Kubuntu
{{Short description|Linux distribution based on Ubuntu, utilizing the KDE desktop environment}}
{{distinguish|Ubuntu}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = Kubuntu
| logo = Kubuntu 2024 Logo.svg
| screenshot = File:Kubuntu 25.04 default desktop - English.png
| caption = Kubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin"
| developer = Community-driven, previously Blue Systems{{cite web|url=http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-to-be-sponsored-by-blue-systems|title=to be Sponsored by Blue Systems|publisher=Kubuntu|date=2012-04-10|access-date=2013-09-23}}/Canonical Ltd.
| released = {{Start date and age|2005|04|08}}
| language = Multilingual (more than 55)
| userland = GNU
| ui = KDE Plasma Desktop
Plasma Mobile
| license = Free software licenses
(mainly GPL)
| website = {{Official URL}}
| source_model = Open-source
| latest_release_version = Regular: 25.04 (Plucky Puffin){{Cite web |date=17 April 2025 |title=Kubuntu 25.04 Plucky Puffin released |url=https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-25-04-plucky-puffin-released/ |access-date=22 April 2025 |website=kubuntu.org}}
LTS: 24.04.2 (Noble Numbat){{Cite web |date=15 February 2025 |title=Kubuntu 24.04.2 (Noble Numbat) |url=https://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/releases/24.04.2/release/ |access-date=25 February 2025 |website=cdimage.ubuntu.com}}
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2025|04|17}} (Regular)
{{Start date and age|2025|02|15}} (LTS)
| latest_test_version =
| latest_test_date =
| marketing_target = Home computers, business use
| kernel_type = Monolithic (Linux kernel)
| working_state = Current
| supported_platforms = IA-32, x86-64, ARM
| updatemodel = PackageKit or APT
| package_manager = dpkg and Snap
}}
Kubuntu ({{IPAc-en|k|ʊ|ˈ|b|ʊ|n|t|uː}} {{Respell|kuu|BUUN|too}}){{Cite web|url=https://www.ubuntu.com/about|title=About the Ubuntu project|last=Canonical|website=www.ubuntu.com|access-date=1 May 2018}} is an official flavor of the Ubuntu operating system that uses the KDE Plasma Desktop Environment instead of the GNOME desktop environment. As part of the Ubuntu project, Kubuntu uses the same underlying systems. Kubuntu shares the same repositories as Ubuntu{{cite web|url=http://www.kubuntu.org/faq.php#fork|title=Is Kubuntu a fork?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307181806/http://www.kubuntu.org/faq.php|archive-date=2008-03-07|url-status=dead}} and is released regularly on the same schedule as Ubuntu.{{cite web|url=https://community.kde.org/Kubuntu|title=KDE Community Wiki|website=Kubuntu|date=22 March 2020|access-date=9 December 2020}}
Kubuntu was sponsored by Canonical Ltd. until 2012, and then directly by Blue Systems. Now, employees of Blue Systems contribute upstream to KDE and Debian, and Kubuntu development is led by community contributors. During the changeover, Kubuntu retained the use of Ubuntu project servers and existing developers.{{cite news|url=https://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2012/04/kubuntu-blue-systems|title=Kubuntu Linux Gets New Sugar Daddy|magazine=Wired|first=Caleb|last=Garling|date=2012-04-11}}
Name
"Kubuntu" is a registered trademark held by Canonical.{{cite web|url=https://www.ipo.gov.uk/tmcase/Results/4/EU004541661|title=Trade Mark Number EU004541661|website=IPO.gov.uk|publisher=Intellectual Property Office|date=2006-05-18|access-date=2020-12-09}} It is derived from the name Ubuntu, prefixing a K to represent the KDE platform that Kubuntu is built upon (following a widespread naming convention of prefixing K to the name of any software released for use on KDE platforms), as well as the KDE community.
