Edubuntu

Last updated

Edubuntu
Edubuntu-logo-new.svg
Edubuntu 24.04 Noble Numbat Desktop English.png
Edubuntu 24.04 Desktop
Developer Canonical Ltd. and community contributors
OS family Linux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source model Open source
Initial release2005;20 years ago (2005)
Latest release 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) / 17 April 2025;4 months ago (2025-04-17)
Kernel type Monolithic Linux kernel
Default
user interface 		GNOME
License Mainly GPL and various others (free with some restricted components)
Official website www.edubuntu.org OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Edubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system designed for use in classrooms inside schools, homes and communities.

Contents

Features

Edubuntu is based largely on the standard GNOME-based Ubuntu distribution. Curated sets of applications (metapackages) and default desktop settings tailored to specific age groups (including preschool, primary, secondary, and tertiary education) can be selected during the installation. Applications are sorted into folders for specific subject areas, and can be hidden system-wide by an administrator. [1] [2] [3]

Previous iterations of Edubuntu were bundled with the Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP)—intended to allow a computer running Edubuntu to serve multiple thin clients in a computer lab environment, [4] [1] classroom management software ITALC, and software for restricting desktop settings and applications. [5]

Project goals

The primary goal of Edubuntu was to enable an educator with limited technical knowledge and skills to set up a computer lab or an online learning environment in an hour or less and then effectively administer that environment.

The principal design goals of Edubuntu were centralized management of configuration, users and processes, together with facilities for working collaboratively in a classroom setting. Equally important was the gathering together of the best available free software and digital materials for education. According to a statement of goals on the official Edubuntu website: "Our aim is to put together a system that contains all the best free software available in education and make it easy to install and maintain." [6]

It also aimed to allow low-income environments to maximize utilisation of their available (older) equipment.

Versions

Edubuntu 7.04 package Edubuntu 7.04.jpg
Edubuntu 7.04 package

The first Edubuntu release coincided with the release of Ubuntu 5.10, which was codenamed Breezy Badger on 2005-10-13. On Ubuntu 8.04, Edubuntu was replaced with Ubuntu Education Edition—an add-on CD intended for installing the Edubuntu packages on top of an existing Ubuntu installation. [7] From version 9.10 onwards, Edubuntu returned to being a standalone distribution. [8]

Beginning with 14.04, Edubuntu was to only be released for Ubuntu long-term support (LTS) versions only, after Jonathan Carter and Stéphane Graber stepped down from Edubuntu to focus on other projects. It was eventually announced that there would be no Ubuntu 16.04 release of Edubuntu due to a lack of contributors. [9] [10]

In December 2022, it was announced that Edubuntu would be revived to target the Ubuntu 23.04 cycle, with development headed by Ubuntu Studio head Erich Eickmeyer and his wife Amy, an early childhood educator. The revived project adopted a tightened goal of providing software for different age groups, as well as associated customization options, on top of the current Ubuntu desktop environment. [11] [12]

ReleaseCodenameRelease dateEnd-of-life date
5.10 [13] Breezy Badger13 October 200513 April 2007
6.06 LTS [14] Dapper Drake1 June 200614 July 2009
6.10 [15] Edgy Eft26 October 200625 April 2008
7.04 [16] [17] Feisty Fawn19 April 200719 October 2008
7.10 [18] [19] Gutsy Gibbon18 October 200718 April 2009
8.04 LTS [20] [21] Hardy Heron24 April 200812 May 2011
8.10 [22] Intrepid Ibex30 October 200830 April 2010
9.04 [23] Jaunty Jackalope23 April 200923 October 2010
9.10 [24] [25] Karmic Koala29 October 200929 April 2011
10.04 LTS [26] [27] Lucid Lynx29 April 20109 May 2013
10.10 [28] [29] Maverick Meerkat10 October 201010 April 2012
11.04 [30] [31] Natty Narwhal28 April 201128 October 2012
11.10 [32] [33] Oneiric Ocelot13 October 20119 May 2013
12.04 LTS [34] [35] Precise Pangolin26 April 201228 April 2017
12.10 [36] [37] [38] Quantal Quetzal18 October 201216 May 2014
13.04 [39] [40] Raring Ringtail25 April 201327 January 2014
13.10 [41] [42] Saucy Salamander17 October 201317 July 2014
14.04 LTS [43] [44] [45] Trusty Tahr17 April 201430 April 2019
23.04 [46] [47] [48] Lunar Lobster20 April 202325 January 2024 [49]
23.10 [50] Mantic Minotaur12 October 2023July 2024
24.04 LTS [51] Noble Numbat25 April 2024May 2029
24.10Oracular Oriole10 October 2024July 2025
25.04Plucky Puffin17 April 2025January 2026
Legend:   Old version, not maintained   Older version, still maintained   Current stable version   Future version

