[Feature request] Merge universe packages from main into a dedicated universe repository

Bug Report Template

1. Affected Package revision / version

All current Trisquel package repositories (as of the current release).
The issue concerns repository structure, not a specific package.

2. Steps to Reproduce

  1. Set up a system with the standard Trisquel repository configuration.
  2. Attempt to disable Ubuntu-origin universe packages while keeping Trisquel’s main repository active.
  3. Note that universe content is inseparable from main.

3. Current Behavior

Ubuntu’s universe packages are merged into Trisquel’s main repository.
This results in the following issues:

  • It is impossible to disable or isolate universe-derived packages, which complicates testing repository dependencies, analyzing package sources, or performing dependency audits.
  • It causes confusion for users, as some attempt to manually add entries such as aramo universe to /etc/apt/sources.list, expecting it to be consistent with Ubuntu’s repository structure. This confusion is reinforced by software installation guides that explicitly instruct Ubuntu users to enable universe in /etc/apt/sources.list. It is also unlikely that most Trisquel users are aware that the universe packages are already included within the main repository. Adding universe /etc/apt/sources.list in Trisquel does not work because no separate universe repository exists in Trisquel.

4. Expected Behavior (optional)

A separate Trisquel repository (e.g., trisquel-universe) should contain all Ubuntu universe packages.
Users and developers could then disable that repository independently to test only the main (Trisquel-maintained) set of packages.

5. Workaround (optional)

No direct workaround exists, since main and universe are currently combined.
Manual filtering or local repository customization would be complex and error-prone.

6. Suggestions, Investigation and Possible Causes (optional)

Suggestion:
Split the Ubuntu universe-derived packages from Trisquel’s main repository and create a distinct repository, e.g. trisquel-universe.

Rationale / Benefits:

  • Enables selective disabling of universe for dependency or update testing.
  • Improves visibility into package origins and dependency relationships.
  • Offers finer control for developers, testers, and derivative distribution maintainers.
  • Reduces confusion when comparing Trisquel main with Ubuntu’s repository structure.

Implementation would primarily require adjusting the repository metadata and publishing configuration to separate sources in apt listings.

7. Other Tests (optional)

Trisquel's /etc/apt/sources.list:

# Trisquel repositories for supported software and updates

deb https://archive.trisquel.org/trisquel/ aramo main
deb-src https://archive.trisquel.org/trisquel/ aramo main
deb https://archive.trisquel.org/trisquel/ aramo-security main
deb-src https://archive.trisquel.org/trisquel/ aramo-security main
deb https://archive.trisquel.org/trisquel/ aramo-updates main
deb-src https://archive.trisquel.org/trisquel/ aramo-updates main
# deb https://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/trisquel/packages aramo-backports main
# deb-src https://ftp.acc.umu.se/mirror/trisquel/packages aramo-backports main

# This system was installed using small removable media
# (e.g. netinst, live or single CD). The matching "deb cdrom"
# entries were disabled at the end of the installation process.
# For information about how to configure apt package sources,
# see the sources.list(5) manual.

Ubuntu Jammy /etc/apt/sources.list:

# See http://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes for how to upgrade to
# newer versions of the distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy main restricted
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy main restricted

## Major bug fix updates produced after the final release of the
## distribution.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-updates main restricted
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-updates main restricted

## N.B. software from this repository is ENTIRELY UNSUPPORTED by the Ubuntu
## team. Also, please note that software in universe WILL NOT receive any
## review or updates from the Ubuntu security team.
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy universe
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy universe
deb http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-updates universe
# deb-src http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-updates universe
Edited by David Hedlund
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