{{Lang|bnt|Ubuntu}} is a Bantu term translating roughly to 'humanity'. Since Bantu grammar involves prefixes to form noun classes, and the prefix {{Lang|bem|ku-}} has the meaning 'toward' in Bemba, {{Lang|bem|kubuntu}} is therefore also a meaningful Bemba word or phrase translating to 'toward humanity'. Reportedly, the same word, by coincidence, also takes the meaning of 'free' (in the sense of 'without payment') in Kirundi.{{cite web|url=http://www.kubuntu.org/faq.php#kubuntumeaning|title=Meaning of Kubuntu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307181806/http://www.kubuntu.org/faq.php|archive-date=2008-03-07|url-status=dead}}
Comparison with Ubuntu
Kubuntu typically differs from Ubuntu in graphical applications and tools:
| class=wikitable |
| Software
!Ubuntu !Kubuntu |
|---|
| Kernel and core
|colspan=2 style=text-align:center|Linux kernel and Ubuntu core |
| Display server
|colspan=2 style=text-align:center|X.Org Server and Wayland |
| Sound server
|colspan=2 style=text-align:center|PipeWire |
| Multimedia
|style=text-align:center|GNOME Videos and Rhythmbox |style=text-align:center|VLC and Elisa |
| Window manager
|style=text-align:center|Mutter |style=text-align:center|KWin |
| Desktop Environment
|style=text-align:center|GNOME |style=text-align:center|Plasma Desktop |
| Primary toolkit
|style=text-align:center|GTK |style=text-align:center|Qt |
| Browser
|colspan=2 style=text-align:center|Firefox |
| Office suite
|colspan=2 style=text-align:center|LibreOffice |
| Email and PIM
|colspan=2 style=text-align:center|Thunderbird |
History
Development started back in December 2004 at the Ubuntu Mataró Conference in Mataró, Spain{{cite web|url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MataroConference|title=Kubuntu Birthdate|publisher=Ubuntu|access-date=2004-12-10}} when a Canonical employee Andreas Mueller, from Gnoppix, had the idea to make an Ubuntu KDE variant and got the approval from Mark Shuttleworth to start the first Ubuntu variant, called Kubuntu. On the same evening Chris Halls from the OpenOffice.org project and Jonathan Riddell from KDE started volunteering on the newborn project.
Shortly after Ubuntu was started, Mark Shuttleworth stated in an interview that he recognized the need for the KDE-based distribution in order to maintain diversity in Linux distributions, which in his belief aligns with Ubuntu project's overall purpose of increasing the adoption of free software.{{cite web|date=2006-04-26|title=Mark Shuttleworth on the Future of Kubuntu|url=https://lwn.net/Articles/181465|access-date=2013-09-23|website=LWN.net}}
K Desktop Environment 3 was used as default interface until Kubuntu 8.04. That version included KDE Plasma Desktop as unsupported option which became default in the subsequent release, 8.10.{{cite web|url=http://www.kubuntu.org/news/8.10-release|title=8.10 Refreshes the Desktop|publisher=Kubuntu|date=2008-10-30|access-date=2013-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150703152517/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/8.10-release|archive-date=3 July 2015|url-status=dead}}
On {{Start date|2012|02|06}}, Canonical employee Jonathan Riddell announced the end of Canonical's Kubuntu sponsorship.{{cite web|url=https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kubuntu-devel/2012-February/005782.html|title=Kubuntu Status|website=Lists.Ubuntu.com|date=February 6, 2012|access-date=2013-09-23}} On {{Start date|2012|04|10}}, Blue Systems was announced on the Kubuntu website as the new sponsor. As a result, both developers employed by Canonical to work on Kubuntu–Jonathan Riddell and Aurélien Gâteau–transferred to Blue Systems.{{cite web|url=http://agateau.com/2012/04/11/into-the-blue|title=Into the blue|website=Agateau.com|date=2012-04-11|access-date=2013-09-23}}
Since 2019, Kubuntu has partnered with MindShare Inc. to offer "Kubuntu Focus" laptops and mini-PCs optimized and supported specifically for the LTS releases.{{cite web|url=https://kfocus.org/|title=Kubuntu Focus|website=kfocus.org|date=February 15, 2024|access-date=2024-02-15}}
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 Kubuntu components that are shared with Ubuntu for 18 months – five years in case of long-term support (LTS) versions – after release.{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/business/desktop|title=Ubuntu – Desktop for Business|access-date=2012-05-26}} Both a desktop version and an alternative (installation) version (for the x86 and AMD64 platforms) are available. Kubuntu CDs were also available through the ShipIt service (which was discontinued as of April 2011).{{cite web|url=https://shipit.kubuntu.org|title=ShipIt Kubuntu|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101212162154/https://shipit.kubuntu.org|archive-date=2010-12-12}}
