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Developer | Clément Lefèbvre and community [1] |
---|---|
OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
Working state | Current |
Source model | Open source |
Initial release | 27 August 2006 |
Latest release | Main: 22 [2] 25 July 2024 LMDE: LMDE 6 [3] 27 September 2023 |
Repository | https://github.com/linuxmint |
Available in | Multilingual [4] |
Update method | APT (+ Software Manager, Update Manager & Synaptic user interfaces) |
Package manager | dpkg & Flatpak |
Platforms | x86-64 and x86 |
Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
Userland | GNU |
Default user interface | |
License | Mainly GPL and other free software licenses, minor additions of proprietary software |
Official website | linuxmint |
Linux Mint is a community-driven Linux distribution based on Ubuntu (which is in turn based on Debian), bundled with a variety of free and open-source applications. [6] [7] It can provide full out-of-the-box multimedia support for those who choose to include proprietary software such as multimedia codecs. [8] Linux Mint can come with three different desktop environments by default; Cinnamon (developed for Linux Mint by its team), Xfce, and MATE. [9]
The Linux Mint project was created by Clément Lefèbvre and is actively maintained by the Linux Mint Team and community. [10]
Linux Mint began in 2006 with a beta release, 1.0, code-named 'Ada', [11] based on Kubuntu and using its KDE interface. Linux Mint 2.0 'Barbara' was the first version to use Ubuntu as its codebase and its GNOME interface. It had few users until the release of Linux Mint 3.0, 'Cassandra'. [12] [13]
Linux Mint 2.0 was based on Ubuntu 6.10,[ citation needed ] using Ubuntu's package repositories and using it as a codebase. It then followed its own codebase, building each release from the previous one, but continuing to use the package repositories of the latest Ubuntu release. This made the two systems' bases almost identical, guaranteeing full compatibility between them, rather than requiring Mint to be a fork.[ citation needed ]
In 2008, Linux Mint adopted the same release cycle as Ubuntu and dropped its minor version number before releasing version 5 'Elyssa'. The same year, in an effort to increase compatibility between the two systems, Linux Mint decided to abandon its codebase and changed the way it built its releases. Starting with Linux Mint 6 'Felicia', each release was based completely on the latest Ubuntu release, built directly from it, and made available approximately one month after the corresponding Ubuntu release (usually in May or November).[ citation needed ]
In 2010, Linux Mint released Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE). Unlike the other Ubuntu-based editions (Ubuntu Mint), LMDE was originally a rolling release based directly on Debian and not tied to Ubuntu packages or its release schedule. [13] It was announced on May 27, 2015, that the Linux Mint team would no longer support the original rolling release version of LMDE after January 1, 2016. [14] LMDE 2 'Betsy' was a long-term support release based on Debian Jessie. [15] When LMDE 2 was released, it was announced that all LMDE users would be automatically upgraded to new versions of MintTools software and new desktop environments before they were released into the main edition of Linux Mint. [16]
On February 20, 2016, the Linux Mint website was breached by unknown hackers who briefly replaced download links for a version of Linux Mint with a modified version containing malware. The hackers also breached the database of the website's user forum. [17] [18] Linux Mint immediately took its server offline and implemented enhanced security configurations for their website and forum. [19]
Every version of Linux Mint is given a version number and code-named with a feminine first name ending in 'a' and beginning with a letter of the alphabet that increased with every major revision. [13] Version 18 broke from the pattern with the name 'Sarah', [20] though in English it retains the same final vowel sound as all of the other releases.
