How to get source package with aptitude on linux?

Question

I can get source packages using apt-get source , but there a way to do this using aptitude ? Also I downloaded the .deb package for python2.6 using aptitude and then unzipped it using ar.

aptitude download python2.6
ar xv python2.6_2.6.5-1ubuntu6_i386.deb

I also downloaded the python source using apt-get

sudo apt-get source python2.6

The contents of both the downloads are different. Why ?

Answer 1

aptitude download python2.6 retrieves the binary package for python2.6.

apt-get source python2.6 retrieves the source package that generates the binary package python2.6.

Source downloads will include the original source tarball, the debian diff and the signed certificate file.

Answer 2

apt-get source packagename

apt-get source does not interact with the package system so mixing apt-get and aptitude is fine in this case.

You also do not have to be root to use apt-get source.