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Version !Release date !Code name !Supported until{{Cite web|url=https://www.ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle|title=Ubuntu release cycle|last=Canonical|website=Ubuntu.com|access-date=2018-11-06}} !KDE Plasma !Qt !Notes |
| [http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/kubuntu/5.04/ 5.04]
|2005-04-08{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/504|title=5.04 Release Notes|date=2005-04-08|access-date=2007-04-14|archive-date=30 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430232054/http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/504|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://lwn.net/Articles/134641|title=Testing Kubuntu 5.04|first=Ladislav|last=Bodnar|date=4 May 2005}} |Hoary Hedgehog |style=background:#fdb3ab|2006-10-31 |colspan=2 rowspan=20 {{N/A}} |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. |
| [http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/kubuntu/5.10/ 5.10]
|2005-10-13{{cite web|url=https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2005-October/000038.html|title=Ubuntu 5.10 announcement|date=October 13, 2005|access-date=2006-10-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/download/releasenotes/510|title=Ubuntu 5.10 release notes|access-date=2006-12-21}} |Breezy Badger |style=background:#fdb3ab|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. |
| [http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/6.06.1/ 6.06 LTS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224153845/http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/6.06.1|date=24 December 2008}} |2006-06-01{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/news/606released|title=Ubuntu 6.06 LTS announcement|access-date=2006-12-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903112235/http://www.ubuntu.com/news/606released|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-09-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/download/releasenotes/606|title=Ubuntu 6.06 LTS release notes|access-date=2006-12-21}}{{cite web|url=http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/7332|title=Kubuntu 6.06}} |Dapper Drake |style=background:#fdb3ab|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. |
| [http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/kubuntu/6.10/ 6.10]
|2006-10-26{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/news/610released|title=Ubuntu 6.10 announcement|access-date=2006-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811234139/http://www.ubuntu.com/news/610released|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-08-11}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ubuntu.com/download/releasenotes/610|title=Ubuntu 6.10 release notes|access-date=2006-12-21}} |Edgy Eft |style=background:#fdb3ab|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.{{cite web|url=http://kubuntu.org/announcements/6.10-release.php|title=Kubuntu 6.10 release announcement|access-date=2007-03-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329142757/http://kubuntu.org/announcements/6.10-release.php|archive-date=2007-03-29}} |
| [http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/7.04/ 7.04] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004220926/http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/7.04|date=4 October 2008}} |Feisty Fawn |style=background:#fdb3ab|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. |
| [http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/7.10/ 7.10] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229022504/http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/7.10|date=29 December 2008}} |2007-10-18{{cite web|url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/GutsyReleaseSchedule|title=GutsyReleaseSchedule–Ubuntu Wiki|access-date=2007-04-12}}{{cite web|url=https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel-announce/2007-April/000276.html|title=Introducing the Gutsy Gibbon|date=2007-04-12|access-date=2007-05-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219122122/https://lists.ubuntu.com//archives//ubuntu-devel-announce//2007-April//000276.html|archive-date=19 February 2009|url-status=dead}} |Gutsy Gibbon |style=background:#fdb3ab|2009-04-18 |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.{{cite web|url=http://kubuntu.org/announcements/7.10-release.php|title=Kubuntu 7.10 Release Notes|access-date=2007-11-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031194312/http://kubuntu.org/announcements/7.10-release.php|archive-date=31 October 2007|url-status=dead}} New kubuntu-restricted-extras package is available for download from the repositories. |
| [http://old-releases.ubuntu.com/releases/hardy/ 8.04&]
