What is a "software channel?"

[zilla62]

I'm downloaded a package and used the package manager to install it. The package manager said "The same package is available from a software channel; recommend installing the package from this channel" What does this mean - software channel?

[zilla62]

Imagine what googling does...

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu

[Jynks]

Imagine what googling does...

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu

um... i still do not understand... so if you get this "install of software channel" message ... what are you ment to do exactly?

[RequinB4]

It means you should install that package from system-admin-synaptic package manager instead of downloading the deb.

[theWrkncacnter]

When you install ubuntu for the first time, the community repositories, which contain many useful things, are not enabled by default. To get them, Go to System>Administration>Software Sources, and enable the universe and multiverse options. Then you'll be able to install the program through synaptic, which lets you install, update, and uninstall packages neatly and worry-free. Hope that helps!