Kubuntu facts for kids

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Kubuntu

Kubuntu 24.04 "Noble Numbat"
Company / developer	Community-driven, previously Blue Systems/Canonical Ltd.
OS family	Linux (Unix-like)
Working state	Current
Source model	Open-source
Initial release	April 8, 2005; 20 years ago (2005-04-08)
Latest stable release	24.04 (Noble Numbat) / April 25, 2024; 13 months ago (2024-04-25)
Marketing target	Home computers, business use
Available language(s)	Multilingual (more than 55)
Update method	PackageKit or APT
Package manager	dpkg and Snap
Supported platforms	IA-32, x86-64, ARM
Kernel type	Monolithic (Linux kernel)
Userland	GNU
Default user interface	KDE Plasma Desktop Plasma Mobile
License	Free software licenses (mainly GPL)

Kubuntu is a special version of the Ubuntu operating system. It uses something called the KDE Plasma Desktop instead of the usual GNOME desktop. Think of it like choosing a different theme or look for your computer's screen and programs.

Kubuntu is part of the bigger Ubuntu project. This means it uses many of the same basic parts and gets updates at the same time as Ubuntu. For a while, a company called Canonical Ltd. helped support Kubuntu. Later, Blue Systems took over. Now, many people from the community help make Kubuntu better.

What Does the Name Kubuntu Mean?
How Kubuntu is Different from Ubuntu
Kubuntu's Journey: A Brief History
Kubuntu Versions and Support
Computer Requirements for Kubuntu
Where Kubuntu is Used Around the World
Gallery
See also

What Does the Name Kubuntu Mean?

The name "Kubuntu" is a special brand name owned by Canonical. It comes from the name Ubuntu. The letter K was added to show that it uses the KDE platform. Many programs made for KDE also start with a "K".

The word Ubuntu comes from a language called Bantu. It means something like 'humanity' or 'being human'. In another language, Bemba, "kubuntu" can mean 'toward humanity'. It also happens to mean 'free' (as in 'no cost') in the Kirundi language.

How Kubuntu is Different from Ubuntu

Kubuntu and Ubuntu are very similar, but they have some key differences. These differences are mostly in the way they look and the programs they use.

Here's a quick look at how they compare:

Software	Ubuntu	Kubuntu
Kernel and core	Both use the Linux kernel and the main parts of Ubuntu.
Display server	Both use X.Org Server and Wayland to show things on your screen.
Sound	Both use PipeWire for sound.
Multimedia	Totem and Rhythmbox (for music and videos)	VLC and Elisa (for music and videos)
Window manager	Mutter (controls how windows look and act)	KWin (controls how windows look and act)
Desktop	GNOME (the main look and feel)	Plasma Desktop (the main look and feel)
Primary toolkit	GTK (tools for building programs)	Qt (tools for building programs)
Browser	Both use Firefox as their web browser.
Office suite	Both use LibreOffice (like Microsoft Office).
Email and PIM	Both use Thunderbird for email and contacts.

Kubuntu's Journey: A Brief History

Kubuntu started in December 2004 at a meeting in Spain. An employee from Canonical, Andreas Mueller, had the idea to create an Ubuntu version with KDE. Mark Shuttleworth, who started Ubuntu, agreed. Soon after, other volunteers joined the project.

Mark Shuttleworth believed it was important to have different kinds of Linux systems. He thought a KDE-based version would help more people use free software.

Kubuntu used K Desktop Environment 3 as its main look until version 8.04. After that, KDE Plasma Desktop became the standard.

In 2012, Canonical stopped directly sponsoring Kubuntu. But a company called Blue Systems stepped in to help. This meant the developers working on Kubuntu could keep doing their great work.

Since 2019, Kubuntu has also worked with MindShare Inc. They offer special "Kubuntu Focus" laptops and mini-PCs. These computers are made to work perfectly with Kubuntu.

Kubuntu Versions and Support

Kubuntu uses the same way of naming and numbering its versions as Ubuntu. Each version has a fun code name and a number based on the year and month it came out.

