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Ubuntu

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Ubuntu
NameUbuntu
DeveloperCanonical Ltd.
FamilyLinux
Source modelOpen-source software
Released20 October 2004
Latest release version24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat)
Latest release date25 April 2024
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux kernel)
UserlandGNU
UiGNOME
LicenseGPL and other free licenses
Websitehttps://ubuntu.com/

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution based on Debian, developed and commercially supported by Canonical Ltd.. The project is committed to the principles of open-source software development and is named for the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu. It is one of the most popular distributions for cloud computing, IoT, and desktop use, known for its regular release cycle and long-term support versions.

Overview

The distribution emphasizes accessibility and internationalization, aiming to provide a free operating system usable by people around the world in their local language. Its default GNOME desktop environment, known as GNOME Shell, provides a modern user interface, while the underlying system is renowned for its stability derived from its Debian foundations. Core components include the Linux kernel, the GNU userland, and a vast repository of software packages managed by the APT package management system. The system is widely deployed on servers, powered by technologies like OpenStack and Kubernetes, and forms the basis for public cloud images on platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

History

The project was announced in September 2004 by Mark Shuttleworth and a small team of former Debian developers, with the first release, version 4.10 (Warty Warthog), arriving in October 2004. Funding was provided by Shuttleworth's company, Canonical Ltd., which he founded with the proceeds from the sale of his earlier venture, Thawte. A pivotal early goal was to create a more polished, user-friendly alternative to other Linux distributions, which led to the creation of the Ubuntu Installer and a predictable, time-based release schedule. The project's governance and technical direction were initially outlined in the Ubuntu Manifesto, and its community structure was formalized with the creation of the Ubuntu Community Council and the Ubuntu Technical Board.

Features

A key feature is its robust security framework, which includes mandatory access control via AppArmor, uncomplicated firewall configuration with UFW, and regular security updates from the Canonical Ltd. security team. The Snap package format, created by Canonical, allows for secure, containerized software distribution that works across many Linux distributions. For enterprise users, offerings like Ubuntu Advantage provide comprehensive support, Landscape for systems management, and extended security maintenance for the Linux kernel. The distribution also includes built-in support for virtualization technologies like KVM and libvirt, as well as the ZFS file system.

Variants

Official derivatives, known as Ubuntu flavours, use different desktop environments or target specific use cases while sharing the core system and repositories. These include Kubuntu (featuring the KDE Plasma desktop), Lubuntu (using the LXQt desktop for lightweight performance), Xubuntu (which utilizes the Xfce desktop), and Ubuntu MATE (built around the MATE desktop). For specialized deployments, Ubuntu Server provides a minimal, optimized image for data centers and clouds, while Ubuntu Core is a minimal, transactionally updated system designed for IoT devices and embedded systems. Other notable variants include the studio-focused Ubuntu Studio and the educational Edubuntu.

Development and release cycle

Development follows a strict, time-based schedule, with new standard releases every six months in April and October. Every fourth release, occurring in even-numbered April months, is designated a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, receiving five years of security and maintenance updates for the desktop and server versions. The process is managed by Canonical Ltd.'s engineering team in collaboration with the global community, with development milestones tracked through a series of alpha and beta releases. Each release is given an alliterative codename using an adjective and an animal, such as "Jammy Jellyfish" for 22.04 LTS, and is based on a snapshot of the unstable branch of Debian, known as Debian Sid.

Community and support

The global community is organized through local teams known as LoCo Teams, which host events, provide local language support, and advocate for the distribution. Major community events include the release parties for new versions and the annual developer summit, previously known as the Ubuntu Developer Summit. Technical support is available through official channels like paid Ubuntu Advantage subscriptions from Canonical Ltd., as well as extensive community-driven resources such as the Ask Ubuntu question-and-answer site, official documentation wikis, and support forums hosted on Discourse. The project's development philosophy and code of conduct are guided by the Ubuntu Code of Conduct, which emphasizes collaboration and respect.

Category:Linux distributions Category:Debian-based distributions Category:2004 software