How to download source code with apt-get?

Posted by Muurverf on Ask Ubuntu See other posts from Ask Ubuntu or by Muurverf
Published on 2012-11-25T22:36:59Z Indexed on 2012/11/25 23:22 UTC
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I'm trying to download source code of certain packages, for example rhythmbox, for learning purposes. I want to do this through apt-get, with the apt-get source command.

For some reason, apt-get can't seem to find any package. I've tried several packages, and I keep getting this output from apt-get:

$ apt-get source rhythmbox
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree       
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to find a source package for rhythmbox

I've been searching for answers for quite some time now, but I can't find anyone with the same issue. apt-get works fine with installing and updating so apt-get works fine in my opinion. During the search I also learned that I had to enable the 'source code repositories' in Software Sources, so that's also enabled.

I am aware of the fact that (maybe only for certain packages, not sure) source packages can also be downloaded with bzr from Launchpad, but I want to know why this method won't work.

Thanks in advance!

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