Kubuntu facts for kids

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Kubuntu

Kubuntu 25.04 "Plucky Puffin"
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	Regular: 25.04 (Plucky Puffin) LTS: 24.04.2 (Noble Numbat) / April 17, 2025; 4 months ago (2025-04-17) (Regular) February 15, 2025; 6 months ago (2025-02-15) (LTS)
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 (pronounced kuu-BUUN-too) is a special version of the Ubuntu computer operating system. It uses a different look and feel called KDE Plasma Desktop instead of GNOME. Because it is part of the Ubuntu family, Kubuntu shares many of the same parts and gets updates at the same time.

Kubuntu was first supported by a company called Canonical Ltd. until 2012. After that, another company, Blue Systems, took over. Now, many people from the community help develop Kubuntu. They work together to improve the software.

What Does the Name "Kubuntu" Mean?
How Kubuntu is Different from Ubuntu
Kubuntu's Journey: A Brief History
Kubuntu Versions and Updates
What Your Computer Needs for Kubuntu
Where Kubuntu is Used
Images for kids
See also

What Does the Name "Kubuntu" Mean?

The name "Kubuntu" is a registered trademark owned by Canonical. It comes from the name Ubuntu. The letter K was added to show that it uses the KDE platform. This is a common way to name software made for KDE.

The word Ubuntu comes from a Bantu term that means 'humanity'. In the Bemba language, the prefix ku- means 'toward'. So, kubuntu can also 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 use different programs for how you see and interact with your computer. Here's a simple comparison:

Software	Ubuntu	Kubuntu
Core System	Linux kernel and Ubuntu core
Screen Display	X.Org Server and Wayland
Sound System	PipeWire
Music & Videos	GNOME Videos and Rhythmbox	Haruna and Elisa
Window Control	Mutter	KWin
Desktop Look	GNOME	Plasma Desktop
Main Tools	GTK	Qt
Internet Browser	Firefox
Office Programs	LibreOffice
Email Program	Thunderbird

Kubuntu's Journey: A Brief History

Kubuntu started in December 2004 at a conference in Spain. An employee from Canonical, Andreas Mueller, had the idea to create an Ubuntu version with KDE. Mark Shuttleworth, the founder of Ubuntu, approved the idea. Soon after, volunteers like Chris Halls and Jonathan Riddell joined to help.

Mark Shuttleworth believed it was important to have different types 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 interface until version 8.04. After that, KDE Plasma Desktop became the standard desktop for Kubuntu, starting with version 8.10.

In 2012, Canonical stopped sponsoring Kubuntu. However, Blue Systems quickly stepped in as the new sponsor. The developers who worked on Kubuntu for Canonical then moved to Blue Systems.

Since 2019, Kubuntu has worked with MindShare Inc. to offer "Kubuntu Focus" computers. These are laptops and mini-PCs designed to work best with Kubuntu's long-term support versions.

Kubuntu Versions and Updates

Kubuntu uses the same naming and version system as Ubuntu. Each version has a fun code name and a number based on the year and month it was released. For example, "24.04" means it was released in April 2024.

Canonical provides updates and security fixes for Kubuntu. These updates last for 18 months for regular versions. For long-term support (LTS) versions, updates last for five years. This means LTS versions are more stable for longer.

You can get Kubuntu as a "Live CD" version, which lets you try it without installing. There's also an installation version for different computer types.