|Hardy Heron |style=background:#fdb3ab|2009-10 |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.{{cite web|url=https://wiki.kubuntu.org/KubuntuHardyCatchup|title=Kubuntu Hardy Catchup–Ubuntu Wiki|website=Wiki.kubuntu.org|date=2008-08-06|access-date=2013-09-23|archive-date=November 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111035658/https://wiki.kubuntu.org/KubuntuHardyCatchup|url-status=dead}} 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/3224|title=Back from Release Event, Printer Magic, Compiz Settings|website=Kdedevelopers.org|date=2008-01-24|access-date=2013-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616063109/http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/3224|archive-date=16 June 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/3086|title=UDS|website=Kdedevelopers.org|date=2007-11-08|access-date=2013-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109043534/http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/3086|archive-date=9 November 2007|url-status=dead}} and automatic grabbing and releasing of the mouse cursor when running on a VMware virtual machine. Unlike its Ubuntu counterpart, which is a long-term support release, Kubuntu 8.04 is not.{{Cite web|last=Voicu|first=Daniel|date=2007-12-29|title=Kubuntu 8.04 Will Not Be LTS|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/Kubuntu-8-04-Will-Not-Be-LTS-74989.shtml|access-date=2022-08-16|website=softpedia|language=english}} |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20150703152517/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/8.10-release 8.10]
|2008-10-30 |KDE 4.1.2 desktop environment by default, Linux 2.6.27, Xserver 1.5, Adept Manager 3, KNetworkManager 0.7, KWin desktop effects by default, various Kubuntu tool integration. |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/9.04-release 9.04]
|2009-04-23 |Jaunty Jackalope |style=background:#fdb3ab|2010-10 |KDE 4.2.2 desktop environment by default, kernel 2.6.28, Xserver 1.6, Adept superseded by KPackageKit,{{cite web|url=http://web.mornfall.net/blog/farewell__44___adept.html|title=Farewell, Adept (mornfall's web)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510070459/http://web.mornfall.net/blog/farewell__44___adept.html|archive-date=2012-05-10}} implementation of the ext4 filesystem, faster boot time,{{cite web|url=https://wiki.kubuntu.org/JauntyJackalope/Alpha5/Kubuntu|title=JauntyJackalope/Alpha5/Kubuntu Introduction|access-date=2009-03-11|archive-date=September 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908024012/https://wiki.kubuntu.org/JauntyJackalope/Alpha5/Kubuntu|url-status=dead}} addition of community-supported PowerPC images{{cite web|url=http://www.kubuntu.org/news/9.04-release|title=Kubuntu 9.04 Release Announcement|website=Kubuntu.org|date=2009-04-23|access-date=2013-09-23}} |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/9.10-release 9.10]
|2009-10-30{{cite web|url=https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20091130#feature|website=DistroWatch|title=First look at Kubuntu Netbook Edition 9.10 Technology Preview and the KDE Plasma–Netbook 4.4 interface}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/kubuntu-9-10.html|title=Kubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala is really nice|website=Dedoimedo}} |Karmic Koala |style=background:#fdb3ab|2011-04-28 |KDE 4.3.2 desktop environment by default, GRUB 2, init system moved to Upstart, kernel 2.6.31 |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20150611195241/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/10.04-lts-release 10.04 LTS]
|2010-04-29 |Lucid Lynx |style=background:#fdb3ab|2013-05-09 |Long Term Support (LTS) release. Security updates will be available for three years for desktops and five years for servers. KDE 4.4.2 desktop environment by default, kernel 2.6.32, KPackageKit 0.5.4, Firefox KDE integration, touchpad configuration module by default. |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20101012060426/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/10.10-release 10.10]
|2010-10-10{{cite web|url=http://linuxbsdos.com/2010/10/20/kubuntu-10-10-review|title=Kubuntu 10.10 review|date=20 October 2010}}[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20101018#feature DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 376, 18 October 2010] |Maverick Meerkat |style=background:#fdb3ab|2012-04 |KDE Software Compilation 4.5. Faster login. Default browser changed to rekonq. New Bluetooth stack. PulseAudio inclusion. Updated KPackageKit with categories. Global menu for netbook. Updated Installer. Combining of the Desktop and Netbook Editions (autodetection). |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20140715063919/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/11.04-release 11.04]