Initially, there were two Linux Mint releases per year. Following the release of Linux Mint 5 in 2008, every fourth release was labeled a long-term support (LTS) version, [21] indicating that it was supported (with updates) for longer than traditional releases. Versions 5 and 9 had three years of support, and all LTS versions following received five years of support. [22]
On May 31, 2014, with the release of Linux Mint 17, [23] the Linux Mint team adopted a new release strategy. Starting with the release of Mint 17, all future versions were planned to use an LTS version of Ubuntu as a base, until 2016. [24] Under this strategy, Mint 17.1 was released on November 29, 2014, [25] Mint 17.2 was released on June 30, 2015, [26] and Mint 17.3 was released on December 4, 2015. [27] The 17.x releases are intended to be an easy, optional upgrade. [28] All three versions included upgrades to the Cinnamon and MATE Desktop Environments and various Mint tools. In addition, Mint 17.2 and 17.3 included an upgrade to the LibreOffice suite. [29] [30] The 18.x series follows the pattern set by the 17.x series, by using Ubuntu 16.04 LTS as a base. [20]
Linux Mint does not communicate specific release dates as new versions are published 'when ready', meaning that they can be released early when the distribution is ahead of schedule or late when critical bugs are found. [31] New releases are announced, with much other material, on the Linux Mint blog. [32]
On January 3, 2018, the Linux Mint Team released news of Linux Mint 19 'Tara'. The team stated that the 19.x releases would use GTK 3.22 and be based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, with support provided until 2023. On June 29, 2018, Linux Mint 19 'Tara' Cinnamon was released. [33] Then, on December 24, 2019, Linux Mint 19.3, 'Tricia' was released, with security updates available until 2023. [34]
On June 27, 2020, Linux Mint 20 'Ulyana' was released. It is an LTS version with support until 2025. [35] On January 8, 2021, Linux Mint 20.1 'Ulyssa' was released. [36] On July 8, 2021, Linux Mint 20.2 'Uma' was released. [37] On January 5, 2022, Linux Mint 20.3 "Una" was released. [38]
Up to 2014 there had been two Linux Mint releases per year, about one month after the Ubuntu releases they were based on. Each release was given a new version number and a code name, using a female first name starting with the letter whose alphabetical index corresponds to the version number and ending with the letter "a" (e.g., "Elyssa" for version 5, "Felicia" for version 6). There is also an OEM version for ease of installation for hardware manufacturers. [39]
Releases were timed to be approximately one month after Ubuntu releases (which in turn are about one month after GNOME releases and two months after X Window System releases). Consequently, every Linux Mint release came with an updated version of both GNOME and X and features some of the improvements brought in by the latest Ubuntu release. Support for most releases was discontinued two months after the next release, but since mid-2008 v5, every fourth release has been labelled a long-term support version, indicating that it is supported (with updates) for longer, three years for v5 and v9, and five years thereafter.
Linux Mint 17 "Qiana" LTS was released on May 31, 2014, remaining current until the end of November 2014 and supported until April 2019. [39] In mid-2014 the, successor to 17 Qiana was announced to be 17.1 Rebecca; the development team said that from a technical point of view Linux Mint was no longer tied to the Ubuntu schedule, so it could be released at any time, although the six-month cycle provided rhythm, leading to a late November 2014 target. [40] Linux Mint 17 LTS would be the first release of the 17.x series, and for two years applications would be backported to 17.x, with security updates until 2019. [40]
The latest release is Linux Mint 22 "Wilma", released on July 25, 2024. As an LTS release, it will be supported until 2029.
Linux Mint Debian Edition, not compatible with Ubuntu, [41] is based on Debian and updates are brought in continuously between major versions (of LMDE).
