Ubuntu

Ubuntu
Ubuntu 23.10 "Mantic Minotaur"
DeveloperCanonical Ltd.
OS familyLinux
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen-source,[1][2] some proprietary drivers[3]
Initial releaseUbuntu 4.10 (Warty Warthog) / 20 October 2004 (20 years ago) (2004-10-20)
Latest releaseUbuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) / 25 April 2024 (8 months ago) (2024-04-25)
Repository
Marketing targetCloud computing, IoT, personal computers, servers
Available inMore than 55 languages by LoCos
Update methodSoftware Updater
Package managerGNOME Software, APT, dpkg, Snappy, flatpak
PlatformsIA-32, x86-64,[4] ARM[4][5][6][7][8] and more (i.e. at least all traditional computers/devices)
Kernel typeMonolithic
UserlandGNU
Default
user interface		GNOME
LicenseFree software
Official websitewww.ubuntu.com

Ubuntu is a free operating system that uses the Linux kernel. The word "ubuntu" is a Zulu word meaning "humanity to others".[9] It is pronounced "oo-boon-too".[10]

It is one of the most popular Linux distributions and it is based on Debian Linux computer operating system. The goal with Ubuntu is to make it easy to use. Ubuntu can be used on all types of personal computers (and even devices such as robots[11][12]) including in Windows 10.[13] Ubuntu is downloaded as a DVD's ISO image, which is free to download from the Ubuntu website. It can be installed or tested by running the DVD.

A new release of Ubuntu is released every six months, with long-term support releases every two years.[14][15] The latest release is Ubuntu 24.04 ("Noble Numbat"), a long-term support release (what most users may want to choose), which is supported until 2029.

Started in 2004, Ubuntu has been developed by Canonical Ltd., a company owned by a rich South African man named Mark Shuttleworth.

Packages and software support

Ubuntu Touch (no longer supported) running on the Nexus 5 smartphone

Ubuntu splits all software into four different categories to show differences in licensing and the amount of support available.[16] They are:

free software non-free software
supported Main Restricted
unsupported Universe Multiverse

Free software here includes only software that meets the Ubuntu licensing requirements,[17] which almost are the same as the Debian Free Software Guidelines. There is one difference for the Main category, however – it has firmware and fonts which cannot be changed, but are included if Ubuntu will not work right.[18]

Non-free software is usually unsupported (Multiverse), but some exceptions (Restricted) are given for very important non-free software. Supported non-free software include device drivers that are needed to run Ubuntu on current hardware. The level of support in the Restricted category is less than that of Main, since the developers may not be able to get to the source code. It is wanted that Main and Restricted should contain all the software needed for a general-use Linux system.

Besides the official repositories is Ubuntu Backports,[19] which is an officially known project to backport newer software from later releases of Ubuntu. The repository is not comprehensive (meaning that it has parts missing from it); it is mostly made up of user-requested packages, which are accepted if they meet quality guidelines.

Releases

Two new releases of Ubuntu are released each year, normally in April and October.

The number of the Ubuntu release is 'X.YY', with 'X' being the year of release (minus 2000) and 'Y' being the month of release. For example, Ubuntu 4.10 was released in October (the tenth month of the year), 2004. The name of the release (for example, Breezy Badger) is an adjective (a describing word) followed by the name of an animal.[20]

Version Release date Name More information
4.10 20 October 2004 Warty Warthog First release
5.04 8 April 2005 Hoary Hedgehog First "Kubuntu" created
5.10 13 October 2005[21][22] Breezy Badger First "Edubuntu"
6.06 1 June 2006[23][24] Dapper Drake LTS-release, First "Xubuntu" created
6.06.1 August 2006 Dapper Drake Point One LTS-release, 1st update
6.06.2 January 2008 Dapper Drake Point Two LTS-release, 2nd update
6.10 26 October 2006[25][26] Edgy Eft experimental version
7.04 19 April 2007[27] Feisty Fawn
7.10 18 October 2007 Gutsy Gibbon First "Gobuntu" created
8.04 24 April 2008 Hardy Heron LTS-release
8.04.1 June 2008 Hardy Heron Point One LTS-release, 1st update
8.10 27 October 2008[28] Intrepid Ibex
9.04 23 April 2009 Jaunty Jackalope
9.10 29 October 2009 Karmic Koala
10.04 29 April 2010 Lucid Lynx LTS-release, first "Lubuntu" created
10.10 10 October 2010 Maverick Meerkat
11.04 28 April 2011 Natty Narwhal
11.10 13 October 2011 Oneiric Ocelot
12.04 26 April 2012 Precise Pangolin LTS-release
12.10 18 October 2012 Quantal Quetzel
13.04 25 April 2013 Raring Ringtail
13.10 17 October 2013[29] Saucy Salamander Server release
14.04 17 April 2014[30] Trusty Tahr LTS-release
14.10 20 October 2014 Utopic Unicorn
15.04 23 April 2015 Vivid Vervet
15.10 22 October 2015 Wily Werewolf
16.04 21 April 2016[31] Xenial Xerus LTS-release
16.10 13 October 2016 Yakkety Yak
17.04 13 April 2017 Zesty Zapus
17.10 19 October 2017 Artful Aardvark
18.04 26 April 2018 Bionic Beaver LTS-release
18.10 18 October 2018 Cosmic Cuttlefish
19.04 18 April 2019 Disco Dingo
19.10 17 October 2019 Eoan Ermine
20.04 23 April 2020 Focal Fossa LTS-release
20.10 22 October 2020 Groovy Gorilla
21.04 22 April 2021 Hirsute Hippo
21.10 14 October 2021 Impish Indri
22.04 21 April 2022 Jammy Jellyfish LTS-release
22.10 20 October 2022 Kinetic Kudu
23.04 20 April 2023 Lunar Lobster
23.10 12 October 2023 Mantic Minotaur
24.04 25 April 2024 Noble Numbat LTS-release

