not change the option.)

Best Answer

  • Neither gDebi, Synaptic or Lubuntu Software Center support handling the "apt://" protocol/links.

  • But a very simple graphical apt-get-type installer called AptURL does.

    • Install it with sudo apt-get install apturl
    • Set Firefox Preferences to "Always Ask" for apt
    • Click on a link, and select AptURL:

    enter image description here

    • And the window will pop open:

    enter image description here

    • Installation will take place using a lightweight gDebi-style frontend

  • The other option is to use a custom script such as green7's answer

  • But to be browser-independent, what you really need is:

    1. A .desktop file for your script/application, indicating that it handles the x-scheme-handler/apt protocol (see MimeType= lines in aptURL.desktop, ubuntu-software-center.desktop)
    2. And you can set the default by modifying the defaults.list file in /usr/share/applications/
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