package management - Are the source repositories required for a normal user?

It was always my impression that Ubuntu was a binary package distro and that developer sources for various packages were supplied in separate sources repos, if required.

It seems that my sources.list file is littered with source repos. Indeed, if adding a package repository via update manager preferences, it automatically includes the sources repo into my sources.list.

This is killing my update times and leads me to believe that my apt sources.list is very wrong indeed.

My question is:

• are the source repositories required for anybody who just wants to run software and not compile it themselves?

Note: Source repositories are different from source packages. The repositories, if selected or present in your software sources, are updated whenever you check for updates. Source packages, on the other hand, are never automatically installed -- regardless of whether you use apt-get install or the Software Center. You must explicitly install them with apt-get source, etc.

No, the source repositories are not required for a normal user; you also do not have to download or install any source packages for the proper functioning of your software.

To remove them, open Software Center, and go to the Edit menu...Software Properties.

• Click on the box to the left of Source Code as shown below. If you are asked for your password enter it. The box should then be unchecked (white box). Click on close.