View source for Ubuntu (operating system)

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Ubuntu
| logo = Logo-ubuntu no(r)-black orange-hex.svg
| screenshot = File:Ubuntu-17.10-ca.png
| caption = Screenshot of Ubuntu Desktop 17.10 "Artful Aardvark"
| developer = [[Canonical (company)|Canonical Ltd.]], Ubuntu [[Open-source movement|community]]
| family = [[Linux]]
| working_state = Current
| source_model = [[Open source]] (with some exceptions)<ref name="kernelblobs">{{cite web |url= https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html#Ubuntu |title= Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems |publisher=[[Free Software Foundation]] |access-date=14 July 2015}}</ref>
| released = {{Start date and age|2004|10|20|df=yes|paren=yes}}
| latest_release_version = [[Ubuntu 17.10 Artful Aardvark]] <!-- If you update this, remember to also update [[Comparison of Linux distributions]]. -->
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2017|10|19|df=yes|paren=yes}}
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes|paren=yes}} -->
| marketing target = [[Personal computer]]s, [[Server (computing)|servers]], [[Internet of things|IoT]]
| language = More than 55 languages <small>by [[#Local communities (LoCos)|LoCos]]</small>
| updatemodel = [[Advanced Packaging Tool|APT]] ([[Software Updater]], [[GNOME Software]])
| package_manager = [[dpkg]], [[Snappy (package manager)|Snappy]]
| supported_platforms = [[I386]], [[IA-32]], [[AMD64]]; [[ARMhf]] ([[ARMv7]] + [[VFPv3-D16]]), [[ARM64]]; [[Power Architecture|Power]], [[ppc64|ppc64le]]; [[s390x]]<ref name="supported_hardware">{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/16.04/serverguide/preparing-to-install.html |title=Preparing to Install |work=Ubuntu Official Documentation |date=2016 |publisher=Canonical Ltd. |access-date=12 June 2016}}</ref>
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel|Linux]])
| userland = [[GNU Core Utilities|GNU]]
| ui = [[GNOME]], [[Unity (user interface)|Ubuntu Unity]] (from version 11.04 to 17.04, i.e. all current [[Long Term Support|LTS]])
| license = [[Free software]] licenses<br>(mainly [[GNU General Public License|GPL]])
| website = {{URL|www.ubuntu.com}}
}}

'''Ubuntu''' ({{IPAc-en|ʊ|ˈ|b|ʊ|n|t|uː}} {{respell|uu|BUUN|too}},<ref name="about_ubuntu">{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu |title=About Ubuntu. The Ubuntu Story |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd. |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref><!-- "oǒ'boǒntoō" is a modified AHD notation, see [[Phonetic notation of the American Heritage Dictionary]] --> stylized as '''ubuntu''') is an open source [[operating system]] for computers. It is a [[Linux distribution]] based on the [[Debian]] architecture. It is usually run on [[personal computer]]s, and is also popular on [[network servers]], usually running the Ubuntu Server [[Ubuntu variants|variant]], with enterprise-class features. Ubuntu runs on the most popular architectures, including Intel, AMD, and ARM-based machines. Ubuntu is also available for [[tablet computers|tablets]] and [[smartphone]]s, with the [[Ubuntu Touch]] edition. 

<!-- only most used Linux, Linux as a whole more than Windows, but not Ubuntu alone, so not worth of the lead?: It is the most widely used Linux on internet servers.<ref name="Q-Success">{{cite web |url= https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/os-linux/all/all |title=Usage statistics and market share of Linux for websites |work=W3Techs |publisher=Q-Success |date=September 2016 |access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref> -->
Ubuntu is published by [[Canonical (company)|Canonical Ltd]], who offer commercial <!--include?: enterprise--> support<!--, and has a very large and diverse community of contributors covering many desktop, server and device applications-->.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/project/canonical-and-ubuntu |title=Canonical and Ubuntu |quote=The number-one provider of Ubuntu services, Canonical works closely with businesses and individuals alike. |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref> It is based on [[free software]] and named after the Southern African philosophy of ''{{lang|xh|[[Ubuntu (philosophy)|ubuntu]]}}'' (literally, 'human-ness'), which Canonical Ltd. suggests can be loosely translated as "humanity to others" or "I am what I am because of who we all are".<ref name="UbuntuStory">{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/about/about-ubuntu |title=The Ubuntu Story |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=2016 |access-date=12 June 2016}}</ref>

Ubuntu is the most popular operating system running in hosted environments, so–called "[[Cloud computing|clouds]]",<ref name="Most popular on Amazon EC2"/> as it is the most popular server [[Linux distribution]].

Development of Ubuntu is led by UK-based Canonical Ltd., a company founded by South African entrepreneur [[Mark Shuttleworth]]. Canonical generates revenue through the sale of [[technical support]] and other services related to Ubuntu.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.canonical.com/about-canonical/overview |title=Overview |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=26 October 2012}}</ref><ref name="Morgan" /> The Ubuntu project is publicly committed to the principles of [[open-source software development]]; people are encouraged to use [[free software]], study how it works, improve upon it, and distribute it.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/project |title=The Ubuntu Project |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Free Software Definition |url= https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html |work=What is Free Software? |publisher=Free Software Foundation |access-date=27 July 2013}}</ref>

== History and development process ==
Ubuntu is built on [[Debian]]'s architecture and infrastructure, and comprises Linux server, desktop and discontinued phone and tablet operating system versions.<ref name="ubuntu-about">{{cite web |title=Ubuntu and Debian |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/about/about-ubuntu/ubuntu-and-debian |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> Ubuntu releases updated versions predictably every six months,<ref name="about_ubuntu" /> and each release receives free support for nine months (eighteen months prior to 13.04)<ref name="omgubuntu.co.uk">{{cite web |url= http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/03/ubuntu-to-halve-support-window-for-regular-releases |title=Ubuntu To Halve Support Window for 'Regular' Releases |last=Sneddon |first=Joey-Elijah |work=OMG! Ubuntu! |publisher=Ohso Ltd |date=20 March 2013 |access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> with security fixes, high-impact bug fixes and conservative, substantially beneficial low-risk bug fixes.<ref name="TBR">{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/TimeBasedReleases |title=Time Based Releases |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=24 October 2013}}</ref> The first release was in October 2004.

Starting with Ubuntu 6.06, every fourth release, one release every two years, receives [[long-term support]] (LTS).<ref name="about_ubuntu" /> Long-term support includes updates for new hardware, security patches and updates to the 'Ubuntu stack' (cloud computing infrastructure).<ref name="Morgan">{{cite news |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/04/20/ubuntu_server_10_04/ |title=Ubuntu Server primed for the bigtime |last=Morgan |first=Timothy Prickett |work=[[The Register]] |date=20 April 2010 |access-date=24 October 2013}}</ref> The first LTS releases were supported for three years on the desktop and five years on the server; since Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, desktop support for LTS releases was increased to five years as well.<ref name="Canonical5yearLTS">{{cite news |url= http://fridge.ubuntu.com/2011/10/21/ubuntu-12-04-to-feature-extended-support-period-for-desktop-users/ |title=Ubuntu 12.04 to feature extended support period for desktop users |work=Fridge.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=1 November 2013}}</ref><ref name="Paul28May12">{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/05/precision-and-purpose-ubuntu-12-04-and-the-unity-hud-reviewed |title=Precision and purpose: Ubuntu 12.04 and the Unity HUD reviewed |access-date=1 November 2013 |last=Paul |first=Ryan |date=28 May 2012 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]]}}</ref><ref name="releases">{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases |title=Releases |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=24 October 2013}}</ref> LTS releases get regular point releases with support for new hardware and integration of all the updates published in that series to date.<ref name="PointReleases">{{cite web |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/146 |title=The Art of Release |date=12 May 2008 |access-date= 24 October 2013 |work=MarkShuttleworth.com |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth}}</ref>

Ubuntu packages are based on packages from Debian's unstable branch. Both distributions use Debian's [[deb (file format)|deb]] [[Software package (installation)|package]] format and [[package management]] tools (e.g. [[Advanced Packaging Tool|APT]] and [[Ubuntu Software]]). Debian and Ubuntu packages are not necessarily [[binary compatible]] with each other, however; packages may need to be rebuilt from [[Source code|source]] to be used in Ubuntu.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MarkShuttleworth#What_about_binary_compatibility_between_distributions.3F |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth |title=FAQs: Why and Whither for Ubuntu? What about binary compatibility between distributions? |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Many Ubuntu developers are also maintainers of key packages within Debian. Ubuntu cooperates with Debian by pushing changes back to Debian,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url= https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-website/+bug/154274 |title=Website does not reference Debian visibly |work=Ubuntu Website Bug Tracking [Obsolete] |publisher=[[Canonical Group]] |via=[[Launchpad (website)|Launchpad]] |access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref> although there has been criticism that this does not happen often enough. [[Ian Murdock]], the founder of Debian, had expressed concern about Ubuntu packages potentially diverging too far from Debian to remain compatible.<ref name="forking">{{cite web|url=http://ianmurdock.com/debian/ubuntu-vs-debian-reprise/ |title=Ubuntu vs. Debian, reprise |date=20 April 2005 |access-date=21 October 2007 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819164015/http://ianmurdock.com/debian/ubuntu-vs-debian-reprise/ |archivedate=19 August 2014 |df= }}</ref> Before release, packages are imported from [[Unstable (Debian)|Debian unstable]] continuously and merged with Ubuntu-specific modifications. One month before release, imports are [[Feature freeze|frozen]], and packagers then work to ensure that the frozen features interoperate well together.

Ubuntu is currently funded by [[Canonical (company)|Canonical Ltd.]] On 8 July 2005, [[Mark Shuttleworth]] and Canonical announced the creation of the Ubuntu Foundation and provided an initial funding of US$10&nbsp;million. The purpose of the foundation is to ensure the support and [[Software development|development]] for all future versions of Ubuntu. Mark Shuttleworth describes the foundation goal as to ensure the continuity of the Ubuntu project.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2005-July/000025.html |title=Announcing Launch of ($10&nbsp;m) Ubuntu Foundation |first=Benjamin Mako |last=Hill |date=8 July 2005 |access-date=19 August 2008}}</ref>

On 12 March 2009, Ubuntu announced developer support for 3rd-party [[Cloud computing|cloud]] management platforms, such as those used at [[Amazon EC2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/news/rightscale-cloud-management |title=RightScale Adds Full Support for Ubuntu Server to Its Cloud Management Platform |date=12 March 2009 |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=4 February 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110130145702/http://www.ubuntu.com/news/rightscale-cloud-management |archivedate=30 January 2011 |df= }}</ref>

Since Ubuntu 17.10, [[GNOME 3]] is the default GUI for Ubuntu Desktop,<ref name=omg5>{{cite web|url=http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/04/ubuntu-18-04-ship-gnome-desktop-not-unity|title=Ubuntu 18.04 To Ship with GNOME Desktop, Not Unity|date=5 April 2017|first=Joey|last=Sneddon|work=OMG Ubuntu|accessdate=5 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=ubt5>{{cite web|url=https://insights.ubuntu.com/2017/04/05/growing-ubuntu-for-cloud-and-iot-rather-than-phone-and-convergence/|title=Growing Ubuntu for Cloud and IoT, rather than Phone and convergence|first=Mark|last=Shuttleworth|work=Canonical|accessdate=5 April 2017}}</ref> while [[Unity (Ubuntu)|Unity]] is still the default in older versions,<ref name="PCWorld03May11">{{Cite news |url= https://www.pcworld.com/article/226940/natty_narwhal_the_first_linux_for_newbies.html |title=Natty Narwhal: The First Linux for Newbies? |access-date=1 September 2011 |last=Noyes |first=Katherine |date=May 2011 |work=[[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Is Unity the Right Interface for Desktop Ubuntu? |first=Katherine |last=Noyes |url= http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/102610-is-unity-the-right-interface.html |work=PC World |date=26 October 2010 |access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref> including all current LTS versions. However, a community-driven fork of Unity 8, called Yunit, has been created to continue the development of Unity.<ref>{{cite web|title=yunit - A community-driven unity8 fork|url=https://yunit.io/}}</ref>{{primary source inline|date=April 2017}} Shuttleworth wrote on 8 April 2017, "We will invest in Ubuntu GNOME with the intent of delivering a fantastic all-GNOME desktop. We're helping the Ubuntu GNOME team, not creating something different or competitive with that effort. While I am passionate about the design ideas in Unity, and hope GNOME may be more open to them now, I think we should respect the GNOME design leadership by delivering GNOME the way GNOME wants it delivered. Our role in that, as usual, will be to make sure that upgrades, integration, security, performance and the full experience are fantastic."<ref name="Shuttleworth08Apr17">{{cite web|url = https://plus.google.com/+MarkShuttleworthCanonical/posts/7LYubpaHUHH |title = Unity8 |accessdate = 8 April 2017|last = Shuttleworth|first = Mark|work = [[Google Plus]]|date = 8 April 2017}}</ref> Shuttleworth also mentioned that Canonical will cease development for Ubuntu Phone, Tablet, and convergence.<ref>{{cite web|title=Growing Ubuntu for cloud and IoT, rather than phone and convergence|last1=Shuttleworth|first1=Mark|url=https://insights.ubuntu.com/2017/04/05/growing-ubuntu-for-cloud-and-iot-rather-than-phone-and-convergence/}}</ref>

