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No JSON object could be decoded
No JSON object could be decoded
Post by Thanks4That » Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:34 pm
New install of LM 16.
Trying to install Nginx
Via command line:
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nginx/$nginx
I get ‘Cannot add PPA: ‘No JSON object could be decoded’
Via Software Sources:
PPAS -> ppa:nginx/$nginx
popup: Cannot add PPA: ‘No JSON object could be decoded’
New to Linux and have googled error, best result I find is its a bug, LM15 did the same and so does LM16
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by passerby » Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:48 pm
Home PC: Xubuntu 14.04 x64, Nvidia GTX650, i7 3770K, 16GB RAM, Asus Xonar DX
Work PC: Mint 13 x64 XFCE, Nvidia GT620, i5 3470, 8GB RAM
Laptop: System76 Kudu Pro, Xubuntu 14.04 x64
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by Thanks4That » Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:50 pm
Have now tried versions 15 and 16 both with the same error, how do we go about reporting such problems?
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by dagon » Wed Mar 05, 2014 7:56 pm
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by Thanks4That » Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:00 pm
1. $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nginx/$nginx
2. $ sudo apt-get update
3. $ sudo apt-get install nginx
If I add the respository via the Synaptic Package Manager as show above, what steps do I need to take next, as I mentioned this is the first time I’ve ever used Linux Mint?
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by Thanks4That » Wed Mar 05, 2014 8:02 pm
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by petrus86 » Fri May 30, 2014 4:32 pm
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by echeveria » Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:13 pm
Thanks4That wrote: Its a big bug!
Have now tried versions 15 and 16 both with the same error, how do we go about reporting such problems?
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by karlchen » Thu Oct 19, 2017 4:27 pm
As Dagon explained already in March 2014, 3.5 years ago, before executing the commandline
add-apt-repository ppa:nginx/$nginx
you have to define the value of the variable $nginx:
nginx=stable # use nginx=development for latest development version
and only afterwards do
add-apt-repository ppa:nginx/$nginx
You fail to follow these steps (Dagon’s steps).
You fail to see that it is the undefined variable $nginx which causes the errors that you report.
Thanks4That, the thread starter, had confirmed that Dagon’s steps worked. 3.5 years ago.
You could also run the commandline like this:
add-apt-repository ppa:nginx/stable or
add-apt-repository ppa:nginx/development
depending on whether you want the stable release or the development release.
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[SOLVED] No JSON object could be decoded
[SOLVED] No JSON object could be decoded
Post by telefoag » Tue Jan 07, 2014 11:16 am
I’m trying to change my LinuxMint 16 PETRA theme and i have the following error message:
«Algo falló en la descarga. Por favor, intente actualizar la lista de nuevo.
Detalles: No JSON object could be decoded»
This happens when the program starts to download the theme list.
It happens the same with the applets.
any idea? I tried to found in google and in this forum but i don’t found anything..
Details: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by eagle.owl » Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:49 am
Hi folks,
I have installed Mint 16 Cinnamon. Yesterday I wanted to refresh themes,applets, extensions and desklets also kown as «spices».
While I could download desklets and extensions via Cinnamon menu this wasn’t able with themes and applets.
I’ve got the prompt
Something went wrong with the spices download. Please try refreshing the list again.
Details: No JSON object could be decoded
There is also a thread here which raises the same problem. But this thread was set on status «solved» But it isn’t solved. The problem exists further.
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p . 2&p=796579
Cinnamon spices (themes,applets) lists are not loading
These pages don’t work. The adresses are in
Those pages do work.The adresses are located in
I have opened the bug at launchpad again
Is there a solution in the offing!
Many thanks and sorry because of my bad English. Hope you understood.
Re: Details: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by xenopeek » Wed Jan 08, 2014 4:24 am
Thank you. Already known from reports from other user. Email has been sent to the Linux Mint developers to fix this.
Edit: wait, did I just reply you in German also
Re: No JSON object could be decoded
Post by darkanxo » Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:38 am
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Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by second.exodous » Fri Jun 07, 2013 7:48 pm
I’ve tried adding PPAs through the command line and the new graphical Software Sources and get the same thing so it isn’t a problem with the new GUI.
Here are some examples of a PPAs I tried to add:
Those are just two examples. I have always went to the ppa page, copied the lines after selecting what version of Ubuntu I use and pasted it into software sources, did something change?
