5 years livin' with Ubuntu !

[varsamakos]

5 years livin' with Ubuntu !
(original link) (http://iovarsamis.blogspot.com/2009/10/5-ubuntu-linux.html)





Back then, in 2004 and 20th of October, a new distribution was welcoming by the Linux community.
It's name was "Ubuntu", maintained by Canonical Ltd and its founder Mark Shuttleworth.


http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/ubu.png


The word "Ubuntu" was taken from an African philosophy in which, people, are focusing on allegiances and relations with each other.


Ubuntu was based in Debian project and its primary aim was to be a more frequently updated system.
As a fork of Debian, Ubuntu was/is based in Debian's packages and as a result, fixes and changes was pushed back in Debian.

Before release, packages are imported from Debian Unstable continuously and merged with Ubuntu-specific modifications. A month before release, imports are frozen, and packagers then work to ensure that the frozen features interoperate well together.

Releases are timed to be approximately one month after GNOME releases and two months after X.org releases.


It is a stable OS, featuring the newest software versions, in the level of the kernel or in application software.
Ubuntu's main goals was usability, security and the simpliest methods regarding interaction between user and OS.


Each release is having a 6-month life cycle and it is supported with updates for 18 months.
Selected releases have been labeled as Long Term Support (LTS) versions offering 3-years support in desktop and 5-years in Server Edition. These releases are out every two years and they're known for their packages' maturity and stability.







Now, let's make a tour to see what Ubuntu had in it's briefcase all these years ... May nostalgia be with us : )




2004. Mark Shuttleworth began to round up a small but immensely talented and dedicated group of open source developers to create a revolutionary new Linux desktop. Based on the principles of time-based releases, a strong Debian foundation, the GNOME desktop, and a strong commitment to freedom, this group operated initially under the auspices of http://no-name-yet.com.




Ubuntu 4.10 Warty Warthog


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3536/4022675770_374d9dc45b.jpg



The first release from Canonical, released in October of 2004, introducing the naming method, Y.MM, in which "Y" represents the year and "MM" the month of each version's final release date.
In addition to that, two words was given along with these numbers, an adjective and a noun. The later one was an animal and in this case a warthog !
Here (https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2004-October/000003.html) is the official announcement from Mark Shuttleworth.

Interest in Ubuntu was dramatic from the outset. There were nearly 3000 messages on the ubuntu-users mailing list within the first two weeks, and the community focus of the project attracted key contributors




2005. The following year saw dramatic growth in the Ubuntu community. Hundreds and then thousands of free software enthusiasts joined the community. The core development team continued to grow, and dedicated volunteers around the world found new ways to contribute through code, advocacy, artwork, documentation, wiki gardening, and more.




Ubuntu 5.04 Hoary Hedgehog


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/4022675664_31b22bc6fd.jpg


The second release of Ubuntu, came out in April of 2005.
At the same time, the first release of Kubuntu was made, to the delight of KDE fans worldwide.




Ubuntu 5.10 Breezy Badger



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2758/4021916281_7dcc58f792.jpg


In addition to the much anticipated Ubuntu and Kubuntu releases, Edubuntu was released for the first time to address the educational market with the release of Ubuntu 5.10.






2006. The Ubuntu project took a significant step forward in 2006.



Ubuntu 6.06 Dapper Drake (LTS)



http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/4021959617_5a8ec84a3a.jpg


Dapper Drake was produced in June. In addition to the extended support cycle(LTS), this release also marked the first time a single CD served as a live and install CD, and in which there was a formal Server Edition.



Ubuntu 6.10 Edgy Eft


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2691/4022729332_f27d2e2775.jpg

In October, the 5th release from Canonical. It was the first one to follow the alphabetical order regarding naming.

[varsamakos]

Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2787/4021989793_83b4850fbf.jpg


Came with migration tool, easy installation of multimedia codecs, networking improvements, Xorg 7.2, Apache 2.2 etc.


Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/4022031757_05bf7a6c44.jpg

New features in Gutsy, Gnome 2.20, desktop 3D effects, desktop search, fast user switching, handling of non-free device drivers etc.
The official announcement was given by Mark in Ubuntu lists (https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2007-April/000276.html).







2008. The Ubuntu project released its second LTS version of Ubuntu, Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, two years after the previous LTS version. This provided users of the 6.06 LTS desktop edition a full year to plan their migrations. Later that year, the 8.10 release featured Wubi, the Windows installer for Ubuntu.



Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron (LTS)


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2540/4022847396_963504814d.jpg


Armed with visual improvements and mainly stability in its packages (LTS), it managed to attract a lot of users in Ubuntu and generally in Linux community.


Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2664/4022121205_cd618d3a36.jpg

8.10 was named Intrepid Ibex (https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2008-February/025136.html) and came with Guest Sessions and newer version of Network Manager(0.7), Gnome and X.org.
Equipped, IMO, with the greatest wallpaper of all Ubuntu's releases.