== Features ==

A [[Default (computer science)|default]] installation of Ubuntu contains a wide range of software that includes [[LibreOffice]], [[Mozilla Firefox|Firefox]], [[Mozilla Thunderbird|Thunderbird]], [[Transmission (BitTorrent client)|Transmission]], and several lightweight games such as [[Sudoku]] and [[GNOME Chess|chess]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Games/NativeFreeUbuntuGames |title=Games / Native Free Ubuntu Games |work=Ubuntu Community Help Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=25 June 2011 |access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.gnome.org/action/show/Apps/Games?action=show&redirect=GnomeGames |title=Apps/Games – GNOME Wiki! |work=Wiki.GNOME.org |publisher=[[The GNOME Project]] |date=6 December 2013 |access-date=2 May 2014}}</ref> Many additional software packages are accessible from the built in [[Ubuntu Software Center]] as well as any other [[Advanced Packaging Tool|APT]]-based [[package management]] tools. Many additional software packages that are no longer installed by default, such as [[Evolution (software)|Evolution]], [[GIMP]], [[Pidgin (software)|Pidgin]], and [[Synaptic (software)|Synaptic]], are still accessible in the repositories, installable with the built in [[Ubuntu Software Center]]; or by any other [[Advanced Packaging Tool|APT]]-based [[package management]] tool and Snappy.

Ubuntu operates under the [[GNU General Public License]] (GPL) and all of the application software installed by default is free software. In addition, Ubuntu installs some hardware drivers that are available only in binary format, but such packages are clearly marked in the restricted component.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/about/about-ubuntu/licensing |title=Licensing |website=ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=27 February 2016}}</ref>

== Security ==

Ubuntu's goal is to be secure "out-of-the box". By default, the user's programs run with [[Principle of least privilege|low privileges]] and cannot corrupt the operating system or other users' files. For increased security, the [[sudo]] tool is used to assign temporary privileges for performing administrative tasks, which allows the [[root account]] to remain locked and helps prevent inexperienced users from inadvertently making catastrophic system changes or opening security holes.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/RootSudo?highlight=%28sudo%29 |title=Root Sudo |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=19 August 2008}}</ref> [[PolicyKit]] is also being widely implemented into the desktop. Most network ports are closed by default to prevent hacking.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DefaultNetworkServices#Service_discovery_processes |title=Default Network Services |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref> A built-in firewall allows end-users who install network servers to control access. A [[GUI]] ([[Uncomplicated Firewall#GUIs for Uncomplicated Firewall|GUI for Uncomplicated Firewall]]) is available to configure it.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Gufw |title=Gufw |work=Ubuntu Community Help Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Ubuntu compiles its packages using [[GNU Compiler Collection|GCC]] features such as [[Position-independent code|PIE]] and [[buffer overflow protection]] to [[Hardening (computing)|harden]] its software.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CompilerFlags |title=Compiler Flags |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=31 January 2011}}</ref> These extra features greatly increase security at the performance expense of 1% in [[X86|32-bit]] and 0.01% in [[X86-64|64-bit]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://d-sbd.alioth.debian.org/www/ |title=Debian: Secure by Default |publisher=Alioth Project |work=D-SbD.Alioth.Debian.org |access-date=31 January 2011}}</ref>

Ubuntu also supports full disk encryption<ref>{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FullDiskEncryptionHowto |title=FullDiskEncryptionHowto |work=Ubuntu Community Help Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref> as well as encryption of the home and Private directories.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EncryptedHome |title=Encrypted Home |work=Ubuntu Community Help Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref>

== Installation ==
[[File:Nexus S with Ubuntu.jpg|thumb|Ubuntu running on the [[Nexus S]], a smartphone that ran [[Android (operating system)|Android]] prior to Ubuntu]]

The system requirements vary among Ubuntu products. For the Ubuntu desktop release 16.04 LTS, a PC with at least 2&nbsp;GHz [[multi-core processor|dual-core]] processor, 2&nbsp;[[gigabyte|GB]] of [[random-access memory|RAM]] and 25&nbsp;[[gigabyte|GB]] of free disk space is recommended.<ref>{{cite web|title=Download Ubuntu Desktop |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop |access-date=22 April 2016 |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://askubuntu.com/questions/146425/how-can-i-install-and-download-drivers-without-internet|title=How can I install and download drivers without internet?|publisher=|accessdate=8 September 2016}}</ref> For less powerful computers, there are other Ubuntu distributions such as [[Lubuntu]] and [[Xubuntu]]. Since version 12.04, Ubuntu supports the [[ARM architecture]].<ref name="supported_hardware" /><ref name="the_inquirer_ubuntu_arm">{{cite web |url= http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2115929/ubuntu-1110-support-arm-chips-fight-red-hat |title=Ubuntu 11.10 will support ARM processors to take on Red Hat |work=The Inquirer |date=10 October 2011 |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="ars_technica_ubuntu_1204">{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/business/2012/04/precise-pangolin-rolls-out-ubuntu-1204-released-introduces-unity-hud/ |title=Precise Pangolin rolls out: Ubuntu 12.04 released, introduces Unity HUD| date=26 April 2012 |access-date=7 July 2012 |first=Ryan| last=Paul |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref><ref name="phoronix_ubuntu_arm">{{cite web |url= https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTA0NzA |title=Ubuntu's Already Making Plans For ARM in 2014, 2015 |first=Michael |last=Larabel |date=23 January 2012 |access-date=7 July 2012 |work=Phoronix.com |publisher=Phoronix Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/ubuntu-linux-bets-on-the-arm-server/9445 |first=Steven J. |last=Vaughan-Nichols |title=Ubuntu Linux bets on the ARM server |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=22 August 2011 |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref> Ubuntu is also available on [[Power Architecture|Power]],<ref name="supported_hardware" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Ubuntu for IBM POWER8 |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/download/server/power8 |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=7 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTA3MDc |title=Ubuntu Plans to Drop Non-SMP PowerPC Support |date=14 March 2012 |first=Michael |last=Larabel |access-date=7 July 2012 |work=Phoronix.com |publisher=Phoronix Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2007-February/000098.html |title=Technical Board Decision |date=February 2007 |access-date=13 June 2008 |work=Lists.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref> older [[PowerPC]] architecture was at one point unofficial supported,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/lucid/release/ |title=Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx) |work=CDimage.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=24 July 2010 |dead-url=yes |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100710193610/http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/lucid/release/ |archive-date=10 July 2010}}</ref> and now newer [[Power Architecture]] CPUs ([[POWER8]]) are supported.

[[Live image]]s are the typical way for users to assess and subsequently install Ubuntu. These can be downloaded as a disk image ([[ISO image|.iso]]) and subsequently burnt to a DVD and booted, or run via [[UNetbootin]] directly from a USB drive (making, respectively, a [[live DVD]] or [[live USB]] medium). Running Ubuntu in this way is typically slower than running it from a [[hard drive]], but does not alter the computer unless specifically instructed by the user. If the user chooses to boot the live image rather than execute an installer at boot time, there is still the option to then use an installer called [[Ubiquity (software)|Ubiquity]] to install Ubuntu once booted into the live environment.<ref name="livecdinstall">{{cite web |url= http://www.easy-ubuntu-linux.com/ubuntu-installation-606-2.html |title=Installing Ubuntu from the Live CD |work=Easy-Ubuntu-Linux.com |publisher=Integrity Enterprises |access-date=19 August 2008}}</ref> [[Disk image]]s of all current and past versions are available for download at the Ubuntu web site.<ref name="Ubuntu Releases">{{cite web |url= http://releases.ubuntu.com/ |title=Releases.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref> Various third-party programs such as [[remastersys]] and [[Reconstructor]] are available to create customized copies of the Ubuntu Live DVDs (or CDs). "Minimal CDs" are available (for server use) that fit on a CD.

Additionally, [[USB flash drive]] installations can be used to boot Ubuntu and Kubuntu in a way that allows permanent saving of user settings and portability of the USB-installed system between physical machines (however, the computers' [[BIOS]] must support booting from USB).<ref name="pendriveinstall">{{cite web |url= http://www.pendrivelinux.com/ubuntu-810-persistent-flash-drive-install-from-live-cd/ |title=Ubuntu 8.10 Persistent Flash Drive Installation |work=PenDriveLinux.com |access-date=5 September 2009}}</ref> In newer versions of Ubuntu, the [[Ubuntu Live USB creator]] can be used to install Ubuntu on a USB drive (with or without a live CD or DVD). Creating a bootable USB drive with [[persistence (computer science)|persistence]] is as simple as dragging a slider to determine how much space to reserve for persistence; for this, Ubuntu employs [[casper (persistency)|casper]].<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.linuxjournal.com/content/casper-friendly-and-persistent-ghost |title=Casper, the Friendly (and Persistent) Ghost |work=[[Linux Journal]] |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://manpages.ubuntu.com/manpages/hardy/man7/casper.7.html|title=casper – a hook for initramfs-tools to boot live systems |work=Manpages.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref>

The desktop edition can also be installed using the [[Netboot image]] (a.k.a. netboot tarball) which uses the [[debian-installer]] and allows certain specialist installations of Ubuntu: setting up automated deployments, upgrading from older installations without network access, [[Logical Volume Manager (Linux)|LVM]] or [[RAID]] partitioning, installs on systems with less than about 256&nbsp;MB of RAM (although low-memory systems may not be able to run a full desktop environment reasonably).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://releases.ubuntu.com/natty/ |title=Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) Alternate install CD |work=Releases.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=2 July 2011 }}</ref>

== Package classification and support ==

Ubuntu divides most software into four domains to reflect differences in licensing and the degree of support available.<ref name="Ubuntu Licensing">{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/licensing |title=About Ubuntu: Licensing |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> Some unsupported applications receive updates from community members, but not from Canonical Ltd.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto; text-align:center;"
|-
!!! Free software
! Non-free software
|-
! style="text-align:right;"| Canonical supported software domains
| Main || Restricted
|-
! style="text-align:right;"| Unsupported
| Universe || Multiverse
|}

Free software includes software that has met the Ubuntu licensing requirements,<ref name="Ubuntu Licensing" /> which roughly correspond to the [[Debian Free Software Guidelines]]. Exceptions, however, include [[firmware]] and [[Computer font|fonts]], in the Main category, because although they are not allowed to be modified, their distribution is otherwise unencumbered.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}

Non-free software is usually unsupported (Multiverse), but some exceptions (Restricted) are made for important non-free software. Supported non-free software includes device drivers that can be used to run Ubuntu on some current hardware, such as binary-only [[graphics card]] [[Device driver|drivers]]. The level of support in the Restricted category is more limited than that of Main, because the developers may not have access to the [[source code]]. It is intended that Main and Restricted should contain all software needed for a complete desktop environment.<ref name="Ubuntu Licensing" /> Alternative programs for the same tasks and programs for specialized applications are placed in the Universe and Multiverse categories.