Canonical provides updates and security fixes for Kubuntu. These updates last for 18 months. However, for special versions called long-term support (LTS) versions, the support lasts for five years! This means LTS versions are very stable and reliable for a long time.

You can get Kubuntu as a "desktop" version (which you can try from a CD/USB without installing) or an "installation" version.

Version	Release date	Code name	Supported until	Linux kernel	KDE Plasma	Qt	What's New
5.04	2005-04-08	Hoary Hedgehog	2006-10-31	2.6.10	N/A		This was the very first release! It included KDE 3.4 and popular KDE programs like Amarok and K3b.
5.10	2005-10-13	Breezy Badger	2007-04-13	2.6.12			KDE 3.4.3 was included. It also came with a new tool called Adept Package Manager to help you find and install software.
6.06 LTS	2006-06-01	Dapper Drake	2009-06	2.6.15			This was the first Long Term Support (LTS) release, meaning it got updates for a longer time. You could also try it and install it from the same disc.
6.10	2006-10-26	Edgy Eft	2008-04	2.6.17			KDE 3.5.5 was included. It added digiKam for managing photos and improved support for laptops.
7.04	2007-04-19	Feisty Fawn	2008-10	2.6.20			KDE 3.5.6 was included. It made it easier to install special drivers and codecs for media.
7.10	2007-10-18	Gutsy Gibbon	2009-04-18	2.6.22			It came with new background art and included Strigi (for searching) and Dolphin (a file manager) by default.
8.04&	2008-04-24	Hardy Heron	2009-10	2.6.24			This version offered both KDE 3.5 and the newer KDE 4.0. It aimed to have similar features to the main Ubuntu.
8.10	2008-10-30	Intrepid Ibex	2010-04-30	2.6.27			KDE 4.1.2 became the default desktop. It also included desktop effects by default.
9.04	2009-04-23	Jaunty Jackalope	2010-10	2.6.28			KDE 4.2.2 was the default. It used the ext4 file system and booted faster.
9.10	2009-10-30	Karmic Koala	2011-04-28	2.6.31			KDE 4.3.2 was included. It also used the newer GRUB 2 for starting up.
10.04 LTS	2010-04-29	Lucid Lynx	2013-05-09	2.6.32			Another LTS release with KDE 4.4.2. It had better integration with Firefox.
10.10	2010-10-10	Maverick Meerkat	2012-04	2.6.35			It came with KDE SC 4.5 and had a faster login. The default browser changed to rekonq.
11.04	2011-04-28	Natty Narwhal	2012-10-28	2.6.38			KDE SC 4.6 was included. It also had games installed by default.
11.10	2011-10-12	Oneiric Ocelot	2013-05-09	3.0.3			KDE SC 4.7 was included. It replaced KPackageKit with Muon Software Centre.
12.04 LTS	2012-04-25	Precise Pangolin	2017-04-28	3.2.0			This was the third Kubuntu LTS release, featuring KDE SC 4.8.
12.10	2012-10-18	Quantal Quetzal	2014-04	3.5.5			It came with LibreOffice 3.6.2.2 and KDE SC 4.9.2.
13.04	2013-04-25	Raring Ringtail	2014-01	3.8.0			KDE SC 4.10 and LibreOffice 4 were included.
13.10	2013-10-17	Saucy Salamander	2014-07-17	3.11			It featured KDE SC 4.11.2 and LibreOffice 4.1.2.
14.04 LTS	2014-04-17	Trusty Tahr	2019-04-25	3.13			KDE SC 4.13.0 was included, and Firefox became the default browser again.
14.10	2014-10-23	Utopic Unicorn	2015-07-23	3.16			It included KDE SC 4.14 and a preview of KDE Plasma 5.
15.04	2015-04-23	Vivid Vervet	2015-12	3.19	5.2.2	N/A	KDE Plasma 5.2.2 became the default desktop.
15.10	2015-10-22	Wily Werewolf	2016-07-22	4.2	5.4		It came with Firefox 41.0 and LibreOffice 5.0.
