Installing Node with apt-get vs PPA - what's the difference?

Question

I don't have any issues, I'm just curious - what's the difference between installing nodejs using just apt-get install nodejs, versus using the Chris Lea PPA?

Nginx seems like it also installs perfectly fine using only apt-get install nginx, yet the install instructions recommend using the PPA.

Can anyone explain why I'd take the extra steps to install with PPA instead of just using the apt-get install _____ one-liner?

Answer 1

apt-get is great for installing stable and tested software, though that implies they are no longer prime-time as you might want.

That is absolutely fine with most software, but sometimes it is better to use recent, less stable, rather than old stable version.

Node.js is exactly the case, where you would prioritize latest version over 'stability', plus you have all rights to doubt version 0.6.12 is more stable than 0.10.26, eventhough the later one was not tested as excessively on ubuntu.

Use PPA for selected software like Node.js, but I strogly suggest to stick to apt-get as long as it is convinient (in node.js it isn't). Being cautionless with installing products from PPA eventually results in your system instability.

Answer 2

The official versions in the apt repository are often older than the ones you get from a closely maintained PPA. With something like Node, the "older" version from the last Ubuntu release can be drastically out of date.

Answer 3

PPAs usually have more recent version of node/nginx/whatever.

For example, in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS repo, nginx version is 1.1.19 and nodejs 0.6.12 while in PPAs they are 1.4.7 and 0.10.26. So "default" packages are pretty old.