In addition to the above, in which the software [[Feature freeze|does not receive new features]] after an initial release, ''Ubuntu Backports'' is an officially recognized repository for [[backport]]ing newer software from later versions of Ubuntu.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UbuntuBackports |title=Ubuntu Backports |work=Ubuntu Community Help Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=24 September 2010}}</ref> The repository is not comprehensive; it consists primarily of user-requested packages, which are approved if they meet quality guidelines. Backports receives no support at all from Canonical, and is entirely community-maintained.

The ''-updates'' repository provides stable release updates (SRU) of Ubuntu and are generally installed through update-manager. Each release is given its own -updates repository (e.g. intrepid-updates). The repository is supported by Canonical Ltd. for packages in main and restricted, and by the community for packages in universe and multiverse. All updates to the repository must meet certain requirements and go through the ''-proposed'' repository before being made available to the public.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates |title=Stable Release Updates |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=2 April 2009}}</ref> Updates are scheduled to be available until the end of life for the release.

In addition to the -updates repository, the unstable ''-proposed'' repository contains uploads which must be confirmed before being copied into -updates. All updates must go through this process to ensure that the patch does truly fix the bug and there is no risk of [[Software regression|regression]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/StableReleaseUpdates#Verification |title=SRU Verification |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=2 April 2009}}</ref> Updates in -proposed are confirmed by either Canonical or members of the community.

Canonical's partner repository lets vendors of proprietary software deliver their products to Ubuntu users at no cost through the same familiar tools for installing and upgrading software.<ref name="partner packaging">{{cite web |url= http://www.canonical.com/engineering-services/certification/application-packaging |title=Application packaging |work=Canonical.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref> The software in the partner repository is officially supported with security and other important updates by its respective vendors. Canonical supports the packaging of the software for Ubuntu<ref name="partner_packaging"/><ref>{{cite web |url= http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=723804 |title=Partner Repository Forum FAQ |first=Brian |last=Thomason |access-date=15 August 2010 |via=Ubuntu Forums |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canonical.com/support/services/support-features |title=Desktop support features |work=Canonical.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=15 August 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829103851/http://www.canonical.com/support/services/support-features |archivedate=29 August 2010 |df= }}</ref> and provides guidance to vendors.<ref name="partner packaging" /> The partner repository is disabled by default and can be enabled by the user.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu#Adding_Canonical_Partner_Repositories |title=Repositories/Ubuntu: Adding Canonical Partner Repositories |work=Ubuntu Community Help Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=27 February 2016}}</ref> Some popular products distributed via the partner repository {{as of|2013|4|28|lc=y}} are [[Adobe Flash Player]], [[Adobe Acrobat|Adobe Reader]], Skype and Wine are also able to be installed to run Windows software if the user desires.

=== Package Archives ===
A Personal Package Archive (PPA) is a [[software repository]] for uploading [[software package (installation)|source package]]s to be built and published as an [[Advanced Packaging Tool]] (APT) repository by [[Launchpad (website)|Launchpad]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://help.launchpad.net/Packaging/PPA|title=Packaging/PPA - Launchpad Help|website=help.launchpad.net|accessdate=6 June 2017}}</ref> While the term is used exclusively within Ubuntu, Launchpad host [[Canonical Ltd.|Canonical]] envisions adoption beyond the Ubuntu community.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.launchpad.net/ppa/personal-package-archives-for-everyone|title=Launchpad Blog|website=blog.launchpad.net|accessdate=6 June 2017}}</ref>

=== Third-party software ===
{{See also|GetDeb}}

Ubuntu has a certification system for third-party software.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.canonical.com/engineering-services/certification/application-packaging |title=Certification. Application packaging |work=Canonical.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref> Some third-party software that does not limit distribution is included in Ubuntu's multiverse component. The package ''[[ubuntu-restricted-extras]]'' additionally contains software that may be legally restricted, including support for [[MP3]] and [[DVD-Video|DVD]] playback, [[mscorefonts|Microsoft TrueType core fonts]], [[Sun Microsystems|Sun's]] [[Java Virtual Machine|Java runtime environment]], [[Adobe Systems|Adobe's]] [[Adobe Flash Player|Flash Player]] plugin, many common audio/video [[codec]]s, and [[unrar]], an unarchiver for files [[Data compression|compressed]] in the [[RAR (file format)|RAR file format]].

Additionally, third-party application suites are available for purchase through Ubuntu Software,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://shop.canonical.com/index.php?cPath=19 |title=Ubuntu Software Center |work=Shop.Canonical.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date= |access-date=27 May 2011}}</ref> including many games such as [[Braid (video game)|Braid]] and [[Oil Rush]],<ref>{{cite web|first=David |last=Planella |url=http://developer.ubuntu.com/2011/12/top-10-ubuntu-software-centre-app-downloads-for-november/ |title=Top 10 Ubuntu Software Centre app downloads for November |work=Developer.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=December 2011 |access-date=29 December 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108174052/http://developer.ubuntu.com/2011/12/top-10-ubuntu-software-centre-app-downloads-for-november/ |archivedate=8 January 2012 |df= }}</ref> software for DVD playback and media codecs. More games are available through [[Steam (software)|Steam]].

== Releases ==

<!-- Keep the table short and tidy. If you want more info go to the main article for releases. Otherwise the table will get deleted again. -->
<!-- Template:Version is for version and release history. Documentation and examples: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Version. -->
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; text-align:center; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0"
|-
! Version
! Code name
! Release date
! Supported until
|-
| [[List of Ubuntu releases#Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Trusty Tahr)|14.04 LTS]]<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/1295 |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth |title=Quantal, raring, saucy... |work=MarkShuttleworth.com |date=18 October 2013 |access-date=23 October 2013}}</ref>
| Trusty Tahr
| 2014-04-17
| {{Version|co|2019-04}}
|-
| [[List of Ubuntu releases#Ubuntu 14.10 (Utopic Unicorn)|14.10]]
| Utopic Unicorn<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth |title=U talking to me? |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/1363 |work=MarkShuttleworth.com  |access-date=23 April 2014 |date=23 April 2014}}</ref>
| 2014-10-23<ref name="UtopicRelease">{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UtopicUnicorn/ReleaseSchedule |title=Utopic Unicorn Release Schedule |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=10 June 2014}}</ref>
| {{Version|o|2015-07-23}}
|-
| [[List of Ubuntu releases#Ubuntu 15.04 (Vivid Vervet)|15.04]]
| Vivid Vervet<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth|title=V is for Vivid |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/1425 |work=MarkShuttleworth.com |access-date=20 October 2014 |date=20 October 2014}}</ref>
| 2015-04-23
| {{Version|o|2016-02-04}}
|-
| [[List of Ubuntu releases#Ubuntu 15.10 (Wily Werewolf)|15.10]]
| Wily Werewolf<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth |title=W is for Wily |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/1468 |work=MarkShuttleworth.com |access-date=6 May 2015 |date=4 May 2015}}</ref>
| 2015-10-22<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WilyWerewolf/ReleaseSchedule |title=Wily Werewolf Release Schedule |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref>
| {{Version|o|2016-07-28<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubuntu 15.10 (Wily Werewolf) reaches End of Life on July 28 2016 |work=lists.ubuntu.com |date=7 July 2016 |accessdate=7 September 2016 |url=https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2016-July/000208.html}}</ref>}}
|-
| [[List of Ubuntu releases#Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus)|16.04 LTS]]
| Xenial Xerus<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth|title=X marks the spot |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/1479 |work=MarkShuttleworth.com |access-date=22 October 2015 |date=21 October 2015}}</ref>
| 2016-04-21<ref name="ubuntu_insights_2016_04_21">{{cite web |url= https://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/04/20/canonical-unveils-6th-lts-release-of-ubuntu-with-16-04 |title=Canonical unveils 6th LTS release of Ubuntu with 16.04 |date=20 April 2016 |access-date=21 April 2016 |website=Ubuntu Insights |publisher=[[Canonical (company)|Canonical Ltd]]}}</ref>
| {{Version|co|2021-04}}
|-
| [[List of Ubuntu releases#Ubuntu 16.10 (Yakkety Yak)|16.10]]
| Yakkety Yak<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth |title=Y is for... |work=MarkShuttleworth.com |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/1496 |access-date=25 April 2016 |date=21 April 2016}}</ref>
| 2016-10-13<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/04/ubuntu-16-10-release-schedule-release-schedule-date-yakkety-yak |title=This is the Release Date for Ubuntu 16.10 'Yakkety Yak' |first=Joey-Elijah |last=Sneddon |date=27 April 2016 |work=OMG! Ubuntu! |publisher=Ohso Ltd |access-date=27 April 2016}}</ref>
| {{Version|o|2017-07-20<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubuntu 16.10 (Yakkety Yak) reaches End of Life on July 20 2017 |work=lists.ubuntu.com |date=4 July 2017 |accessdate=18 July 2017 |url=https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2017-July/000222.html}}</ref>}}
|-
| [[Ubuntu version history#Ubuntu 17.04 (Zesty Zapus)|17.04]]
| Zesty Zapus
| 2017-04-13<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ZestyZapus/ReleaseSchedule |title=Zesty Release Schedule |publisher=wiki.ubuntu.com |accessdate=7 March 2017}}</ref>
| {{Version|co|2018-01}}
|-
| [[List of Ubuntu releases#Ubuntu 17.10 (Artful Aardvark)|17.10]]
| Artful Aardvark
| 2017-10-19<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ArtfulAardvark/ReleaseSchedule |title=Artful Release Schedule |publisher=wiki.ubuntu.com |accessdate=23 August 2017}}</ref>
| colspan="2" {{Version|c|2018-07}}
|-
| [[List of Ubuntu releases#Ubuntu 18.04 LTS|18.04 LTS]]
| Bionic Beaver<ref>{{cite news|last1=Larabel|first1=Michael|title=Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Is The "Bionic Beaver"|url=https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ubuntu-18.04-Bionic-Beaver|accessdate=24 October 2017|publisher=Phoronix|date=24 October 2017}}</ref>
| 2018-04
| colspan="2" {{Version|p|2023-04}}
|-
| colspan="99" | <small>{{Version|l|show=111111}}</small>
|}
{{Details|topic=all Ubuntu releases including older ones not covered here|Ubuntu version history}}

Each Ubuntu release has a [[Software versioning|version number]] that consists of the year and month number of the release.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CommonQuestions#Ubuntu%20Releases%20and%20Version%20Numbers |title=Common Questions: Ubuntu Releases and Version Numbers |work=Ubuntu Community Help Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=24 November 2010}}</ref> For example, the first release was Ubuntu 4.10 as it was released on 20 October 2004. Version numbers for future versions are provisional; if the release is delayed the version number changes accordingly.

Ubuntu releases are also given [[alliteration|alliterative]] [[code name]]s, using an adjective and an animal (e.g. "Xenial [[Xerus]]"). With the exception of the first two releases, code names are in alphabetical order, allowing a quick determination of which release is newer, at least until restarting the cycle with the release of ''Artful Aardvark'' in October 2017.<ref name="development">{{cite web |title=Development Code Names |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DevelopmentCodeNames |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=8 April 2011}}</ref> Commonly, Ubuntu releases are referred to using only the adjective portion of the code name; for example, the 14.04 LTS release is commonly known as "Trusty".

Releases are timed to be approximately one month after GNOME releases (which in turn are about one month after releases of [[X.Org Server|X.org]]). As a result, every Ubuntu release was introduced with an updated version of both GNOME and X. After major releases, the Ubuntu Developer Summit (UDS) is held, at which the Ubuntu community sets the development direction for the next cycle. The latest such event, {{as of|February 2017|lc=y|post=,}} was held 5–7 May 2015, after Ubuntu 15.04 and planning 15.10.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://uds.ubuntu.com/ |title=Online Summit |work=UDS.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=2014 |access-date=12 June 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160613010648/https://uds.ubuntu.com/ |archive-date=13 June 2016 |dead-url=no}}</ref><!-- Is this different, type or successor to UDS?:
http://summit.ubuntu.com/uos-1511/
UOS November 2015

Starts: Tue, 3 November 2015 14:00:00 UTC
Ends: Thu, 5 November 2015 20:00:00 UTC

"Ubuntu Online Summit, highlighting work from Ubuntu 15.10 and detailing plans for 16.04"
-->

Upgrades from one [[Long Term Support|LTS]] release to the next LTS release (e.g. Ubuntu 14.04 LTS to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS) are supported,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UpgradeNotes |title=Upgrade Notes: General Upgrade Information |work=Ubuntu Community Help Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=26 October 2010}}</ref> while upgrades from non-LTS have only supported upgrade to the next release, regardless of its LTS status (e.g. Ubuntu 15.10 to Ubuntu 16.04 LTS).