Version	Release date	Code name	Supported until	Linux kernel	KDE Plasma	Qt	Notes
5.04	2005-04-08	Hoary Hedgehog	2006-10-31	2.6.10	N/A		First release with KDE 3.4. Included useful KDE programs like Amarok and K3b.
5.10	2005-10-13	Breezy Badger	2007-04-13	2.6.12			KDE 3.4.3. Introduced Adept Package Manager for easier software searching.
6.06 LTS	2006-06-01	Dapper Drake	2009-06	2.6.15			This was a Long Term Support (LTS) release. It combined the Live CD and installer onto one disc.
6.10	2006-10-26	Edgy Eft	2008-04	2.6.17			KDE 3.5.5. Added digiKam for photo management and improved power settings.
7.04	2007-04-19	Feisty Fawn	2008-10	2.6.20			KDE 3.5.6. Made it easier to install codecs and drivers.
7.10	2007-10-18	Gutsy Gibbon	2009-04-18	2.6.22			New look. Included Strigi search and Dolphin file manager by default.
8.04	2008-04-24	Hardy Heron	2009-10	2.6.24			Offered both KDE 3.5 and KDE 4.0. Improved printer detection and video codec installation.
8.10	2008-10-30	Intrepid Ibex	2010-04-30	2.6.27			KDE 4.1.2 desktop environment by default. Included KWin desktop effects.
9.04	2009-04-23	Jaunty Jackalope	2010-10	2.6.28			KDE 4.2.2. Replaced Adept with KPackageKit for managing software.
9.10	2009-10-30	Karmic Koala	2011-04-28	2.6.31			KDE 4.3.2. Switched to GRUB 2 for starting the computer.
10.04 LTS	2010-04-29	Lucid Lynx	2013-05-09	2.6.32			Another Long Term Support (LTS) release. KDE 4.4.2.
10.10	2010-10-10	Maverick Meerkat	2012-04	2.6.35			KDE Software Compilation 4.5. Faster login and new default browser, rekonq.
11.04	2011-04-28	Natty Narwhal	2012-10-28	2.6.38			KDE SC 4.6. Included games by default.
11.10	2011-10-12	Oneiric Ocelot	2013-05-09	3.0.3			KDE SC 4.7. Replaced KPackageKit with Muon Software Centre.
12.04 LTS	2012-04-25	Precise Pangolin	2017-04-28	3.2.0			The third Kubuntu LTS release. KDE SC 4.8.
12.10	2012-10-18	Quantal Quetzal	2014-04	3.5.5			Included LibreOffice 3.6.2.2 and rekonq 1.1.
13.04	2013-04-25	Raring Ringtail	2014-01	3.8.0			KDE SC 4.10. Improved support for MTP devices.
13.10	2013-10-17	Saucy Salamander	2014-07-17	3.11			KDE SC 4.11.2.
14.04 LTS	2014-04-17	Trusty Tahr	2019-04-25	3.13			KDE SC 4.13.0. Firefox became the default browser again.
14.10	2014-10-23	Utopic Unicorn	2015-07-23	3.16			KDE SC 4.14. KDE Plasma 5 was available as a preview.
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		Included 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. Firefox 45 and LibreOffice 5.1.
16.10	2016-10-13	Yakkety Yak	2017-07-20	4.8	5.7.5		Included KDE Applications 16.04.3 and LibreOffice 5.2.
17.04	2017-04-13	Zesty Zapus	2018-01-11	4.10	5.9		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.
18.04 LTS	2018-04-26	Bionic Beaver	2021-05-01	4.15	5.12 LTS		LibreOffice 6.0 and Firefox 59. Double-click became the default to open files.
18.10	2018-10-18	Cosmic Cuttlefish	2019-07-18	4.18	5.13		Included snap integration in the software center.
19.04	2019-04-18	Disco Dingo	2020-01-23	5.0	5.15.4	5.12.2	KDE Applications 18.12.3 and LibreOffice 6.2.2.
19.10	2019-10-17	Eoan Ermine	2020-07-17	5.3	5.16.5	5.12.4	KDE Applications 19.04.3 and LibreOffice 6.3.
20.04 LTS	2020-04-23	Focal Fossa	2023-04-29	5.4	5.18 LTS	5.12.8	Another LTS release. 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	LibreOffice 7.0.2 and Firefox 82.
21.04	2021-04-22	Hirsute Hippo	2022-01-20	5.11	5.21	5.15.2	LibreOffice 7.1 and Firefox 87.
21.10	2021-10-14	Impish Indri	2022-07-14	5.13	5.22.5	5.15.2	KDE Gear 21.08 and LibreOffice 7.2.
22.04 LTS	2022-04-21	Jammy Jellyfish	2025-04-24	5.15	5.24 LTS	5.15.3	Another LTS release. 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	LibreOffice 7.4 and Firefox 103.
23.04	2023-04-20	Lunar Lobster	2024-01-20	6.2	5.27	5.15.8.	LibreOffice 7.5 and Firefox 111.
23.10	2023-10-17	Mantic Minotaur	2024-07	6.5	5.27.8	5.15.10	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 a current Long Term Support (LTS) version.
24.10	2024-10-10	Oracular Oriole	2025-07	6.11	6.1	Qt6 6.6 / Qt5 5.15.13	Wayland is the default Plasma session.
25.04	2025-04-17	Plucky Puffin	2026-01	6.14	6.3	Qt6.8	This is the current stable version of Kubuntu. It includes KDE Frameworks 6.12.0, Firefox 137, LibreOffice 25.2, and Linux kernel 6.14.
Legend: Old version, not maintained Older version, still maintained Current stable version Future version

What Your Computer Needs for Kubuntu

Kubuntu currently works on computers with AMD 64-bit processors. Support for older Intel 32-bit computers ended after the 18.04 release.

Here are the basic computer requirements to run Kubuntu:

Minimum Requirement
64-bit Processor	2.0 GHz dual-core
Memory	2 GB
Hard drive space	10 GB

For a better experience, these are the recommended requirements:

Recommended Requirement
64-bit Processor	2.5 GHz quad-core
Memory	8 GB
Hard drive space	50 GB

Where Kubuntu is Used

Kubuntu has been used in many large projects around the world:

In Brazil, over 500,000 computers in 42,000 schools use Kubuntu. This is the largest use of Linux desktops in the world.
The city of Munich in Germany switched 14,800 of its computers to Kubuntu LTS 12.04.
The Taipei City Government 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. Since October 2007, all 1,100 state schools in the Canary Islands also use Kubuntu.