LTS indicates Long Term Support.

Very old (i.e. 32-bit i386) processors have been supported up to Ubuntu 18.04, but users "will not be allowed to upgrade to Ubuntu 18.10 as dropping support for that architecture is being evaluated".

Package

Ubuntu's official software package repository[32] includes, for example, UNetbootin.[33]

Variants

Kubuntu is an official variant of the Ubuntu distribution which uses KDE rather than GNOME.

Ubuntu is available in many different variants, e.g. because there are several options for which desktop environment to use.

The official sister distributions which are fully supported by Canonical are:

  • Ubuntu Kylin, an official derivative aimed at the Chinese market
  • Kubuntu, a desktop distribution using KDE rather than GNOME
  • Ubuntu Server Edition, which is mainly used on servers to provide services. This version only comes with a command line interface, but a graphical user interface can be installed.
  • Xubuntu, a "lightweight" distribution based on the Xfce desktop environment instead of GNOME, designed to run better on low-specification computers
  • Lubuntu, a desktop using the LXDE desktop environment
  • Ubuntu Budgie, a desktop using the Budgie desktop environment
  • Ubuntu MATE, a desktop using the MATE desktop environment
  • Ubuntu Studio, a multimedia-creation form of Ubuntu
  • Edubuntu, a distribution designed for classrooms using Unity

References

  1. ↑ "kernel.ubuntu.com". kernel.ubuntu.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "Index of /ubuntu". archive.ubuntu.com.
  3. ↑ "Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems". Free Software Foundation. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Supported Hardware". Official Ubuntu Documentation. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  5. ↑ "Ubuntu 11.10 will support ARM processors to take on Red Hat". The Inquirer. 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  6. ↑ Paul, Ryan (26 April 2012). "Precise Pangolin rolls out: Ubuntu 12.04 released, introduces Unity HUD". Ars Technica. Condé Nast. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  7. ↑ Larabel, Michael (23 January 2012). "Ubuntu's Already Making Plans For ARM In 2014, 2015". Phoronix. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  8. ↑ Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols (22 August 2011). "Ubuntu Linux bets on the ARM server". ZDNet. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
  9. ↑ "uBuntu - Its Meaning". Ubuntu Peace Project. Retrieved 14 December 2008.[permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ Daniel Miessler (23 October 2007). "This is How You Pronounce Ubuntu". danielmiessler.com. Retrieved 13 March 2011.
  11. ↑ "Your first robot: A beginner's guide to ROS and Ubuntu Core [1/5]". blog.ubuntu.com.
  12. ↑ Trenholm, Richard. "Open source Ubuntu Core connects robots, drones and smart homes". CNET.
  13. ↑ "Canonical announces support for Ubuntu on Windows Subsystem for Linux 2".
  14. ↑ "Releases - Ubuntu Wiki". wiki.ubuntu.com. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  15. ↑ "LTS - Ubuntu Wiki". wiki.ubuntu.com. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  16. ↑ "ubuntu/components". Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2006.
  17. ↑ "ubuntu/licensing". Archived from the original on 10 November 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2006.
  18. ↑ "ubuntu/components". Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2008.
  19. ↑ "UbuntuBackports". Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  20. ↑ "Ubuntu naming system". Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Ubuntu 5.10 announcement". Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  22. ↑ "Ubuntu 5.10 release notes". Archived from the original on 1 April 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
  23. ↑ "Ubuntu 6.06 announcement". Archived from the original on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  24. ↑ "Ubuntu 6.06 release notes". Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
  25. ↑ "Ubuntu 6.10 announcement". Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  26. ↑ "Ubuntu 6.10 release notes". Archived from the original on 16 March 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2006.
  27. ↑ "Ubuntu 7.04 announcement". Retrieved 18 August 2008.
  28. ↑ ""Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop Edition enables mobile, flexible computing for a changing digital world"". Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
  29. ↑ "Ubuntu 13.10 (Saucy Salamander) released"
  30. ↑ Adam Conrad (17 April 2014). "Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr) released". Ubuntu Mailing Lists. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus) released"
  32. ↑ ArchLinux.org, "Official repositories," excerpt, "A software repository is a storage location from which software packages may be retrieved and installed on a computer"; retrieved 2012-06-07.
  33. ↑ Unbuntu, Package unetbootin; retrieved 2012-06-07.

Other websites

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ubuntu (operating system).