Ubuntu (Linux distribution)

This article is about Ubuntu Linux. For other uses of the term Ubuntu, please see Ubuntu (disambiguation).

Ubuntu
Website	www.ubuntu.com
Developed by	Canonical Ltd
Software type	Operating System
Latest release	9.04, 23rd April 2009
Source model	Open Source
Licence	GPL
OS Family	GNU/Linux
Kernel Type	Monolithic (Linux)
Default UI	Gnome

Ubuntu is a Debian-based distribution of the Linux operating system created by Canonical Ltd. It is based on the ideas of the Ubuntu philosophy ("humanity towards others"). Its slogan is "Linux for human beings", reflecting its focus on ease of use. The latest release is 9.10 "Karmic Koala".

Development cycle

A new version of Ubuntu is released every six months i.e. every April and October. The version number is made up of the year and the month that it was released. For example, Ubuntu 7.10 means that it was released in October (from the "10") 2007 (from the "07"). After a release, development of the next release begins very quickly, to keep up with the 6 month release cycle. Each development cycle has Alpha releases, a Beta release and a Release Candidate before the final release.

The Ubuntu developers take a snapshot of the Debian Unstable repositories. They then focus on ensuring that all of these packages work, and upload newer version of packages when necessary. The release dates are designed so that new versions of the X Window System and GNOME can be included.

History and releases

4.04 Warty Warthog was the first release of Ubuntu. At this time, the most popular Linux distributions were SUSE, Red Hat and Mandrake (now named Mandriva). Ubuntu began as a fork of Debian Unstable. The difference was that there would be regularly releases every six months, and releases would be based on a snapshot of Debian Unstable, allowing Ubuntu releases to be heavily tested before release. This was in contrast to Debian, where the only heavily-tested release is the Stable version, which is criticized for being out of date.

Version	Codename	Release date	Supported until	Notes
4.04	Warty Warthog	2004-10-20	2006-04-30	Included Linux kernel 2.6.7, XFree86 4.3.0.1 and GNOME 2.8. LiveCD available for x86 only, and Installation CD available for Intel x86, AMD64 and PowerPC.
4.10	Hoary Hedgehog	2005-04-08	2006-10-31	LiveCDs for all supported architectures. Graphical package manager and upgrade tool. Support for suspending and hibernating laptops
5.10	Breezy Badger	2005-10-13	2007-04-13
6.06 LTS	Dapper Drake	2006-06-01	Desktops 2009-06, Servers 2011-06
6.10	Edgy Eft	2006-04	2008-10
7.04	Feisty Fawn	2007-10-18	2009-04
7.10	Gutsy Gibbon	2007-10-18	2009-04
8.04 LTS	Hardy Heron	2008-04-24	Desktops 2011-04, Servers 2013-04
8.10	Intrepid Ibex	2008-10-30	2010-04
9.04	Jaunty Jackalope	2009-04	2010

User interface

Ubuntu uses the GNOME desktop environment. It includes graphical applications for most tasks, although it does still have a fully operational command line. The default look is the "Human" theme, which uses a caramel color in the active windows and menu items. Support for KDE is also available through installing the "kubuntu-desktop" package, or the Kubuntu distribution. Xubuntu does simlarly for those who want to use the lightweight xfce window manager.

Distribution

Ubuntu was originally distributed in two versions: a LiveCD and a text-based installation CD, and users were not able to install Ubuntu to the hard disk drive from the LiveCD. Now, however, Ubuntu releases have a graphical installer on the LiveCD, named Ubuquity, meaning that users can try the system before installing it, all on the same CD. There is also an option of a server CD, designed so that no graphical desktop is installed.

Canonical also run a system named "Shipit"; they ship CDs of the latest (and latest LTS) release completely free of charge to users. They are the only major Linux distribution to do this.