Ubuntu is a Debian-based Linux distribution for personal computers, tablets and smartphones, where the Ubuntu Touch edition is used; and also runs network servers, usually with the Ubuntu Server edition, either on physical or virtual servers (such as on mainframes) or with containers, that is with enterprise-class features.
Ubuntu runs on the most popular architectures, including server-class ARM-based. Ubuntu is developed by Canonical Ltd., who offer commercial support.
Overview Ubuntu can be described as all of the following: Operating system —system software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides common services for computer programs. All computer programs, excluding firmware, require an operating system to function. Unix-like operating system — operating system that behaves in a manner similar to a Unix system, while not necessarily conforming to or being certified to any version of the Single UNIX Specification. There is no standard for defining the term, and some difference of opinion is possible as to the degree to which a given operating system is "Unix-like". Debian-based operating system —Debian is a Unix-like computer operating system that is composed entirely of free software, most of which is under the GNU General Public License and packaged by a group of individuals participating in the Debian Project. Debian has many derivatives, among which Ubuntu is the most popular. Ubuntu, in turn, also has many derivatives... Free software Major proponent of the free-culture movement
Ubuntu derivatives
Official editions Official editions —official Ubuntu variants install a set of packages different from the original Ubuntu, but since they draw additional packages and updates from the same repositories as Ubuntu, all of the same software is available for each of them. Ubuntu Server —server edition that uses the same APT repositories as the Ubuntu Desktop Edition. The differences between them are the absence of an 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. Ubuntu Touch — mobile version of Ubuntu developed by Canonical Ltd. and the Ubuntu community. It is designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Ubuntu Kylin — official Chinese version of Ubuntu.
Community supported Ubuntu Budgie —uses the Budgie desktop environment. Edubuntu —complete Linux based operating system targeted for primary and secondary education. It is freely available with community based support. The Edubuntu community is built on the ideas enshrined in the Edubuntu Manifesto: that software, especially for education, should be available free of charge and that software tools should be usable by people in their local language and despite any disabilities.Edubuntu website Ubuntu GNOME — uses a pure GNOME desktop environment with GNOME Shell, rather than the Unity graphical shell, and uses GDM as its display manager.Ubuntu GNOME Kubuntu — uses the KDE Plasma Desktop instead of the Unity graphical environment.Kubuntu website Lubuntu — "lightweight Ubuntu", which uses the LXDE desktop environment in place of Ubuntu's Unity shell and GNOME desktop. LXDE is touted as being "lighter, less resource hungry and more energy-efficient".Lubuntu website Ubuntu MATE — uses the MATE desktop environment as its default user interface, forked from the now-defunct GNOME 2 code base, with an emphasis on the desktop metaphor. Ubuntu Server — An official derivative made for use in servers. Ubuntu Server handles mail, controls printers, acts as a fileserver, can host LAMP and more.Ubuntu Server Edition website Ubuntu Studio — provides open-source applications for multimedia creation by audio, video and graphic editors.Ubuntu Studio website Ubuntu Touch — Designed for use with touchscreen devices. Ubuntu TV — Designed for use with TVs. Xubuntu — intended for use on less-powerful computers or by those who seek a highly efficient desktop environment on faster systems, and it uses mostly GTK+ applications.Xubuntu website For efficiency, it uses the Xfce desktop environment, instead of Ubuntu's Unity.
Third-party distributions Unofficial variants and derivatives are not controlled or guided by Canonical Ltd. and generally have different goals in mind. Aurora — Specifically for the Eee PC range of netbooks, based on Debian. Previously named Eeebuntu and based on Ubuntu. Baltix — Ubuntu-based distribution for Lithuanian and Latvian people. Supported languages are Lithuanian, Latvian, Estonian, Russian, English, Norwegian and others in the Baltic region. The main language is Lithuanian. BackBox — BackBox is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu. It has been developed to perform penetration tests and security assessments. Designed to be fast, easy to use and provide a minimal yet complete desktop environment, thanks to its own software repositories, always being updated to the latest stable version of the most used and best known ethical hacking tools.BackBox website BackTrack — Developed by Offensive Security and designed for penetration testing;BackTrack website superseded by Kali Linux BlankOn — Ubuntu-based distribution for users in IndonesiaBlankOn website Bodhi Linux — An Ubuntu-based Linux distribution featuring the Moksha Desktop environment and targeting users who want a minimum of preinstalled software or low system requirements.Bodhi Linux website dyne:bolic — Live CD geared toward multimedia (audio and video) production, but comes with other non-media specific application (e.g. word processor, desktop publisher)dyne:bolic website EasyPeasy — customized for netbooks, low-powered computers, and access to web applications.EasyPeasy website Element OS — Based on Xubuntu, made for Home theater PCsElement OS website elementary OS — A powerful, user-friendly distribution known for its well received user interface and devoted community of developers and