How to Add Debian Trixie Non-free Repository Guide

GNU/Linux Debian Trixie Adding Non Free Repo Guide

Hi! The Tutorial shows you Step-by-Step How to Add Non Free Repository in Debian 13 Trixie GNU/Linux Based OSes.

Especially relevant: this Guide Show How to Properly Add Debian Trixie Non-free Repo to install just the Needed Software and then Preserving the Free Nature of System!

The Repos Features are:

• Non-free includes Packages whose Licences are not free
• Contrib the Dependencies of non-free Packages (which make them not part of Default Repos)

1. 1. Launching Terminal

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   Bash Shell Debian QuickStart Guide

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2. 2. Adding Non-free Repo

   Then to Add Non Free Repository in Debian
   Edit Repo with nano Editor:

   Simply run: At the end of each line after ‘main’ append:

    contrib non-free non-free-firmware

   Like: deb http://deb.debian.org/debian bookworm main contrib non-free non-free-firmware Ctrl+x to Save & Exit from nano Editor.
   Last, Refresh the Apt Sources with:

   sudo apt update

3. 3. Preserving Debian Free System

   (Optional) This if you want to Preserve the Valuable Free Nature of Debian System.
   To do so you have to strictly Allowing only the Installation of Some Non-free Package with an Apt Pinning.
   First, Disable All Non free Software with this content:

   Explanation: Disable packages from non-free tree by default
   Package: *
   Pin: release o=Debian,a=stable,l=Debian,c=non-free
   Pin-Priority: -1
   

   To Make it at once execute:

   sudo echo -e "Explanation: Disable packages from non-free tree by default
   Package: *
   Pin: release o=Debian,a=stable,l=Debian,c=non-free
   Pin-Priority: -1" > /etc/apt/preferences.d/non-free_policy

   And then Enable the Software of Choice, E.g. firmware-iwlwifi:

   Explanation: Enable package firmware-iwlwifi from non-free tree
   Package: firmware-iwlwifi
   Pin: release o=Debian,a=stable,l=Debian,c=non-free
   Pin-Priority: 130
   

   Again with a simple echo:)

   sudo echo -e "Explanation: Enable package firmware-iwlwifi from non-free tree
   Package: firmware-iwlwifi
   Pin: release o=Debian,a=stable,l=Debian,c=non-free
   Pin-Priority: 130" > /etc/apt/preferences.d/firmware-iwlwifi_non-free

   But to enable Multiple packages at once proceed like that:

   Explanation: Enable package firmware-iwlwifi nvidia-driver from non-free tree
   Package: firmware-iwlwifi nvidia-driver
   Pin: release o=Debian,a=stable,l=Debian,c=non-free
   Pin-Priority: 130
   

   Again translated in a Command like:

   sudo echo -e "Explanation: Enable package firmware-iwlwifi nvidia-driver from non-free tree
   Package: firmware-iwlwifi nvidia-driver
   Pin: release o=Debian,a=stable,l=Debian,c=non-free
   Pin-Priority: 130" > /etc/apt/preferences.d/enabled-packages_non-free

   The only drawback of the procedure is that you have to repeat it every time you need some new Non-free software…
   For further instructions see: Advanced Apt Pinning Techniques.