16.04 LTS	2016-04-21	Xenial Xerus	2019-04-21	4.4	5.5.5		Another LTS release with Firefox 45 and LibreOffice 5.1.
16.10	2016-10-13	Yakkety Yak	2017-07-20	4.8	5.7.5		It included KDE Applications 16.04.3 and LibreOffice 5.2.
17.04	2017-04-13	Zesty Zapus	2018-01-11	4.10	5.9		It came with KDE Applications 16.12.3 and LibreOffice 5.3.
17.10	2017-10-19	Artful Aardvark	2018-07-19	4.13	5.10		Cantata replaced Amarok as the music player, and VLC media player replaced Dragon Player.
18.04 LTS	2018-04-26	Bionic Beaver	2021-05-01	4.15	5.12 LTS		This LTS version included LibreOffice 6.0 and Firefox 59. Double-clicking became the default to open files.
18.10	2018-10-18	Cosmic Cuttlefish	2019-07-18	4.18	5.13		It had snap integration by default in the software center and supported fingerprint scanners.
19.04	2019-04-18	Disco Dingo	2020-01-23	5.0	5.15.4	5.12.2	It included KDE Applications 18.12.3, LibreOffice 6.2.2, and Firefox 66.
19.10	2019-10-17	Eoan Ermine	2020-07-17	5.3	5.16.5	5.12.4	It came with KDE Applications 19.04.3, LibreOffice 6.3, and Firefox 69.
20.04 LTS	2020-04-23	Focal Fossa	2023-04-29	5.4	5.18 LTS	5.12.8	This LTS version included LibreOffice 6.4.2.2 and Firefox 75.
20.10	2020-10-22	Groovy Gorilla	2021-07-22	5.8	5.19.5	5.14.2	It came with LibreOffice 7.0.2 and Firefox 82.
21.04	2021-04-22	Hirsute Hippo	2022-01-20	5.11	5.21	5.15.2	It included LibreOffice 7.1 and Firefox 87.
21.10	2021-10-14	Impish Indri	2022-07-14	5.13	5.22.5	5.15.2	It came with KDE Gear 21.08, LibreOffice 7.2, and Firefox 92.
22.04 LTS	2022-04-21	Jammy Jellyfish	2025-04-24	5.15	5.24 LTS	5.15.3	This LTS version included KDE Gear 21.12.3, LibreOffice 7.3.2.2, and Firefox 99.
22.10	2022-10-21	Kinetic Kudu	2023-07-20	5.18	5.25	5.15.5	It came with LibreOffice 7.4 and Firefox 103.
23.04	2023-04-20	Lunar Lobster	2024-01-20	6.2	5.27	5.15.8.	It included LibreOffice 7.5 and Firefox 111.
23.10	2023-10-17	Mantic Minotaur	2024-07	6.5	5.27.8	5.15.10	It came with KDE Gear 23.08, LibreOffice 7.6.2.1, and Firefox 118.
24.04 LTS	2024-04-25	Noble Numbat	2027-04	6.8	5.27.11	5.15.13	This is the latest Long Term Support (LTS) version. It will get security and maintenance updates until April 2027. It includes updated KDE Apps.
24.10	2024-10-10	Oracular Oriole	2025-07	TBA	TBA	TBA	This is a future version of Kubuntu.
Legend: Old version, not maintained Older version, still maintained Current stable version Future version

Computer Requirements for Kubuntu

Currently, Kubuntu works best on computers with AMD 64-bit processors. Support for older Intel x86 (32-bit) computers stopped after the 18.04 release. However, users with 32-bit systems still received updates until 2023.

Where Kubuntu is Used Around the World

Kubuntu is used in many places around the world, showing how popular it is.

In Brazil, over 500,000 computers in 42,000 schools use Kubuntu. This is one of the biggest uses of Linux desktops anywhere!
The city of Munich in Germany switched 14,800 computers to Kubuntu LTS 12.04.
The government in Taipei City decided to use Kubuntu on 10,000 school computers instead of Windows.
In 2006, the French Parliament announced they would switch over 1,000 of their computers to Kubuntu.
La Laguna University in the Canary Islands uses Kubuntu on more than 3,000 computers in labs and libraries. Since 2007, all 1,100 state schools in the Canary Islands also use Kubuntu.