Legend: | Old version, not maintained | Older version, still maintained | Current stable version | Latest preview version | Future release |
---|
Version | Codename | Edition | Codebase | Compatible repository | Desktop environment | Release date | LTS | Support end |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.0 | Ada | Main | Kubuntu 5.10 (Breezy Badger) | KDE | 27 August 2006 | — | Unknown | |
2.0 | Barbara | Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) | GNOME | 13 November 2006 | April 2008 | |||
2.1 | Bea | 20 December 2006 | ||||||
2.2 | Bianca | 20 February 2007 | ||||||
Light | 29 March 2007 | |||||||
KDE CE | Kubuntu 6.10 | KDE | 20 April 2007 | |||||
3.0 | Cassandra | Main | Bianca 2.2 | Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) | GNOME | 30 May 2007 | October 2008 | |
Light | 15 June 2007 | |||||||
KDE CE | Kubuntu 7.04 | KDE | 14 August 2007 | |||||
MiniKDE CE | ||||||||
Xfce CE | Cassandra 3.0 | Xubuntu 7.04 | Xfce | 7 August 2007 | ||||
3.1 | Celena | Main | Bianca 2.2 | Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) | GNOME | 24 September 2007 | October 2008 | |
Light | 1 October 2007 | |||||||
4.0 | Daryna | Main | Celena 3.1 | Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) | 15 October 2007 | April 2009 | ||
Light | ||||||||
KDE CE | Cassandra 3.0 | Kubuntu 7.10 | KDE | 3 March 2008 | ||||
5 | Elyssa | Main | Daryna 4.0 | Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) | GNOME | 8 June 2008 | Yes | April 2011 |
Light | ||||||||
x64 | Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) | 18 October 2008 | ||||||
KDE CE | Daryna 4.0 | Kubuntu 8.04 | KDE | 15 September 2008 | ||||
Xfce CE | Xubuntu 8.04 | Xfce | 8 September 2008 | |||||
Fluxbox CE | Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) | Fluxbox | 21 October 2008 | |||||
6 | Felicia | Main | Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) | GNOME | 15 December 2008 | No | April 2010 | |
Universal (Light) | ||||||||
x64 | 6 February 2009 | |||||||
KDE CE | Elyssa 5 | Kubuntu 8.10 | KDE | 8 April 2009 | ||||
Xfce CE | Xubuntu 8.10 | Xubuntu 8.10 | Xfce | 24 February 2009 | ||||
Fluxbox CE | Ubuntu 8.10 | Fluxbox | 7 April 2009 | |||||
7 | Gloria | Main | Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) | GNOME | 26 May 2009 | No | October 2010 | |
Universal (Light) | ||||||||
x64 | 24 June 2009 | |||||||
KDE CE | Kubuntu 9.04 | KDE | 3 August 2009 | |||||
Xfce CE | Xubuntu 9.04 | Xfce | 13 September 2009 | |||||
8 | Helena | Main | Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) | GNOME | 28 November 2009 | No | April 2011 | |
Universal (Light) | ||||||||
Gnome x64 | 14 December 2009 | |||||||
KDE | Kubuntu 9.10 | KDE | 6 February 2010 | |||||
KDE x64 | 12 February 2010 | |||||||
Fluxbox | Helena Main | Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) | Fluxbox | |||||
Xfce | Xubuntu 9.10 | Xfce | 31 March 2010 | |||||
LXDE | Helena Main | Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) | LXDE | |||||
9 | Isadora | Main | Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) | GNOME | 18 May 2010 | Yes | April 2013 | |
Gnome x64 | ||||||||
LXDE | Lubuntu 10.04 | LXDE | 18 July 2010 | |||||
KDE | Kubuntu 10.04 | KDE | 27 July 2010 | |||||
KDE x64 | ||||||||
Xfce | Xubuntu 10.04 | Xfce | 24 August 2010 | |||||
Fluxbox | Lubuntu 10.04 | Fluxbox | 6 September 2010 | |||||
10 | Julia | Main | Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) | GNOME | 12 November 2010 | No | April 2012 | |
Gnome x64 | ||||||||
KDE | Kubuntu 10.10 | KDE | 23 February 2011 | |||||
KDE x64 | ||||||||
LXDE | Lubuntu 10.10 | LXDE | 16 March 2011 | |||||
11 | Katya | Main | Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) | GNOME | 26 May 2011 | No | October 2012 | |
Gnome x64 | ||||||||
LXDE | Lubuntu 11.04 | LXDE | 16 August 2011 | |||||
12 | Lisa | Main | Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) | GNOME 3 with MGSE [lower-alpha 1] | 26 November 2011 | No | April 2013 | |
KDE | Kubuntu 11.10 | KDE | 2 February 2012 | |||||
LXDE | Lubuntu 11.10 | LXDE | 9 March 2012 | |||||