2009. Ubuntu community is growing and its reputation is getting bigger and bigger.
The 9.04 release included the Ubuntu Netbook Remix (UNR) designed for small screened netbook devices. Also noteworthy was the inclusion of Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) which enabled organizations to deploy a private computing cloud in their own data center.
Also, in 10th release, Jaunty, among the others, two of the goals was faster boot time and better integration and support in web services.


Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4022919816_fd069733c7.jpg




Now, let's see what we know about next releases ...



In a few days, although 9.10 Karmic Koala is almost 100% known though beta version, the official one will make appearance in 29th of this month, as scheduled.


Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2767/4027060662_5673ee4779.jpg


Comes with cleaner and more elegant desktop, changing to ext4 and bringing newer versions for Grub, Gnome and various software applications.
Add/remove applications is also changing, now known as Ubuntu Software Centre.



Information about the next release is also known.
It will be named 10.04 Lucid Lynx and be the third LTS release, right after Hardy Heron.
As a LTS version, the main focus in its stability.

[varsamakos]

Now, just for our entertainment, let's see what Canonical had/has in its mind regarding naming each release with names brought from animals. : )




Warthog

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_warthog.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=warthog.jpg)



Hedgehog

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_hedge.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=hedge.jpg)



Badger

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_badger.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=badger.jpg)


Drake

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_drake.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=drake.jpg)


Eft

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_eft.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=eft.jpg)


Fawn

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_fawn.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=fawn.jpg)


Gibbon

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_gibbon.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=gibbon.jpg)

[varsamakos]

Heron

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_heron.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=heron.jpg)


Ibex

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_ibex.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=ibex.jpg)



Jackalope

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_jackalope.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=jackalope.jpg)


Koala

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_koala.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=koala.jpg)


Lynx


http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/th_lynx.jpg (http://s250.photobucket.com/albums/gg244/varsamakos/?action=view&current=lynx.jpg)




Nowadays, Ubuntu is the most popular distribution.
Why ?
There are many reasons for that, few of them are :
The people behind this project had a clear vision, the timing that Ubuntu was landed in Linux world was also perfect and of course, the, easy to install - easy to use factor helped so this distribution became the most known and for a lot of people it's a synonym of Linux.

The growth of Ubuntu took it pre-installed in some PC's (Dell etc.), in laptops and desktops, with full support of the hardware and free to buy in the global market.



So, today, we are celebrating 5 years of our favorite distribution, Ubuntu !
Let's wish for innovative and up-to-date improvement though the next years ...



http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2433/4029202421_11e6634e6c.jpg




Be open sourced !



Links for further information :
Gnu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GNU) / Linux (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux)
Ubuntu (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(operating_system)) - Open Source (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_source_software)
GNU GPL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gpl)
Richard Stallman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stallman) - Linus Torvalds (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linus_Torvalds)



This article is a translation of an article that I posted in my blog this morning (see thread title) (http://iovarsamis.blogspot.com/2009/10/5-ubuntu-linux.html). So, forgive my english. I was hasty and tired.
I just wanted to post it here too, where the heart of Ubuntu beats.

Cheers!

[nmccrina]

That's pretty epic.

[The Real Dave]

I remember 8.04 =] My first Ubuntu, though I do have a 5.10 install disk :) I must agree, 8.10 has the best wallpaper.

So, 5 years? Heres to another 50! :)

[Perfect Storm]

Been here, since beta 4.10...5 years flying by...

[motang]

For me it's has been 4 and a half years of Ubuntu. When the first one came out, I was still a Fedora user (one my old computer), wasn't very happy as it didn't support my hardware well. On my primary desktop it was Win XP, come 2005 and second version of Ubuntu came out and so I put that on my old computer and instantly fell in love as it supported my hardware as they were suppose to see seen! Ever since then I have replaced Win XP and used Ubuntu as my primary OS (on desktop, notebook) but I still have an old XP box laying around (it gets turned on couple of times a month) :).

[speedwell68]

I have only been using Ubuntu for three years. I have been using it exclusively since Edgy, only by accident , I wiped my XP install by mistake. I haven't looked back since. I can now no longer imagine computer use in anything other than Linux. I do play with other distros, but Ubuntu is the one on my stable machine.

[Machnikowski]

My first Ubuntu was 6.10 (My first Kubuntu being 6.06).

8.10's wallpaper with 9.10's darker theme looks sweet.

[steveneddy]

I started Ubuntu on Warty.

Can't wait for Lynx.

[Ms_Angel_D]

My First Ubuntu Was Gutsy, and I have been hooked ever since....

[FuturePilot]

It's been 3 years for me. I started with 6.06. It's been quite a journey.

[UndefinedMind]

Can't help but notice 8.04 and 8.10 wallpapers stick out from the others.