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by second.exodous » Fri Jun 07, 2013 8:18 pm
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by kajukenbo » Sat Jun 08, 2013 7:31 pm
Same problem here, trying to add Handbrake.
I thought I’d give Mint 15 a try in place of LMDE — only because it has a newer kernel & mounts the SD cards in my Galaxy S3 correctly.
I see the exact same errors you experienced.
Granted, as a Red Hat & Debian guy I am more familiar with repo files and the sources.list than configuring with PPA.
I also prefer the command line. I hate GUIs that keep me isolated from what is actually being done — harder to understand & fix that way.
I added Handbrake the «old school» way. Seems to work.
If you are not root then you need to use «sudo», of course.
# wget -Nc http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu/pool/main/h/handbrake/handbrake-cli_0.9.9ppa1
raring1_i386.deb
# wget -Nc http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu/pool/main/h/handbrake/handbrake-gtk_0.9.9ppa1
raring1_i386.deb
# dpkg -i handbrake-cli_0.9.9ppa1
You should also make sure dependencies like x264, ffmpeg & libdvdcss2 are installed.
I only use 64-bit installs when required, so you may need to pick your own packages here:
http://ppa.launchpad.net/stebbins/handbrake-releases/ubuntu/pool/main/h/handbrake/
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by second.exodous » Sat Jun 08, 2013 10:18 pm
I come from Gentoo myself and everything was command line. I switched years ago because GUI is ‘good enough’ now and I was spending all my free time maintaining my computer and learning about Linux. I like Linux but not enough to spend most of my free time learning it so I made the jump to Ubuntu and then to Mint. I rarely do anything command line way anymore but can’t dump Linux because of the lack of spyware and viruses. Oh, and the cost, zill.
Anyway, I installed 15 on another notebook and the same thing, when adding PPAs though the GUI I get the same error. The work around where just adding PPAs through ‘Additional repositories’ works still. I can’t find anything about this, maybe people that use the GUI don’t add PPAs and everyone who uses them just uses the command line? Should I submit this as a bug though, same problem on 3 separate computers is strange. I even checked the MD5 sum on the DVD I downloaded and then re-downloaded it anyway before installing on the third computer and still the same thing.
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by kajukenbo » Sat Jun 08, 2013 10:43 pm
I’ve been a professional UNIX & Linux Systems Admin/Engineer for about 10 years, using Linux as my sole home & business OS for that time.
I started with Debian in 1994 or 1995, then to Arch, Fedora, Red Hat/CentOS (I’m a RHCT & RHCSA), Fuduntu and now back to Debian via LMDE/MATE.
About the only thing I use a GUI for is a terminal manager, web browser/media player & file manager.
Since Linux administration is my «day job», the command line is usually my only option and I must know it well.
Trying to run a GUI over a 115200 baud (or slower!) SoL IPMI connection is not. viable.
I flirted with Gentoo and gave it up when it once took all weekend to «emerge world».
I do not like the way Ubuntu breaks upstream compatibility with Debian and this PPA thing is yet another annoyance.
I imagine I’ll be re-installing LMDE before the weekend is over, but for now I’ll play with LM15 some more.
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by Nick Payne » Sun Jun 09, 2013 2:45 am
I’ve tried adding PPAs through the command line and the new graphical Software Sources and get the same thing so it isn’t a problem with the new GUI.
Here are some examples of a PPAs I tried to add:
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by second.exodous » Sat Jun 15, 2013 3:00 am
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by Nick Payne » Sat Jun 15, 2013 6:26 pm
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by 60niners » Tue Jul 16, 2013 3:13 pm
Pretty sure I have the same version as you do; just downloaded it yesterday. I get the same JSON error whether trying to add a PPA through the terminal or through the Software sources app.
I am extremely new to linux (yesterday) so I’ve been googling a lot lol. and can’t seem to find an answer to this one?
Been trying to add this: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/firefox-stable
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by Enkouyami » Sat Jul 27, 2013 3:24 pm
Re: Can’t add new PPAs because of JSON error
Post by giantjoebot » Tue May 13, 2014 11:13 pm
Found a work around. I remembered that I installed ajaxplorer without problem, so I just checked their instructions and went from there. http://pyd.io/download/
So I was trying to install tvheadend, and this is how I got it to work