13 | Maya | Cinnamon MATE Xfce KDE | Ubuntu 12.04 (Precise Pangolin) | Cinnamon MATE | 23 May 2012 | Yes | April 2017 | |
Xubuntu 12.04 | Xfce | 21 July 2012 | ||||||
Kubuntu 12.04 | KDE | 23 July 2012 | ||||||
14 | Nadia | Ubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal) | Cinnamon MATE | 20 November 2012 | No | May 2014 | ||
Xubuntu 12.10 | Xfce | 21 December 2012 | ||||||
Kubuntu 12.10 | KDE | 23 December 2012 | ||||||
15 | Olivia | Ubuntu 13.04 (Raring Ringtail) | Cinnamon MATE | 29 May 2013 [42] | No | January 2014 | ||
Xfce | 12 July 2013 [43] | |||||||
KDE | 21 July 2013 [44] | |||||||
16 | Petra | Ubuntu 13.10 (Saucy Salamander) | Cinnamon MATE | 30 November 2013 [45] [46] | No | July 2014 | ||
Xfce KDE | 22 December 2013 | |||||||
17 | Qiana | Ubuntu 14.04 (Trusty Tahr) | Cinnamon MATE | 31 May 2014 | Yes | April 2019 | ||
KDE | 23 June 2014 | |||||||
Xfce | 26 June 2014 | |||||||
17.1 | Rebecca | Cinnamon MATE | 29 November 2014 [40] | |||||
KDE | 8 January 2015 | |||||||
Xfce | 11 January 2015 | |||||||
17.2 | Rafaela | Cinnamon MATE | 30 June 2015 | |||||
KDE Xfce | 7 August 2015 | |||||||
17.3 | Rosa | Cinnamon MATE | 4 December 2015 | |||||
KDE Xfce | 9 January 2016 | |||||||
18 | Sarah | Ubuntu 16.04 (Xenial Xerus) | Cinnamon MATE | 30 June 2016 | Yes | April 2021 | ||
KDE | 9 September 2016 | |||||||
Xfce | 2 August 2016 | |||||||
18.1 | Serena | Cinnamon MATE | 4 January 2017 | |||||
KDE Xfce | 27 January 2017 | |||||||
18.2 | Sonya | Cinnamon MATE KDE Xfce | 2 July 2017 | |||||
18.3 | Sylvia | Cinnamon MATE | 27 November 2017 | |||||
KDE Xfce | 15 December 2017 | |||||||
19 | Tara [47] | Cinnamon MATE Xfce | Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) | Cinnamon MATE Xfce | 29 June 2018 | Yes | April 2023 | |
19.1 | Tessa [48] | 19 December 2018 | ||||||
19.2 | Tina | 2 August 2019 | ||||||
19.3 | Tricia | 15 December 2019 | ||||||
20 | Ulyana [49] | Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa) Supports only amd64 (64-bit) | 27 June 2020 | Yes | April 2025 | |||
20.1 | Ulyssa [50] | 8 January 2021 | ||||||
20.2 | Uma [51] | 8 July 2021 | ||||||
20.3 | Una [52] | 7 January 2022 | ||||||
21 | Vanessa [53] | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) Supports only amd64 (64-bit) | 31 July 2022 | Yes | April 2027 | |||
21.1 | Vera [54] | 20 December 2022 | ||||||
21.2 | Victoria [55] | 16 July 2023 | ||||||
21.3 | Virginia [56] | 12 January 2024 | ||||||
22 | Wilma [57] | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) Supports only amd64 (64-bit) | 25 July 2024 | Yes | June 2029 [58] | |||
Version | Codename | Edition | Codebase | Compatible repository | Desktop environment | Release date | LTS | Support end |
Legend: | Old version, not maintained | Older version, still maintained | Current stable version | Future release |
---|
Version | Codename | ISO edition [lower-alpha 1] | Debian base | Desktop environment | Release date | Support end |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | — | 201403 | Wheezy (Debian 7.0) | Cinnamon MATE Supports both amd64 and i386 | 2 March 2014 [59] | 1 January 2017 [60] |
2 | Betsy | 201603 | Jessie (Debian 8.0) | 10 April 2016 [61] | 1 January 2019 [62] | |
201701 | 13 March 2017 [63] | |||||
3 | Cindy | 201808 | Stretch (Debian 9.0) [64] | Cinnamon Supports both amd64 and i386 | 31 August 2018 [65] | 1 July 2020 [66] |
4 | Debbie | — | Buster (Debian 10.0) [67] | 20 March 2020 [68] | August 2022 [69] | |
5 | Elsie [52] | — | Bullseye (Debian 11.0) | 20 March 2022 [70] | 1 July 2024 [71] | |
6 | Faye [72] | — | Bookworm (Debian 12.0) | 27 September 2023 [73] | TBA |
In 2016 [74] [ unreliable source? ], the Linux Mint team released the X-Apps, [75] a collection of applications that aims to work across different GTK-based desktop environments such as but not limited to Cinnamon, Budgie, Unity, MATE, and XFCE; most of these applications have a traditional user interface (UI), for example, using a menu bar instead of a header-bar. [76] [77] According to the team, the integration of many applications as tied to specific environments and that was the case of a growing number of GNOME applications.
