Textbook of Linux

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution based on Debian, released in 2004 by Canonical Ltd. (founded by Mark Shuttleworth). Its name, a Zulu word meaning "humanity toward others", signalled its intention to be friendlier and more accessible than existing distributions. Within a few years it had become the most popular Linux desktop, and it remains among the most widely used Linux distributions overall.

Ubuntu publishes two kinds of release: regular releases every six months (April and October, labelled YY.MM), and long-term support (LTS) releases every two years, supported for five years with free security updates and optionally more with a paid subscription. LTS releases (22.04, 24.04, etc.) dominate on servers.

Ubuntu exists in many flavours: Ubuntu Desktop (GNOME by default), Ubuntu Server (no GUI), Kubuntu (KDE), Xubuntu (XFCE), Lubuntu (LXQt), and Ubuntu Core (snap-based minimal IoT). It is the default Linux in many cloud providers, the base of most Docker images ("ubuntu:22.04"), and the primary target for much commercial Linux software.

Canonical has sometimes made controversial choices—Unity, Mir, Upstart, Snap—that have drawn criticism from those who prefer community consensus. But its commitment to making Linux approachable and well-supported has been undeniable.