add-apt-repository doesn't work with private package archives

[Jonathan Lange]

When I try to add a private package archive using apt-add-repository, I get a confusing error:

$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:secret/squirrel
Error: can't find signing_key_fingerprint at https://launchpad.net/api/1.0/~secret/+archive/squirrel

There are three inter-related defects here:
  1. It's not possible to use apt-add-repository. It ought to be possible.
  2. The page for the archive recommends that I use apt-add-repository, even though it doesn't work.
  3. The error message is confusing. It doesn't explain what's actually wrong, and it doesn't help me figure out what to do next.

[Julian Edwards (julian-edwards)]

bug 458360 covers the LP aspect of this. This bugtask should be retargeted to Ubuntu.

[Julian Edwards (julian-edwards)]

Also, the software centre people are aware of this, they're fixing it, so there's probably a bug already.

[Tim Penhey (thumper)]

so... should this bug be marked a dupe?