As of 2024, [update] the Linux Mint team is in the process of transitioning development for X-Apps applications from being part of the Linux Mint development process to being a completely independent project. [78] Most of them are forks of GNOME Core Applications.
Linux Mint primarily uses free and open-source software. Before version 18, some proprietary software, such as device drivers, Adobe Flash Player and codecs for MP3 and DVD-Video playback, were bundled with the OS. [79] [80] [81] Starting with version 18, the installer provides an option to install third-party, proprietary software. [8]
Linux Mint comes bundled with a wide range of application software, including LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, HexChat, Pidgin, Transmission, and VLC media player. Additional programs can be downloaded using the package manager, adding a PPA, or adding a source to the sources file in the /etc/apt/
directory. Linux Mint allows networking ports to be closed using its firewall, with customized port selection available. The default Linux Mint desktop environments, Cinnamon and MATE, support many languages. [82] [83] Linux Mint can also run many programs designed for Microsoft Windows (such as Microsoft Office), using the Wine compatibility layer.
Linux Mint is available with a number of desktop environments to choose from, including the default Cinnamon desktop, MATE and Xfce. Other desktop environments can be installed via APT, Synaptic, or via the custom Mint Software Manager.
Linux Mint implements Mandatory Access Control with AppArmor to enhance security by default, and restricts the default network-facing processes.
Linux Mint [84] actively develops software for its operating system. Most of the development is done in Python and the source code is available on GitHub. [85]
The Cinnamon desktop environment is a fork of GNOME Shell with Mint Gnome Shell Extensions (MGSE) on top. It was released as an add-on for Linux Mint 12 and has been available as a default desktop environment since Linux Mint 13. [86]
Linux Mint can be booted and run from a USB flash drive on any PC capable of booting from a USB drive, with the option of saving settings to the flash drive. A USB creator program is available to install on Ubuntu (but not LMDE) Live Linux Mint on a USB drive. Alternatively, the Linux Mint ISO can be burned to a DVD to boot from.
The Windows installer Mint4Win allows Linux Mint to be installed from within Microsoft Windows, much like the Wubi installer for Ubuntu. The operating system could then be removed, as with other Windows software, using the Windows Control Panel. This method requires no partitioning of the hard drive. It is only useful for Windows users, and is not meant for permanent installations because it incurs a slight performance loss. This installer was included on the Live DVD until Linux Mint 16 but removed in the Linux Mint 16 'Petra' release because the size of the Live DVD images would have exceeded what the software could reliably handle.
Installation supports a Logical Volume Manager (LVM) with automatic partitioning only, and disk encryption since Linux Mint 15.
Linux Mint has multiple editions based on Ubuntu, with various desktop environments available. It also has a Debian-based edition.
As of Linux Mint 13, there are two main editions developed by the core development team and using Ubuntu as a base. One includes Linux Mint's own Cinnamon as the desktop environment while the other uses MATE. There is also a version with the Xfce desktop environment by default. Since the release of version 19 (Tara) in June 2018, the three editions are released simultaneously. [90]
Beginning with the release of Linux Mint 19, the KDE edition was officially discontinued; however, the KDE 17.x and 18.x releases were supported until 2019 and 2021, respectively. [87] Older releases, now also obsolete, included editions that featured the GNOME, LXDE, and Fluxbox desktop environments by default.
