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Ubuntu

Ubuntu Desktop 15.10 with Firefox and Nautilus (a file browser) open
Developer	Canonical Ltd., Ubuntu community
OS family	Unix-like
Working state	Current
Source model	Open source
Initial release	20 October 2004 (2004-10-20)
Latest release	Ubuntu 15.10 "Wily Werewolf" / 22 October 2015; 9 years ago (2015-10-22)[1]
Latest preview	16.04 Daily Builds (released daily)
Marketing target	PPersonal computers, servers, smartphones, tablet computers (Ubuntu Touch), smart TVs (Ubuntu TV)
Available in	Multi-lingual (more than 55)
Update method	APT / Software Updater Ubuntu Software Center
Package manager	dpkg, Click
Platforms	IA-32, X86-64,[2] ARM[2][3][4][5][6]
Kernel type	Monolithic (Linux kernel)
Userland	GNU
Default user interface	4.10–11.04: GNOME Panel 11.04 and later: Unity
License	Free software licenses (mainly GPL)
Official website	www.ubuntu.com

Ubuntu is a free operating system that uses the Linux kernel. The word "ubuntu" is an old African word meaning "humanity." ^[7] It is pronounced "oo-boon-too".^[8]

It is one of the most popular Linux distributions and it is based on Debian Linux. The goal with Ubuntu is to make it easy to use and install onto a computer. Ubuntu can be used on all types of personal computers. Ubuntu is downloaded as an "ISO" file, which is free to download on the Ubuntu website. It can be installed or tested by "burning" it onto a DVD and putting that DVD into a computer.

Started in 2004, Ubuntu has been developed very fast by Canonical Ltd., a company owned by a rich South African man by the name of Mark Shuttleworth.

Ubuntu splits all software into four different categories to show differences in licensing and the amount of support available.^[9] They are:

Free software here includes only software that meets the Ubuntu licensing requirements,^[10] 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.^[9]

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,^[11] which is an officially known project to backport newer software from later versions 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.

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.^[12]

Note: LTS denotes Long Term Support

• 
  Ubuntu 4.10
• 
  Ubuntu 5.04
• 
  Ubuntu 5.10
• 
  Ubuntu 6.06 LTS
• 
  Ubuntu 6.10
• 
  Ubuntu 7.04
• 
  Ubuntu 7.10
• 
  Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
• 
  Ubuntu 8.10
• 
  Ubuntu 9.04
• 
  Ubuntu 9.10
• 
  Ubuntu 10.04 LTS
• 
  Ubuntu 10.10
• 
  Ubuntu 11.04
• 
  Ubuntu 11.10
• 
  Ubuntu 12.04 LTS
• 
  Ubuntu 12.10
• 
  Ubuntu 13.04
• 
  Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
• 
  Ubuntu 14.10
• 
  Ubuntu 15.04
• 
  Ubuntu 15.10

Ubuntu's official software package repository^[23] allows you to install programs. It uses a program called the Ubuntu Software Center for installing most programs and packages. The command line can also be used. It includes, for example, UNetbootin^[24], a program to put Linux distributions on a flash drive, and GIMP^[25], a picture maker.

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

Some of the official sister distributions are:^[26]

• Kubuntu, a desktop distribution using KDE rather than Unity.
• Edubuntu, a distribution designed for classrooms using GNOME.
• Ubuntu Server, a version of Ubuntu made for servers that runs without a desktop environment.
• Ubuntu MATE, a version of Ubuntu using MATE.
• Xubuntu, a "lightweight" distribution based on the Xfce desktop environment instead of GNOME, designed to run better on low-specification computers.
• Mythbuntu, a multimedia platform based on MythTV.
• Ubuntu Studio, a multimedia-creation form of Ubuntu.

Third-party distributions are made by a different community. They are also controlled by different people. Some of these are:

• Linux Mint, a very popular distribution that can use Cinnamon, MATE, or KDE.
• elementary OS, a distribution that uses its own desktop environment and is designed to be easy to use.
• Bodhi Linux, a distribution that is meant to do a lot while not taking up a lot of storage.

• GNU/Linux
• Debian
• GNOME
• List of Ubuntu-based Linux distributions

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ubuntu Linux.

• Official website
• Kubuntu – Ubuntu with KDE
• Edubuntu – Ubuntu for children to learn with
• Xubuntu – Ubuntu with Xfce
• Ubuntu Guide (unofficial) – help manual, tips, FAQ, and software guide
• Ubuntu at DistroWatch