[[Ubuntu_version_history#Ubuntu_10.10_.28Maverick_Meerkat.29|Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat)]], was released on 10 October 2010 (10–10–10). This departed from the traditional schedule of releasing at the end of October in order to get "the perfect 10",<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/336 |title=Shooting for the Perfect 10.10 with Maverick Meerkat |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth |date=2 April 2010 |work=MarkShuttleworth.com |access-date=8 June 2010}}</ref> and makes a playful reference to ''[[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]'' books, since, in [[Binary numeral system|binary]], 101010 equals [[Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything|decimal 42]], the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything" within the series.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-marketing/2010-May/003987.html |title=ubuntu-marketing: 10.10.10 |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth |date=11 May 2010 |work=Ubuntu Mailing Lists |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref>

<!-- No longer supported, while available in "old-releases":
A DVD or bootable flash drive of 1&nbsp;GB or more is required for Ubuntu 12.10 through the original release of 14.04.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/12.04/ |title=Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS (Precise Pangolin) |work=Releases.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref>
-->
Ubuntu 14.04.1 and all later releases require a 2&nbsp;GB or larger installation medium.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/14.04.4/ |title=Ubuntu 14.04.4 LTS (Trusty Tahr) |work=Releases.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=8 May 2016}}</ref> Server releases still fit on CDs.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/16.04/ |title=Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS (Xenial Xerus) |work=Releases.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=31 August 2016}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

== Variants ==
{{See also|List of Linux distributions#Ubuntu-based|l1=List of Ubuntu-based Linux distributions}}
[[File:UbuntuFamilyTree1210.svg|thumb|Ubuntu family tree]]

The variant officially recommended for most users, and officially supported by Canonical, is Ubuntu Desktop (formally named as Ubuntu Desktop Edition, and simply called Ubuntu), designed for desktop and laptop PCs. From Ubuntu 17.10, it uses [[GNOME Shell]] as the default desktop environment. From Ubuntu 11.04 to Ubuntu 17.04, the Unity desktop interface was default, and before Ubuntu 11.04, [[GNOME 2]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop |title=Download Ubuntu Desktop |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/canonical-to-make-gnome-default-session-in-ubuntu-17-10-likely-use-wayland-514991.shtml|title=Canonical to Make GNOME Default Session in Ubuntu 17.10, Likely Use Wayland|last=Nestor|first=Marius|work=softpedia|access-date=2017-04-22|language=en-us}}</ref> A number of other variants are distinguished simply by each featuring a different desktop environment. The following are not commercially supported by Canonical:<ref name="Ubuntu Releases" />

* [[Ubuntu GNOME]] (with the [[GNOME]] desktop environment),
* [[Ubuntu MATE]] (with the [[MATE]] desktop environment), 
* [[Ubuntu Budgie]] (with the [[Budgie (desktop environment)|Budgie]] desktop environment),
* [[Lubuntu]] with [[LXDE]],
* [[Kubuntu]] with [[KDE]], and,
* [[Xubuntu]] (with [[Xfce]]).

LXDE<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reviews/7039/1/ |title=LXDE, the New Lightweight Linux Desktop |date=14 April 2010 |work=LinuxPlanet.com |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref> and Xfce<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/329244:alternative-desktop-xfce4 |title=Lightweight Linux Desktop Alternative: Xfce |first=Jack |last=Wallen |work=Linux.com – The Source for Linux Information |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref> are sometimes recommended for use with older PCs that may have less memory and processing power available.

Besides Ubuntu Desktop, there are several other official Ubuntu editions, which are created and maintained by Canonical and the Ubuntu community and receive full support from Canonical, its partners and the Community. They included the following:<ref name="DerivativeTeam/Derivatives">{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DerivativeTeam/Derivatives |title=Derivatives |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=10 September 2010}}</ref><ref name="ubuntu derivatives">{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu/derivatives |title=About Ubuntu: Derivatives |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref>

<!--doubt this one supported, and TV version 404 on Ubuntu's page-->
* ''Ubuntu Business Desktop Remix'', was a release meant for business users that came with special enterprise software including [[Adobe Flash]], [[Canonical Landscape]], [[OpenJDK]] 6 and [[VMware View]], while removing social networking and file sharing applications, games and development/sysadmin tools.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/business/desktop/remix |title=Business Desktop Remix 12.04 LTS |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref> The goal of the Business Desktop Remix was not to copy other enterprise-oriented distributions, such as [[Red Hat Enterprise Linux]], but to make it, according to Mark Shuttleworth's blog, "easier for institutional users to evaluate Ubuntu Desktop for their specific needs".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/1002 |title=Remixing Ubuntu for the Enterprise Desktop |access-date=11 February 2012 |work=MarkShuttleworth.com |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth}}</ref>
* ''Ubuntu TV'', labeled "TV for human beings" by Canonical Ltd., was introduced at the 2012 [[Consumer Electronics Show]] by Canonical's marketing executive [[John D. Bernard]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://news.techworld.com/operating-systems/3329027/ubuntu-tv-readies-for-battle-with-google-apple/ |title=Ubuntu TV readies for battle with Google and Apple |access-date=11 February 2012 |work=TechWorld |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |first=John E. |last=Dunn |date=10 January 2012}}</ref> Created for [[smart TV]]s, Ubuntu TV aimed to provide access to popular Internet services and stream content to mobile devices running [[Android (operating system)|Android]], [[iOS]] and Ubuntu.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/tv/features-and-specs |title=Features and Specs |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref> [[Launchpad.net]] Ubuntu TV code repository has not shown any actual development activity since December 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bazaar.launchpad.net/~ubuntutv-dev-team/ubuntutv/trunk/files |archive-url=https://archive.is/20150102045831/https://bazaar.launchpad.net/~ubuntutv-dev-team/ubuntutv/trunk/files |dead-url=yes |archive-date=2 January 2015 |title=UbuntuTV Development Team Trunk Files |work=Bazaar.Launchpad.net |publisher=Canonical Group |access-date=7 April 2015 }}<!-- This site is not entirely reliable and may appear to be down, then reappear shortly. --></ref>

There are more [[Ubuntu variants]] (or derivatives) based on the official Ubuntu editions. These install a default set of packages that differ from the official Ubuntu distributions.

The variants recognized by Canonical as contributing significantly towards the Ubuntu project (but not commercially supported<ref name="Ubuntu Releases" />) are the following:<ref name="ubuntu derivatives" />

* [[Edubuntu]], a subproject and add-on for Ubuntu, designed for school environments and home users.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.edubuntu.org/about |title=About Edubuntu |access-date=10 September 2010 |work=Edubuntu.org |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref>
* [[Mythbuntu]], designed for creating a [[home theater PC]] with [[MythTV]] and uses the Xfce desktop environment.
* [[Ubuntu Studio]], a distribution made for professional video and audio editing, comes with higher-end free editing software.

[[File:Kubuntu 12 04.png|thumb|By ''Precise Pangolin'' (12.04), [[Kubuntu]] is a community-supported variant of the Ubuntu distribution which uses the [[KDE Plasma Workspaces]].]]

There are many more variants, created and maintained by individuals and organizations outside of Canonical, and they are self-governed projects that work more or less closely with the Ubuntu community.<ref name="DerivativeTeam/Derivatives" />

=== Chinese derivative Ubuntu Kylin ===

Since Ubuntu 10.10, a Chinese-language version of Ubuntu Desktop called "Ubuntu Chinese Edition" (later Ubuntu Kylin), had been released alongside the various other editions, up to and including 12.04.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://china-images.ubuntu.com/releases/ |title=Index of /releases |work=China-images.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=12 June 2015}}</ref> However, in 2013, Canonical reached an agreement with the [[Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China]] to make Ubuntu the new basis of the [[Kylin (operating system)|Kylin]] operating system (that had used [[FreeBSD]]) starting with Raring Ringtail (version 13.04).<ref>{{cite news |last=Heath |first=Nick |url= http://www.zdnet.com/chinese-government-builds-national-os-around-ubuntu-7000012994/ |title=Chinese government builds national OS around Ubuntu. |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=22 March 2013 |access-date=15 May 2013}}</ref> The first version of Ubuntu Kylin was released on 25 April 2013.<ref name="DistroWatch_UbuntuKylin">{{cite web |title=UbuntuKylin |url= http://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=ubuntukylin |work=DistroWatch.com |access-date=26 May 2013}}</ref>

=== Ubuntu Server ===
[[File:Ubuntu 12-04 Server Installation.png|thumb|A screenshot of the [[Ubuntu 12.04]] Server installation boot menu]]

Ubuntu has a [[Server (computing)|server]] edition that uses the same APT repositories as the Ubuntu Desktop Edition. The differences between them are the absence of an [[X Window System|X Window environment]] in a default installation of the server edition (although one can easily be installed, including Unity, GNOME, KDE or Xfce), and some alterations to the installation process.<ref name="PrepInstall">{{cite web |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/16.04/serverguide/preparing-to-install.html |title=Preparing to Install |work=Ubuntu Official Documentation |publisher=Canonical Ltd
| access-date= 11 June 2013}}</ref> The server edition uses a screen-mode, [[Text-based user interface|character-based interface]] for the installation, instead of a graphical installation process. This enables installation on machines with a serial or "dumb terminal" interface without graphics support.

Since version 10.10, the server edition (like the desktop version) supports [[hardware virtualization]] and can be run in a [[virtual machine]], either inside a host operating system or in a [[hypervisor]], such as [[VMware]] [[ESXi]], [[Oracle Corporation|Oracle]], [[Citrix Systems|Citrix]] [[XenServer]], [[Microsoft]] [[Hyper-V]], [[QEMU]], a [[Kernel-based Virtual Machine]], or any other [[IBM PC compatible]] emulator or virtualizer. Ubuntu 7.10 and later turn on the [[AppArmor]] security module for the [[Linux kernel]] by default on key software packages, and the [[Firewall (computing)|firewall]] is extended to common services used by the operating system.

* Has minimum requirements of: 512&nbsp;MB RAM, 1&nbsp;GHz CPU, and 1&nbsp;GB disk space (1.75&nbsp;GB for all features to be installed).<ref name="PrepInstall" />
* Runs on all major architectures{{snd}} [[x86]], [[x86-64]], [[ARM v7]], [[ARM64]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ubuntu.com/download/server/arm |title=Ubuntu Server for ARM |quote=Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS includes support for the very latest ARM-based server systems [..] Ubuntu delivers server-grade performance on ARM [..]<br><br>Containers, databases, web and more<!--<br><br>Ubuntu Server for ARM includes everything you are looking for in a server operating system, including:-->}}</ref> [[POWER8]] and [[IBM System z]] mainframes via [[LinuxONE]].<ref name="server">{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/server |title=What's new in 16.04 LTS |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=2016 |access-date=13 June 2016}}</ref> [[SPARC]] is no longer commercially supported.
* Supports [[ZFS]]<!-- (At its page: [[ZFS]] name originally stood for "[[Zettabyte]] File System"'')-->, a file system with snapshot capabilities, since Ubuntu 16.04&nbsp;LTS.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus) released |author=Adam Conrad |work=lists.ubuntu.com |date= 21 April 2016 |accessdate=5 June 2017 |url=https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2016-April/000207.html }}</ref><ref name="phoronix-Ubuntu16.04-ZFS">{{cite web |last=Larabel |first=Michael |title=Taking ZFS for a Test Drive on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS |url= http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=ubuntu-xenial-zfs&num=1 |work=Phoronix.com |publisher=Phoronix Media |access-date=25 April 2016}}</ref><!-- <ref name="UbuntuMATE-ZFS">{{cite web |title=How to install Ubuntu MATE onto single SDD with ZFS as main FS |url= https://ubuntu-mate.community/t/how-to-install-ubuntu-mate-onto-single-sdd-with-zfs-as-main-fs/3535/5 |work=Ubuntu-MATE.community |access-date=25 April 2016}}</ref>{{user-generated inline|date=June 2016}} This in the end links to: --><ref>{{cite web|url=https://github.com/zfsonlinux/zfs|title=zfs: ZFS on Linux - the official OpenZFS implementation for Linux|date=6 June 2017|publisher=|accessdate=6 June 2017|via=GitHub}}</ref>
* Has LXD, a hypervisor to manage [[LXC]] Linux [[Operating-system-level virtualization|containers]].
* Includes the first production release of [[DPDK]] for line-speed kernel networking.
* Uses Linux 4.4 kernel and [[systemd]] service manager.
* Is certified as a guest on [[Amazon Web Services|AWS]], [[Microsoft Azure]], [[Joyent]], [[IBM cloud computing|IBM]] and [[HP Cloud]].<ref name="server"/>

