aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template

[Monty Taylor]

After upgrading to maverick, I can't use add-apt-repository anymore. The full traceback is:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 55, in <module>
    sp = SoftwareProperties()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 90, in __init__
    self.reload_sourceslist()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 538, in reload_sourceslist
    self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 90, in get_sources
    raise NoDistroTemplateException("Error: could not find a "
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template

I got this specifically with:

add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-mozilla-daily/ppa

But it has happened so far for every ppa I've tried to add.

[Tom Gall (tom-gall)]

I've hitting this as well on my amd64 maverick install.

# add-apt-repository ppa:linaro-maintainers/kernel
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 55, in <module>
    sp = SoftwareProperties()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 90, in __init__
    self.reload_sourceslist()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 538, in reload_sourceslist
    self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 90, in get_sources
    raise NoDistroTemplateException("Error: could not find a "
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template

# ls /etc/apt/sources.list.d
overlay.list
root@w00tstock:~# cat /etc/apt/sources.list.d/overlay.list
# sources.list part for the chessy overlay ppa
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/linaro-maintainers/overlay/ubuntu maverick main

It does appear that it partially works however trying to add other ppa's fail with the same error.

[alfer (rmn-shev)]

After upgrading to maverick, I can't use add-apt-repository anymore. The full traceback is:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/add-apt-repository", line 55, in <module>
    sp = SoftwareProperties()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 90, in __init__
    self.reload_sourceslist()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 538, in reload_sourceslist
    self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 90, in get_sources
    raise NoDistroTemplateException("Error: could not find a "
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template

I got this specifically with:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa

But it has happened so far for every ppa I've tried to add.

[François Garillot (garillot)]

This looks tied to python-apt & related to :
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=513039
(see message 27)

[Jalakas (jalakas)]

Still happens with precise:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/apt-add-repository", line 160, in <module>
    sp = SoftwareProperties(options=options)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 96, in __init__
    self.reload_sourceslist()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/softwareproperties/SoftwareProperties.py", line 584, in reload_sourceslist
    self.distro.get_sources(self.sourceslist)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/aptsources/distro.py", line 87, in get_sources
    raise NoDistroTemplateException("Error: could not find a "
aptsources.distro.NoDistroTemplateException: Error: could not find a distribution template

[Savvas Radevic (medigeek)]

You have to recreate the file /etc/lsb-release
This file should pre-exist by default for some packages and commands.

For ubuntu precise 12.04:

gksu gedit /etc/lsb-release

and enter this text:

DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=12.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=precise
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 12.04 LTS"

Save and exit.

[Salih EMIN (salih-emin)]

Mine already exist but it produces the same error when triing to use add-apt-reposytory

DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu
DISTRIB_RELEASE=14.04
DISTRIB_CODENAME=trusty
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS"

[Yves Mulleneers (ymulleneers-w)]

There is simply no option to choose a repository, so other sligly similar distributions get impacted such as : what if /etc/lsbrelease looks like

DISTRIB_ID=LinuxMint
DISTRIB_RELEASE=17
DISTRIB_CODENAME=qiana
DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Linux Mint 17 Qiana"

Why not an otion to force which repository to use?