|2011-04-28[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20110711#featureDistroWatch Weekly, Issue 413, 11 July 2011]{{cite web|url=https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/kubuntu-natty.html|title=Kubuntu Natty Narwal review – KDElicious!|website=Dedoimedo}}{{cite web|url=http://linuxbsdos.com/2011/05/06/kubuntu-11-04-review|title=Kubuntu 11.04 review|date=6 May 2011}} |Natty Narwhal |style=background:#fdb3ab|2012-10-28 |2.6.38 |KDE SC 4.6, GStreamer multimedia backend for Phonon, GTK Oxygen theme, games in the default install, UDisks and UPower replace HAL. |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20140421213801/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/11.10-release 11.10]
|2011-10-12{{cite web|url=http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2011/11/17/kubuntu-11-10-review|title=Kubuntu 11.10 review|date=17 November 2011}}[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20111024#feature DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 428, 24 October 2011] |Oneiric Ocelot |style=background:#fdb3ab|2013-05-09 |3.0.3 |KDE SC 4.7, replacing KPackageKit with Muon Software Centre, Kubuntu low fat setting, OpenGL ES Powered Desktop Effects, KDE-PIM 4.7.2{{cite web|url=https://wiki.kubuntu.org/OneiricOcelot/ReleaseNotes?action=show&redirect=OneiricOcelot%2FTechnicalOverview#Kubuntu|title=OneiricOcelot/ReleaseNotes-Ubuntu Wiki|website=Wiki.kubuntu.org|access-date=2013-09-23|archive-date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111035646/https://wiki.kubuntu.org/OneiricOcelot/ReleaseNotes?action=show&redirect=OneiricOcelot%2FTechnicalOverview#Kubuntu|url-status=dead}} |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20140513073904/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/12.04-release 12.04 LTS]
|2012-04-25{{Cite web|title=Kubuntu 12.04 LTS {{!}} Kubuntu|url=https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-12-04-lts|access-date=2022-09-09|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/kubuntu-pangolin.html|title=Kubuntu 12.04 review-Precise what?|website=Dedoimedo}} |Precise Pangolin |style=background:#fdb3ab|2017-04-28 |3.2.0 |The third Kubuntu LTS release. KDE SC 4.8 |
| [https://web.archive.org/web/20121021100632/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/12.10-release 12.10]
|Quantal Quetzal |style=background:#fdb3ab|2014-04 |LibreOffice 3.6.2.2, rekonq 1.1, KDE SC 4.9.2 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-13-04/ 13.04] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804091158/http://www.kubuntu.org/news/13.04-release|date=4 August 2013}} |Raring Ringtail |style=background:#fdb3ab|2014-01{{cite web|last=Sneddon|first=Joey-Elijah|url=http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/03/ubuntu-to-halve-support-window-for-regular-releases|title=Ubuntu To Halve Support Window for 'Regular' Releases|publisher=OMG!Ubuntu!|date=2013-03-20|access-date=2013-09-23}} |KDE SC 4.10, Muon Suite 2, LibreOffice 4, Optional Homerun launcher, out-of-the-box MTP support |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-13.10 13.10]
|Saucy Salamander |style=background:#fdb3ab|2014-07-17 |KDE SC 4.11.2, LibreOffice 4.1.2 rc3 |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-14-04-lts 14.04 LTS]
|Trusty Tahr |KDE SC 4.13.0, LibreOffice 4.2.3.3. Default browser changed back to Firefox. |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-14.10 14.10]
|2014-10-23[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20141201#kubuntu DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 587, 1 December 2014]{{cite web|url=http://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/kubuntu-utopic-plasma5.html|title=Kubuntu 14.10 Utopic Unicorn with Plasma guns!|website=Dedoimedo}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/kubuntu-utopic-kde4.html|title=Kubuntu 14.10 Utopic Unicorn-That's better|website=Dedoimedo}} |Utopic Unicorn |style=background:#fdb3ab|2015-07-23 |KDE SC 4.14, KDE Plasma 5 as technical preview. |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-15.04 15.04]
|2015-04-23[https://distrowatch.com/weekly.php?issue=20150525#kubuntu DistroWatch Weekly, Issue 611, 25 May 2015]{{cite web|url=https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/kubuntu-vivid.html|title=Kubuntu 15.04 Vivid Vervet-Loading…99%|website=Dedoimedo}} |Vivid Vervet |style=background:#fdb3ab|2015-12 |3.19 |5.2.2 |rowspan=8 {{N/A}} |KDE Plasma 5.2.2 is now the default desktop environment. Adaptation to systemd and to SDDM. Behind-the-scenes work on the change to Wayland. |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-15-10/ 15.10]
|Wily Werewolf |style=background:#fdb3ab|2016-07-22 |Firefox 41.0, LibreOffice 5.0. |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-16-04-lts-release-anouncement/ 16.04 LTS]
|Xenial Xerus |style=background:#fdb3ab|2019-04-21 |Firefox 45, LibreOffice 5.1 |
| [http://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-16-10-released/ 16.10]
|Yakkety Yak |style=background:#fdb3ab|2017-07-20 |4.8 |5.7.5 |KDE Applications 16.04.3, KDE Frameworks 5.26.0, LibreOffice 5.2, Firefox 49 |
| [http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-17-04-released/ 17.04]