It has up-to-date versions of key server software pre-installed, including: Tomcat (v8), PostgreSQL (v9.5), Docker v(1.10), Puppet (v3.8.5), Qemu (v2.5), Libvirt (v1.3.1), LXC (v2.0), and MySQL (v5.6).<ref name="server" />

=== Ubuntu Touch ===
{{Details|Ubuntu Touch}}

Ubuntu Touch is, by now, an unofficial version of Ubuntu developed for smartphones and tablets which was announced then-official by Cannonical on 2 January 2013. Ubuntu Touch was released to manufacturing on 16 September 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://lists.launchpad.net/ubuntu-phone/msg09864.html |title=Ubuntu-phone Team Mailing List Archive: Landing team 16.09.14 |first=Łukasz |last=Zemczak |work=Lists.Launchpad.net |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref> The first device to run it was the [[Galaxy Nexus]].<ref name="autogenerated8">{{cite web |last=Holly |first=Russell |url= http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/ubuntu-for-phones-unveiled-no-hardware-on-the-horizon-2013012/ |title= Ubuntu for Phones unveiled, no hardware on the horizon |work=Geek.com |date=2 January 2013 |access-date=2 January 2013}}</ref> A concept for a smartphone running Ubuntu for Phones was published{{when|date=March 2015}} on Ubuntu's official channel on [[YouTube]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxIv23_oHIk |title=Mark Shuttleworth Demos Ubuntu Phone 2013 |work=PlanetUbuntu |publisher=Canonical Ltd |via=YouTube |date=2 January 2013 |access-date=3 January 2013}}</ref> The platform allows developing one app with two interfaces: a smartphone UI, and, when docked, a desktop UI; a demo version for higher-end Ubuntu smartphones was shown that could run a full Ubuntu desktop when connected to a monitor and keyboard, which was to ship as Ubuntu for Android.<ref name="autogenerated9">{{cite web |last=Sneddon |first=Joey-Elijah |url= http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/01/ubuntu-phone-os-unveiled-by-canonical |title=Ubuntu Phone OS Unveiled by Canonical |work=OMG! Ubuntu! |publisher=Ohso Ltd |date=2 January 2013 |access-date=2 January 2013}}</ref> Ubuntu for Tablets was previewed at 19 February 2013. According to the keynote video, an Ubuntu Phone will be able to connect to a tablet, which will then utilize a tablet interface; plugging a keyboard and mouse into the tablet will transform the phone into a desktop; and plugging a television monitor into the phone will bring up the [[Ubuntu TV]] interface.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h384z7Ph0gU |title=Ubuntu for tablets&nbsp;– Full video |work=CelebrateUbuntu |publisher=Canonical Ltd |via=YouTube |date=19 February 2013 |access-date=4 March 2013 |first=Mark |last=Shuttleworth}}</ref>

On 6 February 2015, the first smartphone running Ubuntu Touch pre-installed was announced. The [[BQ Aquaris E4.5|BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition]] features a {{convert|4.5|in|mm|adj=on}} [[qHD]] display, a 1.3&nbsp;[[Hertz|GHz]] [[multi-core processor|quad-core]] [[Cortex-A7]] processor, and 1&nbsp;GB of RAM. It is currently priced at €169.90, while the 5-inch Aquaris E5 HD Ubuntu Edition is available for €199.90.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://insights.ubuntu.com/2015/02/06/bqs-new-aquaris-e4-5-ubuntu-edition-the-smartphone-that-puts-content-and-services-at-your-fingertips/ |title=BQ's new Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition – the smartphone that puts content and services at your fingertips. |work=Insights.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=6 February 2015 |access-date=7 February 2015}}</ref>

Mark Shuttleworth, Canonical CEO, announced on 5 April 2017, that Ubuntu Touch would no longer be developed by Canonical Ltd.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://insights.ubuntu.com/2017/04/05/growing-ubuntu-for-cloud-and-iot-rather-than-phone-and-convergence/|title=Growing Ubuntu for cloud and IoT, rather than phone and convergence|first=|last=Canonical|website=Ubuntu Insights|accessdate=6 June 2017}}</ref> The project was then picked up by the UBports community.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://plus.google.com/110699558853693437587/posts/7RHujp9u7oW|title=I'm not giving up!|first=Marius|last=Gripsgard|website=Google Plus|accessdate=25 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ubuntu-touch.io/|title=Ubuntu Touch|first=|last=UBports|website=ubuntu-touch.io|accessdate=25 October 2017}}</ref>

=== Cloud computing ===
[[File:Eucalyptus full.jpg|thumb|Eucalyptus interface]]
[[File:Ubuntu Orange Box-Fossetcon 12.09.2014.jpg|thumb|Cloud Ubuntu Orange Box]]

Ubuntu offers Ubuntu Cloud Images which are pre-installed disk images that have been customized by Ubuntu engineering to run on cloud-platforms such as [[Amazon EC2]], [[OpenStack]], Microsoft Windows and [[LXC]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/ |title=Ubuntu Cloud Images |work=Cloud-images.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=6 February 2014 |access-date=6 February 2014}}</ref> Ubuntu is also prevalent on [[Virtual private server|VPS]] platforms such as [[DigitalOcean]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.digitalocean.com/blog_posts/where-do-droplets-form |title=Where ''Do'' Droplets Form? |work=DigitalOcean Company Blog |publisher=[[DigitalOcean]] |date=2 January 2014 |access-date=6 February 2014}}</ref>

[[Ubuntu 11.04]] added support for OpenStack, with Eucalyptus to OpenStack migration tools added by Canonical in Ubuntu Server 11.10.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-source/canonical-switches-to-openstack-for-ubuntu-linux-cloud/8875 |title=Canonical switches to OpenStack for Ubuntu Linux cloud |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=10 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Prickett |first=Timothy |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/10/canonical_ubuntu_openstack/ |title=Ubuntu eats OpenStack for clouds |work=[[The Register]] |date=10 May 2011 |access-date=10 October 2011}}</ref> [[Ubuntu 11.10]] added focus on OpenStack as the Ubuntu's preferred [[IaaS]] offering though Eucalyptus is also supported. Another major focus is [[Juju (software)|Canonical Juju]] for provisioning, deploying, hosting, managing, and orchestrating enterprise data center infrastructure services, by, with, and for the Ubuntu Server.<ref>{{cite interview |url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUv5vwHMPk0 |title=Dustin Kirkland of Canonical |first=Dustin |last=Kirkland |interviewer=Barton George |publisher=[[Dell Inc.]] |via=YouTube |date=7 June 2011 |location=Cloud Expo, New York City |access-date=13 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/ServerTeam/Orchestra |title=ServerTeam: Orchestra |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=4 January 2012 |access-date=13 January 2012}}</ref>

== Adoption and reception ==

=== Installed base ===

As Ubuntu is distributed freely and there is no registration process, Ubuntu usage can only be roughly estimated.<ref name="Michael Kerner">{{cite web |url= http://www.linuxplanet.com/linuxplanet/reports/7032/1/ |title=Ubuntu Claims 12 Million Users as Lucid Linux Desktop Nears |first=Sean Michael |last=Kerner |date=7 April 2010 |work=LinuxPlanet.com |access-date=7 April 2010}}</ref> In 2015, Canonical's Ubuntu Insights page stated "Ubuntu now has over 40 million desktop users and counting".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://insights.ubuntu.com/about/ |title=About Ubuntu Insights |work=Insights.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref>

W3Techs Web Technology Surveys estimated in September 2016 that:

* Ubuntu is the most popular [[Linux distribution]] for running [[Web server]]s on, used by 34.1% of "all the websites" they analyze.<ref name="Q-Success">{{cite web |url= https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/os-linux/all/all |title=Usage statistics and market share of Linux for websites |work=W3Techs |publisher=Q-Success |date=September 2016 |access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref> Linux distributions are used a little more than [[Microsoft Windows]] for websites based on W3Techs numbers, and only Ubuntu and Debian (which Ubuntu is based on, with the same package manager and thus administered the same way) make up 65% of all Linux distributions for web serving use; the usage of Ubuntu surpassed Debian (for such [[Server (computing)|server]] use), in May 2016.
* Ubuntu is the most popular Linux distribution among the top 1000 sites and gains around 500 of the top 10 million websites per day.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://w3techs.com/blog/entry/debian_ubuntu_extend_the_dominance_in_the_linux_web_server_market_at_the_expense_of_red_hat_centos |title=Debian/Ubuntu extend the[ir] dominance in the Linux web server market at the expense of Red Hat/CentOS |work=W3Techs |publisher=Q-Success |date=21 October 2013 |access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref><!--"Ubuntu" is not strictly in source, just "Debian/Ubuntu", but is an old one?!-->
* Ubuntu is used by 12.4% of all websites analyzed, growing from less than 7% in October 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://w3techs.com/technologies/details/os-ubuntu/all/all |title=Usage statistics and market share of Ubuntu for websites |work=W3Techs |publisher=Q-Success |date=September 2016 |access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref>

W3Techs analyzes the top 10 million websites only.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://w3techs.com/technologies |title=Web Technologies Statistics and Trends |work=W3Techs |publisher=Q-Success |access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref> It considers Linux as a subcategory of [[Unix]] and estimated in the same month that 66.7% of the analyzed websites use Unix, under that broad definition.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://w3techs.com/technologies/details/os-unix/all/all |title=Usage statistics and market share of Unix for websites |work=W3Techs |publisher=Q-Success |date=September 2016 |access-date=11 September 2016}}</ref>

According to TheCloudMarket.com, Ubuntu is on at least 57% of the images it scanned on Amazon EC2 (and Windows at 7.8%).<ref name="Most popular on Amazon EC2">{{cite web |url=http://thecloudmarket.com/stats |title=EC2 Statistics |work=TheCloudMarket.com |access-date=10 September 2016}}</ref>

[[Wikimedia Foundation]] data (based on [[user agent]]) for September 2013 shows that Ubuntu generated the most page requests to Wikimedia sites, including Wikipedia, among recognizable Linux distributions.<ref name="wikimedia-stats">{{cite web |url= https://stats.wikimedia.org/archive/squid_reports/2013-09/SquidReportOperatingSystems.htm |title=Wikimedia Traffic Analysis Report&nbsp;– Operating Systems |last=Zachte |first=Eric |work=Wikimedia Statistics |publisher=[[Wikimedia Foundation]] |date=September 2013 |access-date=25 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="tale_two_distros">{{cite news |url= http://www.zdnet.com/a-tale-of-two-distros-ubuntu-and-linux-mint-3040095012/ |title=A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint |date=10 February 2012 |access-date=25 October 2013 |first=Terry |last=Relph-Knight |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref>

