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Maemo Extras, Extras-Devel, Extras-Testing: why, what for?
The Maemo community runs three separate repositories: Extras, Extras-Devel, and Extras-Testing, each of them containing different applications.
Maemo Extras comes pre-configured on the N900 (and in current firmware it is disabled by default, so it needs to be enabled by the user by unticking the "Disabled" option) while the two remaining ones need to be added manually.
So what are they and why are they separate?
Maemo Extras is the main repository, meant to be used by end-users. It contains applications that have been tested and verified for compatibility, safety, proper functionality, "optification" (i.e. installation in the bigger /opt partition not to take space in limited rootfs), etc. If you are a person that does not like using applications which are still in "beta" stage, or you don't feel the need to test/have everything right as it comes, you may want to restrict yourself to only using this Extras repository.
In case you accidentally delete this repository, or if you need its details for any other reasons, they are as follows:
Catalogue name: Extras
Web address: http://repository.maemo.org/extras/
Distribution: fremantle
Components: free non-free
...or simply click here on your Maemo device to install it automatically.
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Extras Testing repository contains freshly created applications that haven't yet been tested/verified. And this is what this repository is meant for: it is for those who would like to test new applications. Using this repository, you can get all new apps right after they have been released, and additionally you can help with testing them against any problems, "improper behaviour", or any other issues. Once an application contained in this repository has been tested and found safe, compatible and properly working, it will get "promoted" to the above mentioned Extras repository for general use.
If you decide to use this repository, please be aware of two possible "risks":
- applications contained there may NOT be correctly "optified". This means that some of them may NOT obey the rule to install larger packages in the large 2 GB /opt partition rather than the small (70 MB or so of free space on a "fresh" device) rootfs. This may lead to the "/" (root) partition getting filled. Of course, once you notice this, you may just unistall those applications, so it is not "irreversible"
- apps in Testing may NOT pay too much attention to proper power management. This means that installing some of the applications from Testing may result in shorter battery life. Again, as above, if you notice such an issue, you can uninstal the "problematic" software.
The details of the Extras-Testing repository to be typed in Application Manager in order to add this repository are as follows:
Catalogue name: Extras-Testing
Web address: http://repository.maemo.org/extras-testing/
Distribution: fremantle
Components: free non-free
...or simply click here on your Maemo device to install it automatically.
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Extras-Devel this is the "lowest-level" repository with applications that usually are on very early development stage, let's call them "alpha" versions. If you are not used to dealing with alpha/beta software, or if you want to be sure that software you install won't mess with your phone, do not use this repository. It is not meant for end-users, but only for people who know what they are doing.
Repository details needed to add this catalogue to the App Manager are as follows:
Catalogue name: Extras-Devel
Web address: http://repository.maemo.org/extras-devel/
Distribution: fremantle
Components: free non-free
...or simply click here on your Maemo device to install it automatically.
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