10.04 wallpaper potential?

I'm hoping for something damn amazing, since I've always used the wallpapers included with the install.

[stinger30au]

been hooked since 7.04

thats when the year of the linux desktop for me happened

[tacantara]

Thank you, varsamakos, for posting this 5-year review of Ubuntu. Well done. I'm a history buff, especially when it comes to areas that I'm specifically interested in, such as computers.

I've only been an Ubuntu user since February 2009 (Started with 8.10, and upgraded to 9.04 for Dell). I just wish I'd discovered (or at least acknowledged it) sooner, so I wouldn't feel like such a noob now.

[Sealbhach]

Nice post varsamakos!

Been using Ubuntu since Hardy, have enjoyed it very much, it really opened my eyes to the question of whether I have the right or not to do whatever I want with this nice piece of hardware I bought.

.

[Cope57]

Nowadays, Ubuntu is the most popular distribution.

Most popular does not mean it is the best.

Solitaire is the most popular played game ever on a PC, but it is not the best...
Not to say you should leave Ubuntu, but at least look at the alternatives, and try them out.

[Faolan84]

I've been using Ubuntu since 6.06 LTS on and off. It's a great system and I have to say I'm looking forward to the next apt-get dist-upgrade soon.

[varsamakos]

Most popular does not mean it is the best.


Did I say that it's the best ?
Are you reffering to me ?



And to tell my story, my first one was Hardy
but I'm using exclusively Linux since the beggining of this year.

[Sand & Mercury]

Though it was only with 7.10 that I began to make the jump confidently, I've been following Ubuntu's steps since a mate of mine sent me a 5.04 CD ages back. The opening screenshots here are really cool, it's like looking at baby photos. :P

Happy birthday Ubuntu!

[t0p]

Most popular does not mean it is the best.

It's the best I've tried.



Solitaire is the most popular played game ever on a PC, but it is not the best...

Again, it's the best I've tried. ;)




Not to say you should leave Ubuntu, but at least look at the alternatives, and try them out.

I first tried Ubuntu with Breezy, but it didn't play nicely with my hardware of the time (a Compaq laptop that came with Win98 - what a crock!). I tried again with Gutsy, when I got a new computer. And I've been hooked ever since.

I occasionally try a live cd of something else. But less frequently now than before. Ubuntu fulfills my every desire. Well, some of them.

[pasti]

Happy 5th Birthday Ubuntu

It's been great, I started with 5.10 (Breezy) and haven't looked back, it's now the only os I use on my main pc, used to have zenwalk on my eee and an ancient sony vaio, the vaio now has masonux, the eee xubuntu, and backtrack on a pendrive.

so a big big thankyou Mr Shuttleworth, and all the canonical developers, forum admins, and anybody else who's helped out, you've certainly made my life easier::P

[ade234uk]

I remember trying Ubuntu 4.04 and thinking, this looks like quite a nice distro. It was different, it felt clean and uncluttered.
I remember using automatix to get things installed.

I wonder what Ubuntu 12 will look like?

[Eisenwinter]

I remember trying Ubuntu 4.04 and thinking, this looks like quite a nice distro.
There wasn't Ubuntu 4.04

[lukjad]

/me votes this thread as BEST THREAD EVER contender.

[Kimm]

I've been using Ubuntu since 4.10, the initial release.
Its truly incredible how far Ubuntu, and linux in general, has come since then!

[JugglinPhil]

Nice! I only started using it half a year ago, but I'm up for the next five. :)

[kevdog]

Is it just me or is the trend of the overall default background screens getting worse? Come on guys karmic and jaunty default backgrounds are weak!!! I thought the trend was bucked with hardy and intrepid, but I guess I was wrong about that!!


BTW -- awesome post and screen caps.

[Occasionally Correct]

Thanks for posting this! Very cool.

I started experimenting back when Dapper was released, adopted GNU/Linux as my primary operating system when Feisty came out, and when I got my then-new computer, I installed Hardy and... nothing else. :)

[JugglinPhil]

Is it just me or is the trend of the overall default background screens getting worse? Come on guys karmic and jaunty default backgrounds are weak!!! I thought the trend was bucked with hardy and intrepid, but I guess I was wrong about that!!


BTW -- awesome post and screen caps.
Agreed, it was the first thing I changed when I installed Jaunty, and it probably will be the first thing I'll change when I install Karmic.

[varsamakos]

Is it just me or is the trend of the overall default background screens getting worse? Come on guys karmic and jaunty default backgrounds are weak!!! I thought the trend was bucked with hardy and intrepid, but I guess I was wrong about that!!


Indeed, hardy and intrepid are the best so far.

As I see it, Canonical is looking though a more simple and soft looking desktop.
Maybe there's a thought over there that Hardy+Intrepid's default wallpapers were too much in terms of elegance and simplicity (?).
Anyways, looking forward to Lucid ...