=== Large-scale deployments ===

The public sector has also adopted Ubuntu. {{As of|2009|January}}, the Ministry of Education and Science of [[Republic of Macedonia]] deployed more than 180,000<ref name="nytimes">{{cite news |title=A Software Populist Who Doesn't Do Windows |first=Ashlee |last=Vance |newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 January 2009 |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/business/11ubuntu.html?_r=2&th&emc=th |access-date=22 February 2009}}</ref> Ubuntu-based classroom desktops, and has encouraged every student in the country to use Ubuntu-powered computer workstations;<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/news/macedonia-school-computers |title=Every Student in the Republic of Macedonia to Use Ubuntu-powered Computer Workstations |date=20 November 2007 |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> the Spanish school system has 195,000 Ubuntu desktops.<ref name="nytimes" /> The French police, having already started using [[open-source software]] in 2005 by replacing [[Microsoft Office]] with [[OpenOffice.org]], decided to transition to Ubuntu from [[Windows XP]] after the release of [[Windows Vista]] in 2006.<ref name="FrPol">{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/03/french-police-saves-millions-of-euros-by-adopting-ubuntu.ars |title=French police: We saved millions of euros by adopting Ubuntu |first=Ryan |last=Paul |date=11 March 2009 |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> By March 2009, the [[National Gendarmerie|Gendarmerie Nationale]] had already switched 5000 workstations to Ubuntu.<ref name="FrPol" /> Based on the success of that transition, it planned to switch 15,000 more over by the end of 2009 and to have switched all 90,000 workstations over by 2015 [[GendBuntu|(GendBuntu project)]].<ref name="FrPol" /> Lt. Colonel Guimard announced that the move was very easy and allowed for a 70% saving on the IT budget without having to reduce its capabilities.<ref name="FrPol" /> In 2011, Ubuntu 10.04 was adopted by the Indian justice system.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://news.softpedia.com/news/India-s-Justice-Sytem-Switches-to-Ubuntu-10-04-228451.shtml |title=India's Justice Sytem[sic] Switches to Ubuntu 10.04 |work=News.Softpedia.com |publisher=SoftNews Net SRL |date=18 October 2011 |access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref> The Government of Kerala adopted Ubuntu for the legislators in Kerala and the government schools of Kerala began to use customized [[IT@School Project]] Ubuntu 10.04 which contains specially created software for students. Previously, Windows was used in the schools. Textbooks were also remade with an Ubuntu syllabus and are currently used in schools.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://insights.ubuntu.com/2011/02/17/legislators-in-kerala-india-work-better-with-ubuntu-laptops/ |title=Kerala Schools switches to Ubuntu 10.04 |work=Insights.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date= 17 February 2011|access-date=17 February 2011}}</ref>

The city of [[Munich]], Germany, has forked Kubuntu 10.04 LTS and created [[LiMux]] for use on the city's computers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/Stadtverwaltung/Direktorium/LiMux.html |archive-url=https://archive.is/20120904212323/http://www.muenchen.de/rathaus/Stadtverwaltung/Direktorium/LiMux.html |dead-url=yes |archive-date=4 September 2012 |title=Landeshauptstadt München&nbsp;– Das Projekt LiMux |access-date=9 July 2012 |language=German |trans-title=City of Munich&nbsp;– The Project LiMux |work=Muenchen.de: Das offizielle Stadtportal |publisher=Portal München Betriebs GmbH / Landeshauptstadt München / Stadtwerke München GmbH. }}</ref> After originally planning to migrate 12,000 desktop computers to LiMux, it was announced in December 2013 that the project had completed successfully with the migration of 14,800 out of 15,500 desktop computers,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cio.co.uk/news/change-management/munich-open-source-completed-successfully/ |title=Munich open-source switch 'completed successfully' |first=Loek |last=Essers |date=13 December 2013}}</ref> but still keeping about 5000 Windows clients for unported applications. In February 2017 the city decided to evaluate the migration back to Windows<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/ix/meldung/Von-Linux-zurueck-zu-Microsoft-Schwarz-Rot-in-Muenchen-will-LiMux-rauswerfen-3621178.html|title=Von Linux zurück zu Microsoft: Schwarz-Rot in München will LiMux rauswerfen|first=|last=iX|website=iX|accessdate=6 June 2017}}</ref>{{snd}}some stated reasons were missing compatibility, bad user acceptance and complexity. In March 2012, the government of Iceland launched a project to get all public institutions using free and open-source software. Already, several government agencies and schools have adopted Ubuntu. The government cited cost savings as a big factor for the decision, and also stated that open source software avoids [[vendor lock-in]]. A 12-month project was launched to migrate the biggest public institutions in Iceland to using open-source software, and help ease the migration for others.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-03/23/iceland-open-source-software |title=Icelandic government makes a push for open-source software|date=23 March 2012 |access-date=9 July 2012 |first=Mark |last=Brown|work=Wired UK |publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref> US president [[Barack Obama]]'s successful [[Barack Obama presidential campaign, 2012|campaign]] for re-election in 2012 used Ubuntu in its IT department.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/11/how-team-obamas-tech-efficiency-left-romney-it-in-dust/ |title=How Team Obama's tech efficiency left Romney IT in dust |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |date=20 November 2012 |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |access-date=4 December 2012}}</ref>{{importance inline|date=June 2016|reason=They probably used 500 other technologies, and coffee, and electricity, and cars. If there's no evidence that Ubuntu was instrumental in the campaign's success, this is shameless promotional name-dropping, and a PoV problem.}} In August 2014, the city of [[Turin]], Italy, announced its migration from [[Windows XP]] to Ubuntu for the 8,300 desktop computers used by the municipality, becoming the first city in Italy to adopt Ubuntu.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://news.softpedia.com/news/Turin-to-Be-First-Italian-City-to-Adopt-Ubuntu-Unshackle-from-the-quot-Tyranny-of-Proprietary-Software-quot-454152.shtml |title=Turin to Be First Italian City to Adopt Ubuntu, Unshackle from the 'Tyranny of Proprietary Software' |work=News.Softpedia.com |publisher=SoftNews Net SRL |date=8 August 2014|last=Stahie|first=Silviu|access-date=16 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://torino.repubblica.it/cronaca/2014/08/03/news/il_comune_rinnova_i_pc_e_d_laddio_a_microsoft_risparmiamo_6_milioni-93067980/|title=Il Comune di Torino rinnova i pc e dà l'addio a Microsoft: "Risparmiamo 6 milioni" |work=Torino.Repubblica.it |publisher=Gruppo Editoriale L′Espresso |date=4 August 2014 |last=Guccione |first=Gabriele |access-date=16 September 2014}}</ref>

=== Critical reception ===

Ubuntu was awarded the Reader Award for best Linux distribution at the 2005 [[LinuxWorld Conference and Expo]] in London,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://w3.linux-magazine.com/issue/61/Linuxworld_London_UK_2005.pdf |title=LinuxWorld Expo UK 2005 |first=John |last=Masters |date=June 2005 |work=Linux Magazine |publisher=Linux New Media |format=PDF |access-date=19 June 2008}}</ref> received favorable reviews in online and print publications,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8253 |title=Linux in Government: Linux Desktop Reviews, Part 6&nbsp;– Ubuntu |first=Tom |last=Adelstein |date=19 April 2005 |work=Linux Journal |publisher=Belltown Media |access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |first=Neil |last=McAllister |title=Gutsy Gibbon: Desktop Linux OS Made Easy |volume=26 |date=January 2008 |work=PC World |publisher=IDG |page=84}}</ref> and has won [[InfoWorld]]'s 2007 Bossie Award for ''Best Open Source Client OS''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.infoworld.com/t/platforms/best-open-source-in-platforms-and-middleware-129 |title=Best of open source in platforms and middleware |first=Paul |last=Venenzia |date=10 September 2007 |work=InfoWorld |publisher=IDG |access-date=2 December 2010}}</ref> In early 2008, ''[[PC World (magazine)|PC World]]'' named Ubuntu the "best all-around Linux distribution available today", though it criticized the lack of an integrated desktop effects manager.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.pcworld.com/article/146400/desktop_linux_faceoff_ubuntu_804_vs_fedora_9.html |title=Desktop Linux Face-Off: Ubuntu 8.04 vs. Fedora 9 |first=Robert |last=Strohmeyer |date=2 June 2008 |work=PC World |publisher=IDG |access-date=19 August 2008}}</ref> Chris DiBona, the program manager for open-source software at Google, said "I think Ubuntu has captured people's imaginations around the Linux desktop," and "If there is a hope for the Linux desktop, it would be them". {{As of|2009|January}}, almost half of Google's 20,000 employees used Goobuntu, a proprietary, slightly modified version of Ubuntu.<ref name="nytimes" /> In 2012, ''[[ZDNet]]'' reported that Ubuntu was still Google's desktop of choice.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-truth-about-goobuntu-googles-in-house-desktop-ubuntu-linux/ |title=The truth about Goobuntu: Google's in-house desktop Ubuntu Linux |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=17 April 2016 |last=Vaughan-Nichols |first=Steven J. |website=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |quote="Goobuntu use is encouraged and 'All our development tools are for Ubuntu.{{'"}}}}</ref> In March 2016, Matt Hartley picked a list of best Linux distributions for [[Datamation]]; he chose Ubuntu as number one.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.datamation.com/open-source/best-linux-distro-linux-experts-rate-distros-1.html|title=Best Linux Distro: Linux Experts Rate Distros |date=15 March 2016|access-date=17 April 2016 |last1=Hartley |first1=Matt |last2=Byfield |first2=Bruce |website=[[Datamation]] |quote=Obviously, Ubuntu was going to be at the top of the list.[...] Ubuntu has done more to put desktop Linux into the hands of the common man than any other distribution out there.}}</ref>

In 2008, [[Jamie Hyneman]], co-host of the American television series ''[[MythBusters]]'', advocated Linux (giving the example of Ubuntu) as a solution to [[software bloat]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/upgrade/4243994.html?page=3 |title=MythBusters: 7 Tech Headaches—and How to Fix Them |first=Jamie |last=Hyneman |date=18 February 2008 |work=Popular Mechanics |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation|Hearst]] |access-date=2 December 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324070017/http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/upgrade/4243994.html?page=3 |archivedate=24 March 2010 |df= }}</ref> Other celebrity users of Ubuntu include science fiction writer [[Cory Doctorow]]<ref name="Thomas">{{Cite book |publisher=Apress |isbn=978-1-4302-1999-6 |last1=Thomas |first1=K. |last2=Channelle |first2=A. |last3=Sicam |first3=J. |title=Beginning Ubuntu Linux |year=2009 |page=xxxii}}</ref> and actor [[Stephen Fry]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Sneddon |first=Joey |title=Stephen Fry: 'I Use Ubuntu' |url= http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/08/stephen-fry-i-use-ubuntu |work=OMG! Ubuntu! |publisher=Ohso Ltd |access-date=29 August 2012}}</ref>

