I'm not sure I understand what this means. How can Ubuntu recommend something that isn't in the repository? Am I supposed to fetch the source code and install myself? Why isn't there a biber package?
To be clear, I can use biblatex without biber, but it preferable to use them together.
Update: OK, I guess I'll download the biber source. I'd rather not install the whole texlive, because it's cumbersome to say the least.
By the way, biber is a terrible package name - when searching for it on Google I keep getting it corrected to Bieber, argh.