Before we get to the history of Ubuntu, let me answer one of the most common questions I hear: how do you pronounce Ubuntu? Is it You-buntu or Oo-buntu? Ubuntu is pronounced Oo-buntu.

Ubuntu’s story began in 2004, conceived by South African entrepreneur and developer Mark Shuttleworth, inspired by the ideals of the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which translates to “humanity towards others.” The phrase “I am what I am because of who we all are” is commonly used to describe the term Ubuntu, which for me really sums up what Ubuntu is all about!

The first version of Ubuntu, codenamed Warty Warthog, was released on October 20, 2004. The version was 4.10, which marks the 10th month of 2004:

Figure 1.1 – Ubuntu Desktop Warty Warthog 4.10 user interface

A fun thing to know about Ubuntu releases is what’s up with the code names. The Ubuntu code names comprise an adjective and an animal with the...

Ubuntu’s core mission revolves around the principle of free and open source software. It advocates for free access to software, along with the freedom to use, modify, and distribute. The philosophy aligns with the broader open source movement, emphasizing collaboration and community. You can learn more about the mission of Ubuntu at https://ubuntu.com/community/ethos/mission.

Ubuntu’s values

As the Ubuntu community grows, it’s important to never forget that Ubuntu embodies four key values:

• Freedom: Ubuntu celebrates freedom – freedom to choose, to change, to participate.
• Reliable: You can depend on Ubuntu. Like the people who make it, it is trustworthy and keeps its promises.
• Precise: Ubuntu is crisp and clean in engineering and attitude. There is beauty in the precision of the process and product.
• Collaborative: Working together is at the heart of Ubuntu. It is...

Ubuntu is trusted by millions of users worldwide due to its solid foundation, which has been built over the past two decades. It is trusted on all computing platforms, including desktops, laptops, servers, the cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturing, and robotics.

All Ubuntu users should understand the anatomy of a Ubuntu release version. The version numbers consist of a two-digit year, a period, and a two-digit month.

Ubuntu 24.04 was released in April 2024 (see the explanation in Figure 1.4):

Figure 1.4 – The Ubuntu release version

Ubuntu releases occur every April and October. Releases in April of even years are LTS releases; more on that later in this chapter.

Different release channels

Ubuntu provides two release channels, more precisely, two cadences, depending on risk aversion and need:

• LTS: These releases focus on stability and receive security and bug fixes for five...

Ubuntu thrives on its strong and active community. This diverse group of users, developers, translators, and enthusiasts plays a crucial role in the operating system’s success.

The community contributes via the following:

• Development: Programmers worldwide contribute code, fix bugs, and enhance features
• Documentation: Experienced users create guides, tutorials, and forum discussions to assist new users
• Translations: Ubuntu’s broad international user base helps provide translations so that future users in their native tongues feel more welcome and can easily use their systems
• Support: Forums, chat services, email lists, and other means of community engagement provide a platform for users to seek help, share experiences, and learn from each other

This collaborative spirit fosters a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone interested in Ubuntu.

This chapter has provided a foundational understanding of Ubuntu’s history and mission and the amazing community that powers its development. As you dive deeper into the world of Ubuntu, you’ll discover a powerful, user-friendly operating system backed by a philosophy of openness and collaboration.

In Chapter 2, we’ll get into what’s new in Ubuntu 24.04. As it is an LTS, we’ll cover new features since the previous 22.04 LTS.

• About Ubuntu: https://ubuntu.com/about
• Ubuntu’s mission: https://ubuntu.com/community/ethos/mission
• Ubuntu’s release cycle: https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle