Ubuntu

Ubuntu is an open source Linux based computer operating system, founded by Mark Shuttleworth[1]. Ubuntu is commercially sponsored by Canonical. The operating system is based on Debian, another Linux based system, and uses Gnome as the default desktop environment.

History

The first version of Ubuntu, "Warty Warthog", was released in October of 2004[2]. Since then, it has been growing momentum, and is currently stated to be the most popular Linux distribution to both new and experienced users[3]. Since the first release, Ubuntu has seen nine stable versions released.

Ubuntu has many other derivatives. These include Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Gobuntu, Ubuntu Netbook Remix and Ubuntu MID (Mobile Internet Device) Edition. There are also many others that are made non-officially. Each derivative is either designed to give the user choice of freedom (such as using different desktop environments), or designed specifically for certain hardware (such as Netbooks and Mobile Internet Devices).[4]

Desktop and Server

Ubuntu is aimed at both the desktop and server market, though is most popular in the former. In the desktop edition, free programs such as OpenOffice.org, GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) and a selection of other programs are included by default to give the users maximum experience.[5]

The Ubuntu Server Edition is designed to be the "backbone of many of the services that a typical business needs to run to be successful". It is a very cut down version of Ubuntu, with just the basics needed to run a server (such as a web server). It includes a set of applications known as LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySql, PHP), which is designed to allow it to be a powerful server tool.[6][7]

Contributions

Canonical have been critisized in the past for not making as many contributions to Gnome and other projects inclueded in Ubuntu as many other distributions (such as Fedora). Since then, Mark Shuttleworth has said that he will be sponsoring upstream development. Ubuntu developers are also starting to make small, but significant contributions (such as a program in the most recent release, Intrepid Ibex, that easily allows Ubuntu to be installed onto a USB Flash Disk).

Naming Convention

Each Ubuntu release has two names associated with it. One a name (such as "Warty Warthog"), and one a number (such as 4.10).

The name is made up of two words, with the first word always being an adjective, and the second always being some type of animal. Ever since the release in June 2006, the names have been released in alphabetical order.

The number associated with the name is a combination of the year and date that it was released. For example, the version with 4.10, was released in October 2004, or 2004.10 (the year, followed by a dot and the number of the month).[8]

Release History

Below is a list of every Ubuntu version released to date[2], starting from the oldest:

• Warty Warthog, October 2004
• Hoary Hedgehog, April 2005
• Breezy Badger, October 2005
• Dapper Drake, June 2006
• Edgy Eft, October 2006
• Feisty Fawn, April 2007
• Gutsy Gibbon, October 2007
• Hardy Heron, April 2008  
• Intrepid Ibex, Ocober 2008

Profitability

Mark Shuttleworth has said that Ubuntu will always remain free of charge, and open source to anyone who wants to download it. Shuttleworth has also said that he wishes to get Ubuntu to a stage where it is self profitable by offering paid support options to businesses and government agencies who wish to change over to Ubuntu.