<!--In March 2013, Canonical announced that it had decided to develop [[Mir (display server)|Mir]],<ref name="The H">{{cite web |url= http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Canonical-reveals-plans-to-launch-Mir-display-server-Update-1815982.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130307074544/http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Canonical-reveals-plans-to-launch-Mir-display-server-Update-1815982.html |archive-date=7 March 2013 |title=Canonical reveals plans to launch Mir display server&nbsp;– Update |work=The H Open |publisher=Heise Media UK |date=24 February 2013 |access-date=6 March 2013 |dead-url=no}}</ref> reversing an earlier plan to move to [[Wayland (display server protocol)|Wayland]] as the primary Ubuntu display server<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/551 |title=Unity on Wayland |last=Shuttleworth |first=Mark |quote=The next major transition for Unity will be to deliver it on Wayland... |date=4 November 2010 |work=MarkShuttleworth.com}}</ref> and causing [[Mir (software)#Controversy|widespread objection from the open source desktop community]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTMxODA |title=A Note to Canonical: 'Don't Piss on Wayland' |author-link=Michael Larabel |first=Michael |last=Larabel |date=5 March 2013 |work=Phoronix.com |publisher=Phoronix Media}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://blog.martin-graesslin.com/blog/2013/03/war-is-peace/ |title=War Is Peace |first=Martin |last=Gräßlin |date=8 March 2013 |quote=Will KWin support Mir? No! |postscript=. Gräßlin is maintainer of [[KWin]], the [[KDE]] window manager.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sharpley.org.uk/blog/lightdm-mir-wayland |title=KDE, LightDM and the Mir Kerfuffle |first=David |last=Edmundson |date=12 March 2013 |work=Sharpley.org.uk |quote=If you know for 6 months that you're not going to do something you said you would it's rude not to tell people |postscript=. Edmundson is author of KDE greeter library used by [[LightDM]], used by Ubuntu. |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518151403/http://www.sharpley.org.uk/blog/lightdm-mir-wayland |archivedate=18 May 2013 |df=dmy }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTMyNjQ |title=GNOME Will Move Full-Speed With Wayland Support |author-link=Michael Larabel |first=Michael |last=Larabel |date=13 March 2013 |quote = What's GNOME doing about Mir? They're laying out plans right now to move hard and fast with Wayland support! |work=Phoronix.com |publisher=Phoronix Media}}</ref> X.Org contributor Daniel Stone opined: "I'm just irritated that this means more work for us, more work for upstream developers, more work for toolkits, more work for hardware vendors....".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTMxNzY |title=Upstream X/Wayland Developers Bash Canonical, Mir |first=Michael |last=Larabel |date=4 March 2013 |work=Phoronix.com |publisher=Phoronix Media}}</ref> In September 2013, an Intel developer removed XMir support from their video driver and wrote "We do not condone or support Canonical in the course of action they have chosen, and will not carry XMir patches upstream".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/driver/xf86-video-intel/commit/?id=58a7611 |title=xf86-video-intel 2.99.902 snapshot |first=Chris |last=Wilson |work=cgit.FreeDesktop.org |publisher=X Desktop Group |date=7 September 2013 |access-date=8 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Michael |last=Larabel |url= https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTQ1NjY |title=Intel Reverts Plans, Will Not Support Ubuntu's XMir |work=Phoronix.com |publisher=Phoronix Media |date=7 September 2013 |access-date=8 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/09/intel-rejection-of-ubuntus-mir-patch-forces-canonical-to-go-own-way/ |title=Intel rejection of Ubuntu's Mir patch forces Canonical to go own way |website=Ars Technica |first=Jon |last=Brodkin |date=9 September 2013 |access-date=3 November 2013 |publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref>
-->
In January 2014, the UK's authority for computer security, [[Communications-Electronics Security Group#CESG|CESG]], reported that [[Ubuntu 12.04 LTS]] was "the only operating system that passes as many as 9 out of 12 requirements without any significant risks".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://joinup.ec.europa.eu/community/osor/news/ubuntu-highest-score-uk-gov-security-test |title=Ubuntu 'highest score' in UK gov security test |last1=Hillenius |first1=Gijs |date=20 January 2014 |website=JoinUp from the European Commission |access-date=2 February 2014}}</ref>

<!--Ubuntu's developers acknowledged battery life problems from version 10.04<ref>{{cite web |title=MacBook 5.1 and Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid) |url= https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook5-1/Lucid |work=Ubuntu Community Support Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=7 October 2015}}</ref> and sought to solve the issues of power consumption in the 12.04 LTS release.<ref>{{cite web |last=King |first=Colin |title=Improving Battery Life in Ubuntu Precise 12.04 LTS |url= http://smackerelofopinion.blogspot.com/2011/12/improving-battery-life-in-ubuntu.html |access-date=13 December 2011 |work=Smackerel of Opinion |via=Blogspot.com}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=June 2016}} The 14.04 release improved the situation,-->Ubuntu 14.04 improved battery life, but still lagged other operating systems in the battery life metric.<ref name="ars-1404-review" />

=== Amazon controversy ===
{{See also|Unity (user interface)#Privacy controversy}}

One of the new features of Unity in [[Ubuntu 12.10]] was the shopping lens—Amazon search results displayed in the Unity dash. It was alternately described as the "Amazon controversy",<ref name="Lynch05Dec12">{{cite news |url= http://desktoplinuxreviews.com/2012/12/05/ubuntu-12-10/ |title=Ubuntu 12.10 |access-date = 6 December 2012 |last=Lynch |first=Jim |date=5 December 2012 |work=Linux Desktop Reviews}}</ref><ref name="thevarguy2012">"[http://thevarguy.com/var-guy/controversy-erupts-over-amazon-search-ubuntu-1210 Controversy Erupts over Amazon Search in Ubuntu 12.10]", C. Tozzi, 2012, thevarguy.com</ref> "privacy fiasco"<ref name="theregister2013">"[https://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/25/ubuntu_13_04_review/ Ubuntu 13.04: No privacy controls as promised, but hey – photo search!]", S. Gilbertson, 2013, theregister.co.uk</ref> and "spyware".<ref name="arstechnica2012">{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/12/richard-stallman-calls-ubuntu-spyware-because-it-tracks-searches/ |title=Richard Stallman calls Ubuntu 'spyware' because it tracks searches |first=J. |last=Brodkin |date=2012 |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref>

From October 2012, it sent the user's queries through a secure HTTPS connection from the home lens to productsearch.ubuntu.com,<ref name="eff">{{cite news |url= https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/10/privacy-ubuntu-1210-amazon-ads-and-data-leaks |title=Privacy in Ubuntu 12.10: Amazon Ads and Data Leaks |first=Micah |last=Lee |work=Deeplinks Blog |publisher=[[Electronic Frontier Foundation]] |date=29 October 2012 |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref> which then polled [[Amazon.com]] to find relevant products; Amazon then sent product images directly to the user's computer through HTTP. If the user clicked on one of these results and then bought something, Canonical got a small fraction of the sale.<ref name="ay_caramba">{{cite news |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/10/18/ubuntu_12_10_review/ |title=Ay caramba, Ubuntu 12.10: Get it right on Amazon! |last=Gilbertson |first=Scott |newspaper=The Register |date=18 October 2012 |access-date=29 October 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, many reviewers criticized it: as the home lens is the normal means to search for content on the local machine, reviewers were concerned about the disclosure of queries that were intended to be local, creating a privacy problem.<ref name="eff" /> As the feature is active by default instead of opt-in, many users could be unaware of it.<ref name="eff" /><ref name="ay_caramba" /><ref name="infoworld_2012-09-25">{{cite news |url= http://www.infoworld.com/t/linux/canonical-wants-shill-amazon-ubuntu-users-desktops-203186|title=Canonical wants to shill for Amazon on Ubuntu users' desktops |first=Ted |last=Samson |work=InfoWorld |publisher=IDG |date=25 September 2012 |access-date=30 October 2013}}</ref><ref name="zdnet_2013-09-23">{{cite news |url= http://www.zdnet.com/shuttleworth-defends-ubuntu-linux-integrating-amazon-7000004674/|title=Shuttleworth defends Ubuntu Linux integrating Amazon |date=23 September 2012 |access-date=29 October 2013 |work=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive}}</ref>

Some users chose to turn it off or to remove the feature using a patch.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/11/canonical-abused-trademark-law-to-target-a-site-critical-of-ubuntu-privacy/ |title='Fix Ubuntu' site accused of trademark violation, asked to change domain name |first=J. |last=Brodkin |date=2013 |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref> An April 2014 article by Scott Gilbertson stated that the online search components of Ubuntu could be turned off with a couple of clicks in version 14.04.<ref name="ars-1404-review">{{cite news |url= https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/04/ubuntu-14-04-review-missing-the-boat-on-big-changes/ |first=Scott |last=Gilbertson |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast |title=Ubuntu 14.04 review: Missing the boat on big changes |date=23 April 2014 |access-date=25 April 2014}}</ref>

For the move, it was awarded the 2013 Austria [[Big Brother Awards|Big Brother Award]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Körberlgeld mit lokaler Suche: Marc Shuttleworth, Ubuntu |trans-title=Profiting from Local Search: Marc Shuttleworth, Ubuntu |url= http://www.bigbrotherawards.at/2013/marketing.php |work=BigBrotherAwards.at |date=2013 |publisher=Iuridicum Remedium (IuRe.org)}}</ref>

Since Ubuntu 16.04, the setting is off by default.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ubuntu 16.04 proves even an LTS release can live at Linux's bleeding edge |url= https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/05/ubuntu-16-04-proves-even-an-lts-release-can-live-at-linuxs-bleeding-edge/ |date=10 May 2016 |first=Scott |last=Gilbertson |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast}}</ref>

==== Conformity with European data privacy law ====

Soon after being introduced, doubts emerged on the conformance of the shopping lens with the European [[Data Protection Directive]].<ref name="softpedia_2016-02-10">{{cite web |url= http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ubuntu-s-Shopping-Lens-Might-Be-Illegal-In-Europe-298143.shtml |title=Ubuntu's Shopping Lens Might Be Illegal in Europe |date=9 October 2012 |access-date=24 February 2016 |website=Sofpedia.com}}</ref><ref name="omgubuntu_2016-02-10">{{cite web |url= http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2012/10/does-ubuntus-amazon-lens-break-eu-law |title=Blogger Claims Ubuntu's New Shopping Lens Breaks EU Law |date=10 October 2012 |access-date=24 February 2016 |work=OMG! Ubuntu! |publisher=Ohso Ltd}}</ref> A petition was later signed by over 50 Ubuntu users and delivered to Canonical demanding various modifications to the feature in order to clearly frame it within European law.<ref name="ateot_2_2016-02-10">{{cite web |url= http://attheedgeoftime.blogspot.ch/2012/12/petition-for-better-ubuntu.html |title=Petition for a Better Ubuntu |date=9 December 2012 |access-date=24 February 2016 |last=de Sousa |first=Luís |website=AtTheEdgeOfTime.Blogspot.com}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2016|reason=This is a self-published blog. A secondary source should be found}} Canonical did not reply.

In 2013, a formal complaint on the shopping lens was filed with the [[Information Commissioner's Office]] (ICO), the UK data privacy office. Almost one year later the ICO ruled in favour of Canonical, considering the various improvements introduced to the feature in the meantime to render it conformable with the [[Data Protection Directive]].<ref name="ateot_2016-02-10">{{cite web |url= http://attheedgeoftime.blogspot.ch/2014/08/ubuntu-shopping-lens-deemed-legal-by-uk.html |title=Ubuntu Shopping Lens deemed legal by UK data privacy office |date=6 August 2014 |last=de Sousa |first=Luís |access-date=24 February 2016 |website=AtTheEdgeOfTime.Blogspot.com}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2016|reason=This is a self-published blog. A secondary source should be found}} According to European rules, this ruling is automatically effective in the entirety of the European Union. However, the ruling also made clear that at the time of introduction the feature was not legal, among other things, since it was missing a privacy policy statement.

== Local communities (LoCos) ==
{{Distinguish|Linux User Group}}

In an effort to reach out to users who are less technical, and to foster a sense of community around the distribution, Local Communities,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoTeams |title=Ubuntu Local Community Teams |work=Ubuntu Wiki |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref> better known as "LoCos", have been established throughout the world. Originally, each country had one LoCo Team. However, in some areas, most notably the United States and Canada, each state or province may establish a team.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ubuntu LoCo Team Portal |url= http://loco.ubuntu.com/teams/ |access-date=9 November 2015 |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref> A LoCo Council approves teams based upon their efforts to aid in either the development or the promotion of Ubuntu.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Local Community (LoCo) Teams |url= http://loco.ubuntu.com/about-loco/ |access-date=9 November 2015 |work=LoCo.Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd}}</ref>