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Edubuntu 23.04 Beta Released". Ubuntu Community Hub. 31 March 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "Edubuntu 23.04 Released". Ubuntu Community Hub. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "A quick look at Ubuntu 23.04's three new remixes". The Register. Archived from the original on 19 December 2024. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  4. ↑ "Using Edubuntu in LTSP Mode | The Official Ubuntu Book, 4e: Using Edubuntu | InformIT". www.informit.com. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "What's been happening with Edubuntu?". JonathanCarter.org. 21 April 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "About Edubuntu". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  7. ↑ "Ubuntu Education Edition 8.04 Released". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
  8. ↑ "Edubuntu 9.10 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 1 November 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  9. ↑ Graber, Stéphane (21 March 2016). "Edubuntu 16.04 and beyond". Ubuntu.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  10. ↑ "Edubuntu Will Not Do A 16.04 LTS Release, Project May Be On Its Final Leg". www.phoronix.com. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  11. ↑ "Edubuntu Looks To Re-Establish Itself In 2023". www.phoronix.com. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  12. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (1 January 2023). "Ubuntu's Education-Focused Flavour is Coming Back to Class". OMG! Ubuntu. Retrieved 21 April 2025.
  13. ↑ "Education through Edubuntu". Tux Machines. 13 September 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  14. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 6.06 LTS". DistroWatch News. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  15. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 6.10". DistroWatch News. 26 October 2006. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  16. ↑ "Edubuntu 7.04 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. 19 April 2007. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  17. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 7.04". DistroWatch News. 19 April 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  18. ↑ "Edubuntu 7.10 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. 18 October 2007. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  19. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 7.10". DistroWatch News. 18 October 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  20. ↑ "Edubuntu 8.04 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  21. ↑ Hoover, Lisa (25 April 2008). "What Edubuntu can teach your kids". Linux.com. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  22. ↑ "Edubuntu 8.10 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  23. ↑ "Edubuntu 9.04 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  24. ↑ "Edubuntu 9.10 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  25. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 9.10". DistroWatch News. 30 October 2009. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  26. ↑ "Edubuntu 10.04 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 17 June 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  27. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 10.04". DistroWatch News. 30 April 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  28. ↑ "Edubuntu 10.10 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  29. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 10.10". DistroWatch News. 10 October 2010. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  30. ↑ "Edubuntu 11.04 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 24 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  31. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 11.04". DistroWatch News. 28 April 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  32. ↑ "Edubuntu 11.10 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  33. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 11.10". DistroWatch News. 13 October 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  34. ↑ "Edubuntu 12.04 LTS Release Announcement". Edubuntu. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  35. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 12.04". DistroWatch News. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  36. ↑ "Edubuntu 12.10 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. 18 October 2012. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  37. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 12.10". DistroWatch News. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  38. ↑ Chiappetta, Marco (14 March 2013). "Make your PC kid-friendly with four custom operating systems". PCWorld. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  39. ↑ "Edubuntu 13.04 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. 25 April 2013. Archived from the original on 26 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  40. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 13.04". DistroWatch News. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  41. ↑ "Edubuntu 13.10 Release Announcement". Edubuntu. 17 October 2013. Archived from the original on 21 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  42. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 13.10". DistroWatch News. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  43. ↑ "Edubuntu 14.04 LTS Release Announcement". Edubuntu. 17 April 2014. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  44. ↑ "Distribution Release: Edubuntu 14.04". DistroWatch News. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  45. ↑ "Edubuntu 14.04.5 LTS: An Ubuntu-derived Linux operating system designed to be used in educational environments". Softpedia News. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  46. ↑ Sneddon, Joey (1 January 2023). "Ubuntu's Education-Focused Flavour is Heading Back to Class". OMG! Ubuntu!. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  47. ↑ "Edubuntu 23.04 Released". ubuntu.com. Ubuntu. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  48. ↑ "Still Alive! Edubuntu is back From the Dead With Version 23.04 Release". itsfoss.com. It's FOSS News. 21 April 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  49. ↑ "Edubuntu 23.04 Has Reached End-Of-Life (EOL)". 25 January 2024. Archived from the original on 3 March 2024.
  50. ↑ "Edubuntu 23.10 Released". Ubuntu Community Hub. 12 October 2023. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  51. ↑ "Edubuntu 24.04 LTS Released". Ubuntu Community Hub. 25 April 2024. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024.
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