In addition to its regular ISO images, Linux Mint sometimes provides an "edge" ISO image for its latest release. This image ships with newer components such as the kernel to be able to support the most modern hardware chipsets and devices. [91]
The distribution provided an OEM version for manufacturers to use; [92] [93] however, this version was discontinued with the release of v18 Sarah in order to reduce the number of ISO images that needed to be maintained. [94] Manufacturers wanting to perform an OEM install can choose to do so in the live CD boot menu.
The distribution provided a 'No Codecs', also called 'Light' version for magazines, companies, and distributors in the United States, Japan, and countries where the legislation allows patents to apply to software and distribution of restricted technologies may require the acquisition of third-party licences; [13] [95] [96] however, this version was discontinued with release of v18 Sarah. Users now have the option of whether or not to install multimedia codecs, now downloaded from the internet, [97] during the installation; additionally, multimedia codecs can also be installed via a link on the Mint Welcome Screen any time after installation.
The Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE) uses Debian Stable as the software source base rather than Ubuntu. [98] LMDE was originally based directly on Debian's Testing branch, but is designed to provide the same functionality and look and feel as the Ubuntu-based editions. [99] LMDE has its own package repositories.
LMDE claims certain advantages and disadvantages compared to 'Mint Main' (i.e., the Ubuntu-based editions): [100]
The original LMDE (now often referred to as LMDE 1) had a semi-rolling release development model, which periodically introduced 'Update Packs' (tested snapshots of Debian Testing). [99] Installing an Update Pack allowed the user to keep LMDE 1 current, without having to reinstall the system every six months as with Mint Main. As of May 17, 2015, it has an upgrade path to LMDE 2. [102]
LMDE 2 (a.k.a. Betsy) was released on April 10, 2015. [103] LMDE 2 is based on Debian Stable, but receives automatic updates to the latest versions of MintTools and the installed desktop environment before they are released into the Mint Main edition. [15] [16] LMDE 2 is available with both the MATE and Cinnamon desktop environments. [99] Both image versions received an update in January 2017. [104] As of the start of 2019, this version is no longer supported.
LMDE 2 remains based on sysvinit but with a 'functional logind' from systemd. [105] [106]
LMDE 3 (a.k.a. Cindy) is 'very likely' to complete the switch to systemd from sysvinit. [105] It is based on Debian Stretch, and was released on August 31, 2018, [107] shipping as a single edition with Cinnamon. [87] As of July 1, 2020, this version is no longer supported.
LMDE 4 (a.k.a. Debbie) is based on Debian Buster (version 10), and was released on March 20, 2020. This version ships as a single edition using Cinnamon. [108]
LMDE 5 (a.k.a. Elsie) is based on Debian Bullseye (version 11), and was released on March 20, 2022. It ships with the Cinnamon desktop environment and supports both amd64 and i386 architectures. [109]
Linux Mint Debian Edition 6 "Faye" entered public beta with Debian Bookworm base, Cinnamon 5.8, and enhanced features, but only for testing purposes. [110] LMDE 6 was released on 27 September 2023. [111]
Individual users and companies using the operating system act as donors, [112] sponsors [113] and partners [114] of the distribution. Linux Mint relies on user feedback to make decisions and orient its development. The official blog often features discussions where users are asked to voice their opinion about the latest features or decisions implemented for upcoming releases. Ideas can be submitted, commented upon and rated by users via the Linux Mint Community Website. [115]
The community of Linux Mint users use Launchpad to participate in the translation of the operating system and in reporting bugs. [116]
Most development is done in Python and organized online using GitHub, making it easy for developers to provide patches, implement additional features, and also fork Linux Mint sub-projects (for example the Linux Mint menu was ported to Fedora). With each release, features are added that are developed by the community. In Linux Mint 9, for instance, the ability to edit menu items is a feature that was contributed by a Linux Mint user. [117]
