Kubuntu
Kubuntu logo

Kubuntu 8.10
Company / developer Canonical Ltd. and community contributors
OS family Unix-like
Working state Current
Source model Free and open source software
Initial release April 8, 2005 (2005-04-08)
Latest stable release 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) / 30 October 2008; 70 days ago
Available language(s) Multilingual (more than 55)
Update method APT
Package manager dpkg (Debian GNU/Linux Package Manager)
Supported platforms x86, x86-64, UltraSPARC[a]
Kernel type Monolithic (Linux)
Default user interface KDE
License Various, primarily GPL and GFDL
Website www.kubuntu.org

Kubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system using the KDE graphical environment instead of GNOME. It is part of the Ubuntu project and uses the same underlying system. Kubuntu and Ubuntu can work alongside each other by installing the ubuntu-desktop and kubuntu-desktop packages. Every package in Kubuntu shares the same repositories as Ubuntu.[1] Kubuntu CDs can be ordered through the Shipit service. It is released regularly and predictably.[2]

Contents

Name

“Kubuntu”, pronounced /kùbúntú/ (koo-BOON-too), means “towards humanity” in Bemban (derived from “ubuntu” – “humanity”). The K at the beginning represents the K Desktop Environment, which Kubuntu runs. By coincidence, Kubuntu also means “free” (as in 'free of charge') in Kirundi.[3]

Differences from Ubuntu

A regular installation of Ubuntu will have the GNOME desktop, GNOME applications (e.g. Evolution) and GNOME/GTK+ admin tools (e.g. Synaptic Package Manager). A regular installation of Kubuntu has the KDE desktop, KDE applications (e.g. Kontact) and KDE/Qt admin tools (e.g. Adept Manager). In addition, Kubuntu is more likely to use packages from the KDE/Qt project rather than GTK+ toolkit-based applications. However, these are simply the default packages. For example, one may install Ubuntu and then add KDE, or even install the Kubuntu 'metapackage'. Therefore, one need not be restricted to one set of applications, but can mix and match by preference. There is a slight disadvantage to doing so, namely the increased diskspace and memory requirements of running both Qt and GTK.

Kubuntu 8.04 CDs

Kubuntu uses a familiar boot from CD screen.

Kubuntu 8.04 with KDE 3.

Releases

Kubuntu follows the same naming/versioning system as Ubuntu, with each release having a code name, and a version number based on the year and month of release. Canonical provides support and security updates for most Kubuntu versions for 18 months after release.[4] Both Desktop CDs and Alternative (installation) CDs for x86 and AMD64 platforms are available.
Kubuntu is available both with KDE 3.5 and KDE 4.

Colour Meaning
Red Old release; not supported
Yellow Old release; still supported
Green Current release
Blue Future release
Version Release date Code name Sub Version Supported until Notes
5.04 2005-04-08[5] Hoary Hedgehog Array 2006-10-31 Initial release including KDE 3.4 and a selection of the most useful KDE programs. Some of these are not in the official KDE itself, including Amarok, Kaffeine, Gwenview, and K3b. Inclusion of update-manager/upgrade-notifier; Kickstart compatibility.
5.10 2005-10-13[6][7] Breezy Badger Colony 2007-04-13 KDE 3.4.3 and the Guidance configuration tools. It also comes with the Adept Package Manager, the first to make use of debtags for easier searching (replacing the Kynaptic package manager used in the previous release); System Settings, a re-organised kcontrol-like centre and KDE Bluetooth; Graphical boot process with progress bar (USplash); OEM Installer Support; Launchpad tracking; GCC 4.0.
6.06 LTS 2006-06-01[8][9] Dapper Drake Flight 2009-06 Long Term Support (LTS) release; Live CD and Installer on one disc; Ubiquity installer; Adept Notifier and Simplified Installer; X Display Configuration from Guidance; Better Asian language support; Avahi networking software
6.10 2006-10-26[10][11] Edgy Eft Knot 2008-04 KDE 3.5.5. This release adds the photo management application Digikam and accessibility profiles - benefiting people with disabilities. System Settings is also redesigned, and power management, laptop button support & networking are improved. Also features automated problem reports and Upstart.[12]
7.04 2007-04-19[13] Feisty Fawn Herd 2008-10 KDE 3.5.6; Migration assistant; KVM; Easy codec/restricted drivers installation; System Settings restructured into General and Advanced categories; Improved Hewlett-Packard printer management; KNetworkManager included; WPA support; Topic-based help system; OEM installer update; PowerPC support officially dropped.
7.10 2007-10-18[14][15] Gutsy Gibbon Tribe 2009-04 New background art. Ships with Strigi and Dolphin by default. Qt port of GDebi graphical installer for package files. Includes Restricted Drivers Manager for the first time.[16] New kubuntu-restricted-extras package is available for download from the repositories.
8.04 2008-04-24[17] Hardy Heron Alpha 2009-10 A Long Term Support (LTS) release; It has two versions:KDE 3.5 and KDE 4.0 (With community support only). This version intends to provide feature parity with GNOME-based Ubuntu.[18] This includes a port of system-config-printer to Qt to enable printer auto-detection, easy video codec installation in Kaffeine, a simple Compiz setup tool and inclusion of Bulletproof X in KDM.[19][20], and automatic grabbing and releasing of the mouse cursor when running on a VMware virtual machine.
8.10 2008-10-30 Intrepid Ibex[21] Alpha 2010-04 KDE 4.1.2 desktop environment by default, Kernel 2.6.27, Xserver 1.5, Adept Manager 3, KNetworkManager 0.7, KWin desktop effects by default, various Kubuntu tool integration.
9.04 2009-04 Jaunty Jackalope Alpha 2010-10 Will procure KDE 4.2 by default. [22]