|Zesty Zapus |style=background:#fdb3ab|2018-01-11 |4.10 |5.9 |KDE Applications 16.12.3, KDE Frameworks 5.31, LibreOffice 5.3, Firefox 52 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-17-10-artful-aardvark-is-released/ 17.10]
|Artful Aardvark |style=background:#fdb3ab|2018-07-19 |4.13 |5.10 |KDE Applications 17.04.3, KDE Frameworks 5.38, LibreOffice 5.4.1, Firefox 56, Cantata replaces Amarok as audio player, VLC media player replaces Dragon Player as media player |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-18-04-has-been-released/ 18.04 LTS]
|2018-04-26{{cite web|url=https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/kubuntu-beaver.html|title=Kubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver-Long-term uncertainty|website=Dedoimedo}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.linux-magazine.com/Issues/2018/213/Kubuntu-18.04|title=Kubuntu Close-up|last=Timmis|first=Rick|website=Linux Magazine|access-date=2018-08-27}} |Bionic Beaver |4.15 |5.12 LTS |LibreOffice 6.0 and Firefox 59; double-click is now default to open files; file indexing default changed to "basic" only (not file content).{{cite web|date=2018-04-02|title=Kubuntu release notes for Kubuntu 18.04 LTS|url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BionicBeaver/ReleaseNotes/Kubuntu|access-date=2018-04-25|website=wiki.ubuntu.com}} |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-18-10-is-released-today/ 18.10]
|Cosmic Cuttlefish |style=background:#fdb3ab|2019-07-18{{cite web|url=https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-18-10-reaches-end-of-life|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719113620/https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-18-10-reaches-end-of-life|archive-date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 17, 2022|title=Kubuntu 18.10 reaches end of life|website=kubuntu.org/news}} |4.18 |5.13 |KDE Applications 18.04.3, KDE Frameworks 5.50, LibreOffice 6.1.2, Firefox 63; snap integration by default in software centre, Plasma Wayland session-can be installed for testing (but is not supported), fingerprint scanner support, only available in 64-bit ISO images{{Cite web|title=CosmicCuttlefish/ReleaseNotes/Kubuntu-Ubuntu Wiki|url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CosmicCuttlefish/ReleaseNotes/Kubuntu|access-date=2018-11-06|website=wiki.ubuntu.com}}{{Cite news|url=https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-18-10-release-features|title=9 New Features in Ubuntu 18.10 Cosmic Cuttlefish|date=2018-05-04|website=It's FOSS|access-date=2018-11-06}}{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CosmicCuttlefish/ReleaseNotes|title=CosmicCuttlefish/ReleaseNotes-Ubuntu Wiki|website=wiki.ubuntu.com|access-date=2018-11-06}} |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-19-04-is-released-today/ 19.04]
|style=background:#fdb3ab|2020-01-23{{cite web|url=https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-19-04-reaches-end-of-life|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113103839/https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-19-04-reaches-end-of-life|archive-date=January 13, 2020|access-date=July 17, 2022|title=Kubuntu 19.04 reaches end of life|website=kubuntu.org/news}} |5.0 |5.15.4 |5.12.2 |KDE Applications 18.12.3, KDE Frameworks 5.56, LibreOffice 6.2.2, Firefox 66, KDE Connect 1.3.4, KDevelop 5.3.2, Krita 4.1.7, Latte Dock 0.8.8{{Cite web|title=Kubuntu 19.04 is released today|url=https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-19-04-is-released-today|access-date=2019-04-18|website=Kubuntu.org}}{{Cite web|url=https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DiscoDingo/ReleaseNotes/Kubuntu|title=DiscoDingo/ReleaseNotes/Kubuntu-Ubuntu Wiki|website=wiki.ubuntu.com|access-date=2019-04-19}} |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-19-10-is-released-today/ 19.10]
|Eoan Ermine |5.3 |5.16.5 |5.12.4 |KDE Applications 19.04.3, KDE Frameworks 5.62, LibreOffice 6.3, Firefox 69 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-20-04-lts-has-been-released/ 20.04 LTS]
|Focal Fossa |style=background:#fdb3ab|2023-04-29 |5.4 |5.18 LTS |5.12.8 |KDE Frameworks 5.68.0, LibreOffice 6.4.2.2, Firefox 75 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-20-10-groovy-gorilla-released/ 20.10]
|2020-10-22 |Groovy Gorilla |5.8 |5.19.5 |5.14.2 |KDE Frameworks 5.74.0, LibreOffice 7.0.2, Firefox 82 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-21-04-hirsute-hippo-released/ 21.04]
|Hirsute Hippo |5.11 |5.21 |5.15.2 |KDE Frameworks 5.80, LibreOffice 7.1, Firefox 87 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-21-10-impish-indri-released/ 21.10]
|Impish Indri |style=background:#fdb3ab|2022-07-14 |5.13 |5.22.5 |5.15.2 |KDE Gear 21.08, KDE Frameworks 5.86, LibreOffice 7.2, Firefox 92 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-22-04-lts-released/ 22.04 LTS]