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: no content from past five years.(June 2024) |
In a 2012 online poll at Lifehacker, Linux Mint was voted the second best Linux distribution, after Ubuntu, with almost 16% of the votes. [118] In October 2012 (Issue 162), Linux Format named Linux Mint the best distro for 2012. [119] In May 2013, David Hayward of TechRadar praised Linux Mint for focusing on desktop users. [120] In July 2013 (Issue 128), Linux User & Developer gave Linux Mint 15 "Olivia" a score of 5/5, stating "We haven't found a single problem with the distro... we're more than satisfied with the smooth, user-friendly experience that Linux Mint 15, and Cinnamon 1.8, provides for it to be our main distro for at least another 6 months". [121]
In 2016, reviews of Linux Mint 18 "Sarah" were somewhat mixed, with several that were quite favorable [122] [123] [124] [125] and others critical of several specific new problems, with multiple reviews complaining about the lack of multimedia/codec support by default. [126] [127] Multimedia codecs that had previously been included in the standard Mint distribution were no longer included in "Sarah", but could be loaded with a graphical application that one Ars Technica reviewer said should be obvious for new users. [123]
ZDNet Contributing Editor Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols, reviewing Linux Mint 19 and LM 19.1 in the articles "The Linux Mint desktop continues to lead the rest" in July 2018 [128] and "The better-than-ever Linux desktop" in December 2018, [129] noted Mint's quality, stability, security and user-friendliness compared to other popular distributions. ZDNet's review of Linux Mint 19.2 said: "After looking at many Linux desktops year in and out, Linux Mint is the best of the breed. It's easy to learn (even if you've never used Linux before), powerful, and with its traditional windows, icons, menus, and pointers (WIMP) interface, it's simple to use." [130]
For Linux Mint Debian Edition 6 & Linux Mint 21.3, either Cinnamon, MATE, or XFCE edition: [131]
Versions prior to Linux Mint 20 allowed booting from either i386 (32 bit) or amd64 (64 bit) architectures.
Starting with Linux Mint 20 only the amd64 (64 bit) architecture will be supported. [133] [134] This is because Canonical decided to drop 32-bit support from Ubuntu 20.04, which is the base from which Linux Mint 20 is derived. [135] LMDE still supports both the x86 i386 (32-bit) and amd64 (64-bit) architectures.
Debian, also known as Debian GNU/Linux, is a Linux distribution composed of free and open-source software and optionally non-free firmware or software developed by the community-supported Debian Project, which was established by Ian Murdock on August 16, 1993. The first version of Debian (0.01) was released on September 15, 1993, and its first stable version (1.1) was released on June 17, 1996. The Debian Stable branch is the most popular edition for personal computers and servers. Debian is also the basis for many other distributions that have different purposes, like Proxmox for servers, Ubuntu or Linux Mint for desktops, Kali for penetration testing, and Pardus and Astra for government use.
A Linux distribution is an operating system made from a software collection that includes the Linux kernel and often a package management system. They are often obtained from the website of each distribution, which are available for a wide variety of systems ranging from embedded devices and personal computers to servers and powerful supercomputers.
Libranet was an operating system based on Debian.
A light-weight Linux distribution is one that uses lower memory and/or has less processor-speed requirements than a more "feature-rich" Linux distribution. The lower demands on hardware ideally result in a more responsive machine, and/or allow devices with fewer system resources to be used productively. The lower memory and/or processor-speed requirements are achieved by avoiding software bloat, i.e. by leaving out features that are perceived to have little or no practical use or advantage, or for which there is no or low demand.
Ubuntu is a Linux distribution derived from Debian and composed mostly of free and open-source software. Ubuntu is officially released in multiple editions: Desktop, Server, and Core for Internet of things devices and robots. The operating system is developed by the British company Canonical and a community of other developers, under a meritocratic governance model. As of April 2024, the most-recent long-term support release is 24.04.