System requirements

Kubuntu 8.10 showing some of its Desktop Effects. These effects utilize advanced features of the video card.

The desktop version of Kubuntu currently supports the Intel x86 and the AMD64 architectures. Some server releases also support the SPARC architecture[23] in addition to Intel x86 and AMD64. Unofficial support is available for the PowerPC,[24] IA-64 (Itanium) and PlayStation 3 architectures.

The minimum system requirements for a desktop installation are a 300 MHz x86 processor, 64 MB of RAM, 4 GB of hard drive space,[25] and a video card which supports VGA at 640x480 resolution. The recommended system requirements for the desktop installation are a 700 MHz x86 processor, 384 MB of RAM, 8 GB of hard drive space,[25] and a video card which supports VGA at 1024×768 resolution. The server installation requires a 300 MHz x86 processor, 64 MB of RAM,[26] and a video card which supports VGA at 640×480.

Desktop & Laptop[27] Server[27]
Required Recommended
Processor 300 MHz(x86) 700 MHz(x86) 300 MHz (x86)
Memory 64 MB 384 MB 64 MB[26]
Hard drive capacity 4 GB[25] 8 GB[25] 500 MB[26]
Video card VGA @ 640x480 VGA @ 1024x768 VGA @ 640x480

External links

Sister project Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kubuntu

References

  1. ^ "Kubuntu FAQ".
  2. ^ Kubuntu Wiki
  3. ^ "Kubuntu FAQ".
  4. ^ "Ubuntu Releases FAQ". Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  5. ^ "5.04 Release Notes" (2005-04-08). Retrieved on 2007-04-14.
  6. ^ "Ubuntu 5.10 announcement". Retrieved on 2006-10-11.
  7. ^ "Ubuntu 5.10 release notes". Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  8. ^ "Ubuntu 6.06 LTS announcement". Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  9. ^ "Ubuntu 6.06 LTS release notes". Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  10. ^ "Ubuntu 6.10 announcement". Retrieved on 2006-10-26.
  11. ^ "Ubuntu 6.10 release notes". Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
  12. ^ "Kubuntu 6.10 release announcement". Retrieved on 2007-03-30.
  13. ^ "Ubuntu 7.04 announcement". Retrieved on 2007-02-06.
  14. ^ "GutsyReleaseSchedule - Ubuntu Wiki". Retrieved on 2007-04-12.
  15. ^ "Introducing the Gutsy Gibbon" (2007-04-12). Retrieved on 2007-05-06.
  16. ^ "Kubuntu 7.10 Release Notes". Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  17. ^ "HardyReleaseSchedule". Retrieved on 2007-12-01.
  18. ^ Kubuntu Hardy Catchup - Ubuntu Wiki
  19. ^ Back from Release Event, Printer Magic, Compiz Settings
  20. ^ UDS
  21. ^ "Next Ubuntu release to be called Intrepid Ibex, due in October". Retrieved on 2008-02-20.
  22. ^ http://techbase.kde.org/Schedules/KDE4/4.2_Release_Schedule
  23. ^ "Ubuntu to Support Sun 'Niagara' Platform".
  24. ^ "Technical Board Decision - February 2007". Retrieved on 2008-06-13.
  25. ^ a b c d "Ubuntu Desktop Edition". Retrieved on 2008-06-13.
  26. ^ a b c "Preparing to Install". Retrieved on 2008-06-13.
  27. ^ a b "Ubuntu System Requirements". Retrieved on 2008-06-13.}
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