|2022-04-21 |Jammy Jellyfish |style=background:#fdb3ab|2025-04-24 |5.15 |5.24 LTS |5.15.3 |KDE Gear 21.12.3, KDE Frameworks 5.92, LibreOffice 7.3.2.2, Firefox 99 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-22-10-kinetic-kudu-released/ 22.10]
|2022-10-21 |Kinetic Kudu |5.18 |5.25 |5.15.5 |KDE Gear 22.04.1, LibreOffice 7.4, Firefox 103, KDE Frameworks 5.95 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-23-04-lunar-lobster-released/ 23.04]
|2023-04-20 |Lunar Lobster |style=background:#fdb3ab|2024-01-20 |6.2 |5.27 |5.15.8. |KDE Gear 22.12, LibreOffice 7.5, Firefox 111, KDE Frameworks 5.104 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-23-10-mantic-minotaur-released/ 23.10]
|2023-10-17 |Mantic Minotaur |style=background:#fdb3ab|2024-07 |6.5 |5.27.8 |5.15.10 |KDE Gear 23.08, LibreOffice 7.6.2.1, Firefox 118 |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-24-04-lts-noble-numbat-released/ 24.04 LTS]
|2024-04-25 |Noble Numbat |style=background:#fef8c6|2027-04 |6.8 |5.27.11 |5.15.13 | |
| [https://kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-24-10-oracular-oriole-released/ 24.10]
|2024-10-10 |Oracular Oriole !style=background:#d4f4b4|2025-07 |6.11 |6.1 |Qt6 6.6 / Qt5 5.15.13 |Wayland as default Plasma session |
| [https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PluckyPuffin/ReleaseNotes/Kubuntu 25.04]
|2025-04-17 |Plucky Puffin !2026-01 |6.14 |6.3 |Qt6.8 |KDE Frameworks 6.12.0, Firefox 137 snap, LibreOffice 25.2, Linux kernel 6.14 |
| colspan=8|Legend: {{legend2|#fdb3ab|Old version, not maintained|border=1px solid#fdb3ab}} {{legend2|#fef8c6|Older version, still maintained|border=1px solid#fef8c6}} {{legend2|#d4f4b4|Current stable version|border=1px solid#d4f4b4}} {{legend2|#c1e6f5|Future version|border=1px solid#c1e6f5}} |
System requirements
The desktop version of Kubuntu currently supports the AMD 64 architectures, Intel x86 support was discontinued after the 18.04 release and existing 32-bit users were supported until 2023.{{Cite news|url=https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-18-10-release-features|title=9 New Features in Ubuntu 18.10 Cosmic Cuttlefish|date=2018-05-04|website=It's FOSS|access-date=2018-11-06|language=en-US}}
The recommended minimum system requirements for a desktop installation are as follows:
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |
| colspan=2|Minimum Requirement{{cite web |title=Neon/UserEdition/5.6 - KDE Community Wiki |url=https://community.kde.org/Neon/UserEdition/5.6#Minimum_Requirements |website=community.kde.org |access-date=28 April 2025 |date=9 June 2016}} |
|---|
| 64-bit Processor
|2.0 GHz dual-core |
| Memory
|2 GB |
| Hard drive capacity
|10 GB |
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |
| colspan=2|Recommended Requirement{{cite web |title=Kubuntu Linux System Requirements {{!}} Linux DVD Shop - UK Linux Shop supplying Linux on CD, DVD and USB delivering to the UK and worldwide with 24hr dispatch. |url=https://thelinuxshop.co.uk/kubuntu-linux-system-requirements-p-599.html |website=thelinuxshop.co.uk |access-date=28 April 2025}} |
|---|
| 64-bit Processor
|2.5 GHz quad-core |
| Memory
|8 GB |
| Hard drive capacity
|50 GB |
Deployments
Kubuntu rollouts include the world's largest Linux desktop deployment, that includes more than 500,000 desktops in Brazil (in 42,000 schools of 4,000 cities).{{cite web|url=http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/linuxcon/griffin|title=The Worlds Largest Linux Desktop Deployment: 500,000 Seats and Counting|publisher=Linux Foundation|date=2013-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402015944/http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/linuxcon/griffin|archive-date=2013-04-02|url-status=dead|access-date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web|url=https://lwn.net/Articles/455972|title=The world's largest Linux desktop deployment|website=LWN.net|access-date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-to-be-sponsored-by-blue-systems|title=Kubuntu to be Sponsored by Blue Systems|website=Kubuntu.org|date=2012-04-10|access-date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web|url=https://blogs.kde.org/2011/09/16/42000-schools-running-kubuntu-derivative|title=42,000 schools running Kubuntu derivative|website=Blogs.KDE.org|date=2011-09-16|access-date=2013-09-23}}
The software of the 14,800 Linux workstations of Munich was switched to Kubuntu LTS 12.04 and KDE 4.11.{{cite web|url=http://www.it-muenchen-blog.de/2013/09/debian-kubuntu-bug-squashing-party-2013|title=Official Munich IT blog: Debian + Kubuntu Bug Squashing Party 2013|last=Böge|first=Kirsten|date=5 September 2013|website=Münchner IT-Blog|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130911032805/http://www.it-muenchen-blog.de/2013/09/debian-kubuntu-bug-squashing-party-2013|archive-date=11 September 2013|access-date=29 January 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://blogs.kde.org/2013/09/06/come-kubuntu-bug-squashing-party-munich|title=Jonathan Riddell blog: Debian + Kubuntu Bug Squashing Party 2013|date=September 6, 2013 }}
