Ubuntu GNOME (formerly Ubuntu GNOME Remix) is a discontinued Linux distribution, distributed as free and open-source software. It used a pure GNOME 3 desktop environment with GNOME Shell, rather than the Unity graphical shell. Starting with version 13.04 it became an official "flavour" of the Ubuntu operating system.
In April 2017, it was announced that 17.04 would be the last release. The distribution was to be discontinued in favor of the standard Ubuntu distribution, which switched from using Unity to GNOME Shell as its desktop environment starting with its 17.10 release.
History The project began as an unofficial "remix" because some users preferred the GNOME 3 desktop environment over Unity. Ubuntu GNOME 12.10 Quantal Quetzal was the first stable version, released on 18 October 2012.
Writing in October 2013, Jim Lynch stated:
Jim Lynch reviewed Ubuntu GNOME 14.04 LTS again in April 2014 and concluded:
On 5 April 2017, Canonical Executive Chairman and Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth announced that the mainline version of Ubuntu would move from Unity to the GNOME 3 desktop starting by version 18.04 LTS, which would make it virtually identical to Ubuntu GNOME. It was later revealed that Ubuntu 17.10 would in fact be the first version to use GNOME.
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."
In light of Ubuntu's announcement that it would switch desktop environments from Unity to GNOME, the Ubuntu GNOME developers announced on 13 April 2017 that the distribution would merge into the mainline Ubuntu, starting with the 17.10 release.
Releases VersionCode NameRelease dateSupported UntilKernelGnome VersionRemarks12.10Quantal Quetzal2012-10-18May 20143.5.03.4First release13.04Raring Ringtail2013-04-26January 20143.8.03.6Firefox replaced GNOME Web (Epiphany) as the default browser. Ubuntu Software Center and Update Manager replaced GNOME Software (gnome-packagekit). LibreOffice 4.0 became available by default instead of AbiWord and Gnumeric.13.10Saucy Salamander2013-10-17July 20143.113.8GNOME 3.814.04 LTSTrusty Tahr2014-04-17April 20173.133.10Release as a long-term support (LTS) for three years Included a "GNOME Classic" session available by default in the session menu14.10Utopic Unicorn2014-10-23July 20153.163.12Most of GNOME 3.12 was included gnome-maps and gnome-weather were installed by default GNOME Classic session was included and selectable at log-in15.04Vivid Vervet2015-04-23February 20163.193.14GNOME 3.1415.10Wily Werewolf2015-10-22July 20164.23.16GNOME 3.16 GNOME Photos replaced Shotwell as the default photo manager GNOME Music replaced Rhythmbox as default music player16.04 LTSXenial Xerus2016-04-21April 20194.43.18"Getting Started Guide" upon first boot GNOME Software replaces the Ubuntu Software Center Support for installing Snap packages Wayland session available (experimental)16.10Yakkety Yak2016-10-13July 20174.83.2017.04Zesty Zapus2017-04-13January 20184.103.24Final release
See also
Ubuntu Unity Comparison of Linux distributions
References
External links