artists.elementary OS website Flagship distribution to showcase the Pantheon desktop environment. Emmabuntüs — designed to facilitate the repacking of personal computers donated to humanitarian organizationsTuxmachines.org Emmabuntüs: A philanthropist's GNU/Linux 20 April 2014 like the Emmaüs Communities. Galsoft Linux — A Linux distribution derived from Lubuntu that is made to be installed from a DVD or a USB flash drive. The distribution is specially optimized to run efficiently with limited hardware resources. GendBuntu — A version adapted for use by France's National Gendarmerie. Goobuntu — An Ubuntu-based distribution used internally by Google; not available outside of Google gOS — Uses the GNOME desktop environment with user interface enhancements to make it work more like Mac OS X, it also features Google Apps, Picasa, Google Gadgets and other web-based applications, and comes with Wine 1.0 pre-installed. Guadalinex — Ubuntu-based distribution promoted by the local government of Andalucia, Spain, for home users and schools.Guadalinex website Iskolinux — A Linux distribution packaged and maintained by UP Manila's (UPM) Information Management System as part of University of the Philippines' thrust to migrate to Linux. Joli OS — Joli OS (formerly named Jolicloud) is in development and Pre-beta testing. Joli OS is built upon Debian and Ubuntu 9.10, but is tweaked to be more suitable for computers that have weaker specifications in terms of disk storage, memory and screen size. It is designed to run on relatively low-powered netbook computers.Joli OS website Impi Linux — South African and focuses on the enterprise and government sector.Impi Linux website Karoshi — A formerly PCLinuxOS-based distribution designed for use in schools.Karoshi website Kuki Linux — Lightweight Ubuntu-based Linux distribution founded by João Ferro, built to be a replacement for the Linpus Linux Lite distribution on the Acer Aspire One.Kuki Linux website LiMux — A project by the city council of Munich, Germany Linux Lite — The purpose of Linux Lite is to introduce Windows users to Linux, and provide them with a comfortable and useful user experience. It is designed to be simple and suitable for new Linux users who want a lightweight, highly responsive, and fully functional environment.Linux Lite website Linux Mint — Linux Mint synchronizes its release-cycle with Ubuntu's long-term support, and is tailored to user-friendliness for desktop users. Also features a Debian-based edition.Linux Mint website It uses the Cinnamon desktop environment, and provides full out-of-the-box multimedia support by including some proprietary software along with a variety of free and open-source applications. LinuxMCE — Linux Media Center Edition, a Kubuntu-based distribution that provides in-depth HTPC functionality as well as home automation.LinuxMCE website LinuxTLE — A Thai Linux distribution LliureX — A distribution by the Generalitat ValencianaLliureX website LOUD — LCSEE Optimized Ubuntu Distribution, an Ubuntu distribution used at West Virginia University. It contains several specialized educational packages as well as its own themes and login manager.LOUD website MAX — Stands for Madrid LinuXMAX website Molinux — Ubuntu based initiative to introduce the Castile-La Mancha community in Spain to the information society. Nova — Cuban state-sponsored distribution developed at the University of Information Science, Havana. Formerly based on Gentoo. Netrunner — Kubuntu based distribution with complete software and codecs installed, developed by Blue Systems (also sponsoring Kubuntu and LinuxMintKDE).Netrunner website OpenGEU — Ubuntu based distribution with Enlightenment window manager, previously known as Geubuntu.OpenGEU website Peppermint OS — A light-weight LXDE distribution for cloud applications through its own Ice Framework using Chromium Web Browser. Based on Lubuntu Pinguy OS — An Ubuntu-based distro for people that have never used Linux before or for people that want an out-of-the-box working OS without having to tweak a fresh installation of Ubuntu or other Ubuntu-based distro. Pop!_OS, a distribution developed by System76, primarily for the hardware that they manufacture Poseidon Linux — For academic and scientific use. Based on Ubuntu, but enhanced by GIS/maps, numerical modelling, 2D/3D/4D visualization, statistics, tools for creating simple and complex graphics, programming languages. PUD — A small distribution, aimed at being simple and usable Qimo 4 Kids — Educational games for children aged three and up. Ubuntu-based with easy-to-use interface.Qimo 4 Kids website Sabily — Ubuntu based distribution for Muslims (formerly Ubuntu Muslim Edition) Trisquel GNU/Linux — fully free-software system without proprietary software or firmware and uses the Linux-libre kernel, based on Ubuntu LTS ReleasesTrisquel Linux website UberStudent — For higher education and advanced secondary students, those who teach them, and lifelong learnersUberStudent website Ututo — Ututo UL ("Ubuntu-Libre") Distributes Simusol, a system to simulate Solar Energy projects, returned to the heart of the project. Vinux — A Linux distribution designed for visually impaired users
Features and components Linux kernel — monolithic Unix-like computer operating system kernel. The Linux operating system is based on this kernel and deployed on both traditional computer systems such as personal computers and servers, usually in the form of Linux distributions (including Ubuntu and its derivatives), and on various embedded devices such as routers, wireless access points, PBXes, set-top boxes, FTA receivers, smart TVs, PVRs and NAS appliances. LightDM — X display manager that aims to be lightweight, fast, extensible and multi-desktop. It uses various front-ends to draw login interfaces, also called Greeters. man pages Mir display server