Ubuntu celebrates 20 years of innovation in the Linux world

The day October 20, 2024 brand or twentieth anniversary of the launch of Ubuntu. Born in 2004, this Debian-based operating system quickly became one of the most popular and influential Linux distributions thanks to its philosophy centered on ease of use and strong community support. In the next paragraphs you will find some interesting facts about this Linux version so loved by users.

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Evolution of Ubuntu

The name “Ubuntu”, derived from a South African philosophy meaning “I am because we are”, perfectly reflects the collaborative spirit that has driven the distribution’s growth. That ethos Community support was exemplified by the Ubuntu ShipIt program, started in 2005, which sent free CDs of the system to anyone interested, democratizing access to free software at a time when downloading large files was still a challenge for many.

Over the course of two decades, Ubuntu has constantly evolved, expanding far beyond its origins as a desktop operating system. In 2008, the release of Wubi allowed for easy installation of Ubuntu on Windows machines, while the first Ubuntu Cloud images marked the beginning of a journey that would see the distribution dominate the server and cloud computing market.

The adoption of OpenStack in 2011 was a crucial step in this direction, solidifying Ubuntu’s position as a preferred choice for cloud environments. Today, distribution has a strong presence on public cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure e Google Cloud, demonstrating its versatility and reliability on an enterprise scale.

Stability and long support time

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has always prioritized stability and long-term support. The introduction of LTS (Long Term Support) versions in 2006, with the release of Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake, established a standard of reliability that continues today. LTS versions, released every two years, offer five years of support, complemented by intermediate versions that keep the system up to date with the latest innovations.

Ubuntu’s continued innovation was also reflected in the introduction of Snap packages in 2016, simplifying software distribution and installation on Linux systems. This technology, in addition to benefiting Ubuntu users, also contributed to the Linux ecosystem as a whole.

Ubuntu’s flexibility gave rise to several official “flavors”, such as Kubuntu (with KDE Plasma), Lubuntu and Xubuntu (for more modest hardware), and Ubuntu Kylin (focused on the Chinese market). These variations demonstrate Ubuntu’s ability to adapt to different user needs and preferences.

Ubuntu errors over time

However, not all Ubuntu initiatives have been successful. The Unity interface, introduced in 2011, has faced criticism for its inconsistency and confusing user experience. The controversy reached its peak when the integrated search began displaying results from Amazon, leading to accusations of “spyware” by prominent figures such as Richard Stallman. In 2017, Canonical recognized the challenges and returned to GNOME as the default desktop environment.

The convergence project between desktop and mobile devices, although ambitious, also did not take off as expected. The idea of ​​transforming smartphones into complete computers, similar to Samsung DeX, was abandoned in 2017, marking the end of an era of experimentation with mobile platforms.

Future of Ubuntu

Despite these setbacks, the future of Ubuntu looks promising. The recent release of Ubuntu 24.10 Oracular Oriole celebrates the past with nostalgic Easter eggs, as well as reaffirming the distribution’s commitment to continuous innovation. Ubuntu’s presence on personal computers, servers, enterprise systems and IoT devices demonstrates its adaptability and continued relevance in the ever-evolving technology landscape.

As free and open source software, Ubuntu remains an attractive option for educational and government institutions, especially in developing countries. The robust support community, exemplified by the Ask Ubuntu forum with its millions of users and hundreds of thousands of answered questions, ensures that new users have access to a vast network of knowledge and assistance.

As Ubuntu celebrates its 20th anniversary, it reaffirms its commitment to the community that made it great. As stated by Canonical in their commemorative video: “One thing that has remained the same is the heart of Ubuntu: you, a community of users, enthusiasts, and contributors, all helping to spread the message of changing the world through open source software.“

Long live Ubuntu!