Technical variations of Linux distributions include support for different hardware devices and systems or software package configurations. Organizational differences may be motivated by historical reasons. Other criteria include security, including how quickly security upgrades are available; ease of package management; and number of packages available.
ClamTk is a free and open-source graphical interface for the ClamAV command-line antivirus software program for Linux desktop users. It provides both on-demand and scheduled scanning. The project was started by Dave Mauroni in February 2004. As of April 2024, the program is no longer maintained.
GNOME, originally an acronym for GNU Network Object Model Environment, is a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems.
Peppermint OS is a Linux distribution based on Debian and Devuan Stable, and formerly based on Ubuntu. It uses the Xfce desktop environment. It aims to provide a familiar environment for newcomers to Linux, which requires relatively low hardware resources to run.
Mutter is a window manager initially designed and implemented for the X Window System, but then evolved to be a Wayland compositor. It became the default window manager in GNOME 3, replacing Metacity which used GTK for rendering.
Kiwix is a free and open-source offline web browser created by Emmanuel Engelhart and Renaud Gaudin in 2007. It was first launched to allow offline access to Wikipedia, but has since expanded to include other projects from the Wikimedia Foundation, public domain texts from Project Gutenberg, many of the Stack Exchange sites, and many other resources. Available in more than 100 languages, Kiwix has been included in several high-profile projects, from smuggling operations in North Korea to Google Impact Challenge's recipient Bibliothèques Sans Frontières.
Leafpad is a free and open-source graphical text editor for Linux, Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD), and Maemo that is similar to the Microsoft Windows program Notepad. Created with the focus of being a lightweight text editor with minimal dependencies, it is designed to be simple-to-use and easy-to-compile.
MATE is a desktop environment composed of free and open-source software that runs on Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems such as BSD, and illumos operating systems.
Cinnamon is a free and open-source desktop environment for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems, which was originally based on GNOME 3, but follows traditional desktop metaphor conventions.
Long-term support (LTS) is a product lifecycle management policy in which a stable release of computer software is maintained for a longer period of time than the standard edition. The term is typically reserved for open-source software, where it describes a software edition that is supported for months or years longer than the software's standard edition.
Linux Lite is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu LTS created by a team of programmers led by Jerry Bezencon. Created in 2012, it uses a customized implementation of Xfce as its desktop environment, and runs on the main Linux kernel.
Snap is a software packaging and deployment system developed by Canonical for operating systems that use the Linux kernel and the systemd init system. The packages, called snaps, and the tool for using them, snapd, work across a range of Linux distributions and allow upstream software developers to distribute their applications directly to users. Snaps are self-contained applications running in a sandbox with mediated access to the host system. Snap was originally released for cloud applications but was later ported to also work for Internet of Things devices and desktop applications.
gLinux is a Debian Testing-based Linux distribution used at Google as a workstation operating system. The Google gLinux team builds the system from source code, introducing their own changes. gLinux replaced the previously used Ubuntu-based distribution, Goobuntu. gLinux is usually installed by loading into a bootstrap environment when it is first booted up. When it is started, the root files are unpacked and the Debian installer starts to perform the installation. According to a former user of the OS, it uses the Cinnamon desktop environment. As of 2024, only the GNOME desktop environment is fully supported. Over the years, Google has focused on speed, scale and data, which is the thought process that allowed them to move to gLinux. Google used Ubuntu before switching to gLinux; however, the two years of security updates it provided meant that planning for the next upgrade would take close to a year.
Q4OS is a light-weight Linux distribution, based on Debian, targeted as a replacement for operating systems that are no longer supported on outdated hardware. The distribution is known for an addon called XPQ4, which adds themes intended to replicate the look and feel of Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
LMDE 3 will reach EOL (End-Of-Life) on July 1st 2020.
Manufacturers can pre-install Linux Mint on their computers using the OEM installation images.
Manufacturers can pre-install Linux Mint on their computers using the OEM installation images.
Distributors and magazines in Japan, USA, and countries where distributing media codecs is problematic can use the "No Codecs" ISO images.
Distributors and magazines in Japan, USA and countries where distributing media codecs is problematic can use the "No Codecs" ISO images.