The Taipei City Government decided to replace Windows with a Kubuntu distribution on 10,000 PCs for schools.{{cite web|url=http://www.fsdaily.com/Government/New_Taipei_replaces_Windows_with_Linux_on_10_000_school_PCs|title=Taipei replaces Windows with Linux on 10,000 school PCs}}{{cite web|url=http://dot.kde.org/2013/10/02/ezgo-free-and-open-source-software-taiwans-schools|title=ezgo-Free And Open Source Software In Taiwan's Schools|date=October 2, 2013}}
The French Parliament announced in 2006 that they would switch over 1,000 workstations to Kubuntu by June 2007.{{cite web|url=http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/814|title=The French Parliament switches to Kubuntu|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122130915/http://fridge.ubuntu.com/node/814|archive-date=2010-01-22}}{{cite web|url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-150389.html|title=French parliament dumping Windows for Linux|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100228090906/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-150389.html|archive-date=2010-02-28}}
A Kubuntu distribution, by La Laguna University, is used in more than 3,000 computers spread in several computer labs, laboratories and libraries, among other internal projects in the Canary Islands.{{cite web|url=http://blog.toscalix.com/2015/08/virtue-of-necessity-canary-sublime-your.html|title=Virtue of Necessity|date=August 26, 2015}} Since October 2007, Kubuntu is now used in all of the 1,100 state schools in the Canary Islands.{{cite news|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kubuntu-in-the-Canary-Islands-67182.shtml|title=Kubuntu in the Canary Islands|newspaper=Softpedia|last1=Voicu|first1=Daniel}}{{cite web|url=http://fridge.ubuntu.com/2007/09/28/kubuntu-takes-over-the-canary-islands|title=Kubuntu Takes Over the Canary Islands}}
Gallery
File:Kubuntu.5.04.KDE.png|Kubuntu 5.04
File:Kubuntu.5.10.KDE.png|Kubuntu 5.10
File:Kubuntu.6.06.KDE.png|Kubuntu 6.06 LTS
File:Kubuntu.6.10.KDE.png|Kubuntu 6.10
File:Kubuntu.7.04.KDE.png|Kubuntu 7.04
File:Kubuntu.7.10.KDE.png|Kubuntu 7.10
File:Kubuntu.8.04.KDE.png|Kubuntu 8.04
File:Kubuntu GNU-Linux 8.10.png|Kubuntu 8.10
File:Kubuntu-9.04-DesktopEffects.png|Kubuntu 9.04 showing some of its Desktop Effects
File:Kubuntu-9.10.png|Kubuntu 9.10
File:Kubuntu-10.04 netbook.png|Kubuntu 10.04 LTS Netbook Edition
File:Kubuntu 10.04 main menu.png|Kubuntu 10.04 LTS Desktop Edition
File:Kubuntu1010.png|Kubuntu 10.10
File:Kubuntu-desktop1104.png|Kubuntu 11.04 Desktop Edition
File:Kubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal Netbook Edition KDE 4.6.2 Northern Sami.png|Kubuntu 11.04 Netbook Edition
File:Kubuntu-11.10-cat(2).png|Kubuntu 11.10
File:Kubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin alpha1 empty desktop.png|Kubuntu 12.04 LTS Desktop Edition
File:Kubuntu 12 04.png|Kubuntu 12.04 LTS Netbook Edition
File:Kubuntu-12.10-desktop.png|Kubuntu 12.10 Desktop Edition
File:Kubuntu-netbook-12.10.png|Kubuntu 12.10 Netbook Edition
File:Kubuntu 13 04.png|Kubuntu 13.04
File:Kubuntu 13.10.png|Kubuntu 13.10
File:Kubuntu 14.04.3-LTS.png|Kubuntu 14.04 LTS
File:Kubuntu 14 10.jpeg|Kubuntu 14.10
File:Kubuntu 15.04 screenshot.png|Kubuntu 15.04
File:Kubuntu1510.png|Kubuntu 15.10
File:Kubuntu 16.04.png|Kubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus)
File:Kubuntu 16.10 Desktop.png|Kubuntu 16.10 (Yakkety Yak)
File:Kubuntu 17.04 screenshot.png|Kubuntu 17.04
File:Kubuntu 17.10 Eng.png|Kubuntu 17.10
File:Kubuntu 18.04 Desktop.jpg|Kubuntu 18.04 LTS
File:Kubuntu 18.10.png|Kubuntu 18.10
File:Kubuntu 19.04 screenshot.png|Kubuntu 19.04
File:Kubuntu 19.10 screenshot.png|Kubuntu 19.10
File:Desktop Kubuntu 20.04.png|Kubuntu 20.04 LTS
File:Kubuntu 20.10 screenshot.png|Kubuntu 20.10
File:Kubuntu 21.04 Desktop en.png|Kubuntu 21.04
File:Kubuntu 21.10 Desktop.png|Kubuntu 21.10
File:Kubuntu 22.04 eng.png|Kubuntu 22.04
File:Kubuntu 22.10 English.png|Kubuntu 22.10
File:Kubuntu 23.04 English.png|Kubuntu 23.04
File:Kubuntu 23.10 with menu - English.png|Kubuntu 23.10
File:Kubuntu 24.04 Breeze Twilight Desktop English.png|Kubuntu 24.04
File:Kubuntu 24.10 screenshot.png|Kubuntu 24.10
File:Kubuntu 25.04 Dolphin 24.12.3 Breeze - English.png|Kubuntu 25.04
See also
{{Portal bar|Free and open-source software|Linux}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- {{Official website}}
- {{DistroWatch|kubuntu|NAME=Kubuntu}}
{{Ubuntu}}
{{KDE}}
{{Linux distributions}}
{{FOSS}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:IA-32 Linux distributions
Category:Linux distributions offering KDE desktop environment
Category:Operating system distributions bootable from read-only media