== Hardware vendor support ==

Ubuntu works closely with OEMs to jointly make Ubuntu available on a wide range of devices.<ref name="Ubuntu Certified Hardware" /> A number of vendors offer computers with Ubuntu pre-installed, including [[Dell]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ubuntu.com/partners/dell |title=Dell and Ubuntu |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref> [[Hasee]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.linux-community.de/Internal/Nachrichten/Guenstiges-Netbook-aus-China |title=Günstiges Netbook aus China |first=Marcel |last=Hilzinger |work=LinuxCommunity |access-date=7 April 2015}}</ref> [[Sharp Corporation]],<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.liliputing.com/2009/08/sharp-netwalker-pc-z1-what-you-get-when-you-shrink-a-netbook.html |title=Sharp NetWalker PC-Z1: What you get when you shrink a netbook |work=Liliputing.com |access-date=26 March 2010}}</ref> and Cirrus7.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tiny PCs can be beautiful, the Cirrus7 Nimbini is one of those PCs |url= http://www.geek.com/chips/tiny-pcs-can-be-beautiful-the-cirrus7-nimbini-is-one-of-those-pcs-1620484/ |work=Geek.com |access-date=14 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Cirrus7 Nimbini – The Most Stylish Ubuntu PC Ever Made? |url= http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2015/04/cirrus7-nimbini-ubuntu-pc-announced |work=OMG! Ubuntu! |publisher=Ohso Ltd |access-date=14 January 2016}}</ref> Specifically, [[Dell]] offers the XPS 13 laptop, Developer Edition with Ubuntu pre-installed.<ref name="XPS 13">{{cite web |url= http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-13-linux/pd? |title=XPS 13 Laptop, Developer Edition |work=Dell.com |publisher=Dell Inc.}}</ref> Together, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and ASUS offer over 200 desktop and close to 500 laptop PCs preloaded with Ubuntu. Certified OEM images are also available for Ubuntu Advantage customers.<ref name="Ubuntu Certified Hardware">{{cite web |url= http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/xps-13-linux/pd?~srd=true&sk=Ubuntu&scat=prod |title=XPS 13 Developer Edition| work=Dell.com |publisher=Dell Inc. |access-date=25 August 2014}}</ref> [[System76]],<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.system76.com/laptops/ubuntu/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141008194015/https://system76.com/laptops/ubuntu/ |title=System76: About Ubuntu |work=System76.com |publisher=[[System76]] |access-date=2 May 2012 |archive-date=8 October 2014}}</ref> WeWi<ref>{{cite news |last=Vaughan-Nicholes |first=Steven J. |title=First solar-powered Linux laptop |url= http://www.zdnet.com/first-solar-powered-linux-laptop-7000019183/|access-date=8 September 2013 |newspaper=ZDNet |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=9 August 2013}}</ref> and [[Tesco]]{{citation needed|date=March 2014}}. System76 PCs are sold exclusively with Ubuntu. Dell and System76 customers are able to choose between 30-day, three-month, and yearly Ubuntu support plans through Canonical.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/news/system76-certified-servers |title=System76 announces servers with Ubuntu 7.10 and Canonical support services |work=Ubuntu.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=5 March 2008 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080301153610/http://www.ubuntu.com/news/system76-certified-servers |archivedate=1 March 2008 |df= }}</ref> Dell computers (running Ubuntu 10.04) include extra support for [[ATI Technologies|ATI]]/[[Advanced Micro Devices|AMD]] Video Graphics, Dell Wireless, [[Fingerprint Readers]], [[HDMI]], [[Bluetooth]], [[DVD-Video|DVD]] playback (using [[LinDVD]]), and [[MP3]]/[[Windows Media Audio|WMA]]/[[Windows Media Video|WMV]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://yourblog.dell.com/2008/07/18/dell-upgrades-consumer-linux-pcs-to-ubuntu-804/ |title=Dell Upgrades Consumer Linux PCs to Ubuntu 8.04 |work=YourBlog.Dell.com |publisher=Dell Inc. |access-date=13 September 2008}}</ref> [[Asus]] is also selling some [[Asus Eee PC|Eee PC]]s with Ubuntu pre-installed and announced "many more" models running Ubuntu for 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2075819/asus-preload-ubuntu-linux-eee-pcs |title=Asus will preload Ubuntu Linux on three Eee PCs |publisher=[[Incisive Media]] |work=[[The Inquirer]] |date=2 June 2011 |access-date=15 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Woods |first=Ben |url=http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/tech-tech-boom-10017860/asus-preloads-eee-pc-models-with-ubuntu-10022619/ |title=Asus preloads Eee PC models with Ubuntu |work=[[ZDNet]] UK |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=3 June 2011 |access-date=15 June 2011 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606040203/http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blogs/tech-tech-boom-10017860/asus-preloads-eee-pc-models-with-ubuntu-10022619/ |archivedate=6 June 2011 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Ubuntu-Eee-PC-Seashell-Netbooks-Canonical,12878.html |title=Asus Launching Eee PC Netbooks with Ubuntu |work=TomsHardware.com |first=Kevin |last=Parrish |date=3 June 2011 |access-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> [[Vodafone]] has made available a notebook for the South-African market called "Webbook".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/vodafone-brings-arm-and-ubuntu-together-for-south-african-webboo/ |title=Vodafone brings ARM and Ubuntu together for South African Webbook |work=Engadget |publisher=[[AOL]] |first=Terrence |last=O'Brien |date=19 October 2011 |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/10/the-ubuntu-powered-vodafone-webbook-launches-tomorrow/ |title=The Ubuntu Powered 'Vodafone Webbook' Launched |work=OMG! Ubuntu! |publisher=Ohso Ltd |date=18 October 2011 |first=Joey-Elijah |last=Sneddon |access-date=20 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ubuntu-11-10-Powered-Webbook-Sells-at-190-229168.shtml |title=Ubuntu 11.10 Powered Webbook Sells at $190 |work=News.Softpedia.com |publisher=SoftNews Net SRL |date=21 October 2011 |first=Marius |last=Nestor |access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref>
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Dell sells computers (initially Inspiron 14R and 15R laptops) pre-loaded with Ubuntu in India and China, with 850 and 350 retail outlets respectively.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Dell launch with Ubuntu at retail in India |url=http://www.canonical.com/content/canonical-and-dell-announce-today-dell-laptops-pre-loaded-ubuntu-will-be-sold-850-retail-out |publisher=Canonical Ltd |date=18 June 2012 |access-date=18 June 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621024844/http://www.canonical.com/content/canonical-and-dell-announce-today-dell-laptops-pre-loaded-ubuntu-will-be-sold-850-retail-out |archivedate=21 June 2012 |df= }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://blog.canonical.com/2012/06/18/dell-extends-ubuntu-retail-into-india/ |title=Dell Extends Ubuntu Retail into India |first=Mark |last=Murphy |date=18 June 2012 |work=Blog.Canonical.com |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=18 June 2012}}</ref> Starting in 2013, Alienware began offering its X51 model gaming desktop pre-installed with Ubuntu at a lower price than if it were pre-installed with Windows.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.engadget.com/2013/04/05/alienware-x51-ubuntu/ |title=Alienware X51 gaming PC now available with Ubuntu, starts at $600 |work=Engadget |publisher=AOL |date=5 April 2013  |access-date=17 August 2013}}</ref>

While Linux already works in IBM's mainframe system ([[zLinux]]), IBM in collaboration with Canonical (and [[SUSE]]; "[[Linux Foundation]] will form a new Open Mainframe Project") announced Ubuntu support for their [[z/Architecture]] (IBM claims their latest system, [[IBM zEnterprise System]], version z13 is the most powerful computer in the world; it is the largest computer by transistor count) for the first time, at the time of their "biggest code drop" ("LinuxOne") in Linux history.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2422249/ibm-makes-biggest-code-drop-as-canonical-and-suse-tie-up-brings-linux-to-mainframes |title=IBM makes 'biggest code drop' as Canonical and Suse tie-up brings better Linux to mainframes: UbuntuOne brings industry standard tools to a mainframe environment |first=Chris |last=Merriman |date=17 August 2015}}</ref>

In early 2015, Intel launched the [[Intel Compute Stick]] small form factor computer available preloaded with Ubuntu or Windows operating systems.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/dam/www/public/us/en/documents/product-briefs/compute-stick-product-brief.pdf |title=Intel Compute Stick Product Brief |date= |access-date=25 September 2015 |website=Intel.com |publisher=[[Intel]]}}</ref>

== Windows subsystem ==

In March 2016, [[Microsoft]] announced that it would support the Ubuntu [[user space|userland]] on top of the [[Windows 10]] [[Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] by implementing the Linux [[system call]]s as [[Windows Subsystem for Linux|a subsystem]]. The focus lies on [[command-line tool]]s like [[Bash (Unix shell)|Bash]] and is therefore primarily directed towards developers.<ref name="M&C">{{cite news |url= http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-and-canonical-partner-to-bring-ubuntu-to-windows-10/ |title=Microsoft and Canonical partner to bring Ubuntu to Windows 10 |work=[[ZDNet]]  |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |first=Steven J. |last=Vaughan-Nichols |date=29 March 2016 |access-date=8 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="MSDN-bash">{{cite web|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/commandline/wsl/about|title=Bash on Ubuntu on Windows |work=MSDN| date=3 March 2017| first=Jack |last=Hammons}}</ref><ref name="UonW">{{cite web |url= https://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/03/30/ubuntu-on-windows-the-ubuntu-userspace-for-windows-developers/ |title=Ubuntu on Windows – The Ubuntu Userspace for Windows Developers |last=Kirkland |first=Dustin |work=Ubuntu Insights |date=30 March 2016 |publisher=Canonical Ltd |access-date=12 June 2016}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Computer technology for developing areas]]
* [[List of Ubuntu releases]]
* [[Free culture movement]]
* [[Package manager]]

{{Portal bar|Open-source software|Linux|Computer Science|Information technology}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==

<!-- Do NOT link to URLs of book publisher websites. The 'url' field is for "an online location where the text of the publication can be found", not where it is sold. It is not appropriate to link to sites offering books for sale - Wikipedia is not a venue for advertising. -->
{{refbegin}}

* {{cite book

| first1      = Marcel
| last1       = Gagne
| date        = 27 August 2006
| title       = Moving to Ubuntu Linux
| publisher   = [[Addison-Wesley Professional]]
| edition     = 1st
| page        = 496
| isbn        = 978-0-321-42722-9
}}

* {{cite book

| first1      = Rickford
| last1       = Grant
| first2      = Phil
| last2       = Bull
| date        = 7 July 2010
| title       = Ubuntu for Non-Geeks: A Pain-Free, Get-Things-Done Guide
| publisher   = [[No Starch Press]]
| edition     = 4th
| page        = 496
| isbn        = 978-1-59327-257-9
}}

* {{cite book

| first1     = Benjamin Mako  |last1 = Hill
| first2     = Jono           |last2 = Bacon
| first3     = Corey          |last3 = Burger
| first4     = Jonathan       |last4 = Jesse
| first5     = Ivan           |last5 = Krstic
| date       = 21 August 2006
| title      = The Official Ubuntu Book
| publisher  = [[Prentice Hall]]
| edition    = 1st
| page       = 448
| isbn       = 978-0-13-243594-9
}}

* {{Cite book

| first1     = Andrew
| last1      = Hudson
| first2     = Paul
| last2      = Hudson
| first3     = Matthew
| last3      = Helmke
| first4     = Ryan
| last4      = Troy
| title      = Ubuntu Unleashed 2010 Edition: Covering 9.10 and 10.4
| date       = 25 December 2009
| publisher  = [[SAMS Publishing|SAMS]]
| edition    = 5th
| page       = 864
| isbn       = 978-0-672-33109-1
}}

* {{Cite book

| first1     = Thomas
| last1      = Keir
| title      = Beginning Ubuntu Linux: From Novice to Professional
| publisher  = [[Apress]]
| edition    =
| page       = 608
| date       = 15 March 2006
| isbn       = 978-1-59059-627-2
}}

* {{Cite book

| first1     = Jonathan   |last1 = Oxer
| first2     = Kyle       |last2 = Rankin
| first3     = Bill       |last3 = Childers
| title      = Ubuntu Hacks: Tips & Tools for Exploring, Using, and Tuning Linux
| publisher  = [[O'Reilly Media]]
| edition    = 1st
| page       = 448
| date       = 14 June 2006
| isbn       = 978-0-596-52720-4
}}

* {{Cite book

| first1    = William
| last1     = von Hagen
| title     = Ubuntu Linux Bible
| publisher = [[John Wiley & Sons|Wiley]]
| edition   = 1st
| page      = 936
| date      = 3 January 2007
| isbn      = 978-0-470-03899-4
}}

* {{Cite book

| first1    = Sasa
| last1     = Paporovic
| title     = Ubuntu 14.04&nbsp;– Everyday usage (Video-Tutorial)
| publisher = [[CreateSpace]]
| date      = August 2014
}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Ubuntu |b=Ubuntu |n=no |q=no |s=no |v=Ubuntu |voy=no |d=no |species=no |display=Ubuntu}}
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Ubuntu (Linux distribution).ogg|2006-08-03}}

* {{Official website}}
* {{DistroWatch|Ubuntu| NAME              =Ubuntu}}
* {{Dmoz|Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/Linux/Distributions/Ubuntu|Ubuntu}}
* [https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+ppas PPAs for Ubuntu]

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