Updating softwares in Linux

There are many softwares that come out with regular updates like OPera , Pidgin etc. I wanted to install pidgin 2.1.0 from 2.0.2 and i had to download the source and make install that damn thing all over again. Took me 1/2 hr +
It s irritating , isnt there an easier way ? Synaptic dosent detect updates . Is there any wasy of doing it via synaptic. i am on Ubuntu 7.04

*ubuntuguide.org explains.dont use source compile.if at all u want to compile use a software called "checkinstall" from synaptic manager.
regarding pidgin update.there may be repositories set for latest pidgin ported for ubuntu search *ubuntuforums.org
also get ur /etc/apt/sources.list enabled(remove # in the start of lines beginning with "deb").below is my feisty sources.list.

Code:

# # If you get GPG errors with this sources.list, locate the GPG key in this file
# # and run these commands (where KEY is replaced with that key)
# #
# # gpg --keyserver hkp://subkeys.pgp.net --recv-keys KEY
# # gpg --export --armor KEY | sudo apt-key add -
#Ubuntu Security
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-security main restricted
deb-src *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-security restricted main multiverse universe #Added by software-properties
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-security universe
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-security multiverse

# # Ubuntu supported packages
# # GPG key: 437D05B5
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty main restricted
deb-src *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty restricted main multiverse universe #Added by software-properties
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-updates main restricted
deb-src *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-updates restricted main multiverse universe #Added by software-properties

#
# # Ubuntu community supported packages
# # GPG key: 437D05B5
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty universe multiverse
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-updates universe multiverse

# # Ubuntu backports project
# # GPG key: 437D05B5
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-backports main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-backports main restricted universe multiverse #Added by software-properties

#### Proposed Multiverse ####
deb *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-proposed main restricted universe multiverse
deb-src *archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ feisty-proposed main restricted universe multiverse #Added by software-properties


#### Canonical Commercial ####
deb *archive.canonical.com/ubuntu feisty-commercial main

deb *medibuntu.sos-sts.com/repo/ feisty free non-free

#compiz-fusion
deb *debs.vorian.org/ feisty extras
deb-src *debs.vorian.org/ feisty extras

dont remove the first two lines for ur feisty cd in sources.list.
once the sources.list is saved and exit,open synaptic and press reload when internet is ON.

thanks

ill jst C-P your list

for pidgin updates and adding the repo head here and follow the inst. given in the end:

*repository.debuntu.org/

hey pclinuxos 2007 doesnt have any package managers...please tell me how to update.

I tried to install few rpms by "rpm -i filename.rpm" gave lots of errors like cannot open something....help

It has apt as package manager! Who told you it doesnt have any package manager?

oops...becos some one told me pclinuxos is rpm based i thought it runs with yast .....is pclinuxOS deb-based?

well..i just checked the /etc/apt/sources.list
It has rpm sources listed....doubts cleared!!

Vivek788 said:
oops...becos some one told me pclinuxos is rpm based i thought it runs with yast .....

yast is package manager for OpenSuse.

Vivek788 said:
oops...becos some one told me pclinuxos is rpm based i thought it runs with yast .....is pclinuxOS deb-based?

well..i just checked the /etc/apt/sources.list
It has rpm sources listed....doubts cleared!!

It's RPM based alright! But it uses apt as package manager

apt4rpm?