The Ultimate Ubuntu Handbook E-Book

Ken VanDine

• Herausgeber: Packt Publishing
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 336

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Ubuntu 24.04 brings powerful new features, but most users barely scratch the surface of its potential. This book transforms you from a basic user into an Ubuntu power user by guiding you through setup, security, and development workflows step by step. Ken VanDine reveals insider knowledge and proven strategies that turn Ubuntu into a stable, secure, and productive development platform.
Starting with Ubuntu’s mission, release lifecycles, and what’s new in 24.04, you’ll learn how to install the system, customize your desktop, and use the command line to work more efficiently. The book shows you how to apply updates, activate Ubuntu Pro, configure firewalls, and secure data with full disk encryption before covering topics often overlooked by desktop users. Moving into advanced territory, this book covers container-based development using LXD, working with virtual machines through Multipass, and setting up Kubernetes with MicroK8s. Whether you’re building cloud-native apps or data science projects, you’ll benefit from reliable and repeatable Ubuntu workflows.
Beyond the technical skills, you'll discover how to tap into Ubuntu's global community for ongoing support and opportunities to contribute. This book is ideal for both newcomers eager to accelerate their Linux journey and seasoned professionals seeking to maximize their Ubuntu expertise.

Leseprobe

The Ultimate Ubuntu Handbook

A complete guide to Ubuntu 24.04, from installation to advanced security and development

Ken VanDine

The Ultimate Ubuntu Handbook

Copyright © 2025 Packt Publishing

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing or its dealers and distributors, will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to have been caused directly or indirectly by this book.

Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

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First published: August 2025

Production reference: 1040725

Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

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B3 1RB, UK.

ISBN 978-1-83546-520-2

www.packtpub.com

This book is dedicated to two groups of people who have inspired and supported me throughout this journey.

Firstly, to the Ubuntu community – a vibrant and passionate group of individuals who embody the spirit of collaboration, sharing, and mutual support. Your dedication to creating a free and open source operating system that is accessible to all is a testament to the power of community and the human spirit. Your enthusiasm, expertise, and generosity have inspired me to share my knowledge and experience with others, and I am grateful to be a part of this community.

And finally, to my family – who have patiently endured the long hours, late nights, and countless moments of distraction as I worked on this book. Your love, support, and understanding have meant the world to me, and I am grateful for the sacrifices you have made to allow me to pursue my passion for open source and sharing my knowledge of Ubuntu. Thank you for being my rock, my motivation, and my inspiration. I hope that this book will make you proud and that it will be a small token of my appreciation for all that you do for me.

– Ken VanDine

Foreword

I’ve known Ken since our paths first crossed in the Ubuntu Community back in 2006, and we later worked together for nine years at Canonical. Throughout all those years, Ken has been an enthusiastic, professional, and fun expert to be around. Whether on calls with important partners, helping organize community events, or in fancy dress at an Ubuntu Developer Summit wrap party, Ken is the best sidekick you could ask for.

There are few people, inside or outside of Canonical, who know more about how to contribute to, configure, manage, and deploy Ubuntu than Ken. His expertise is both deep and broad, forged through Ubuntu’s entire history, from the GNOME 2 desktop era, through the Unity years, and the evolution into the modern, popular developer desktop.

While Ken tells engaging stories over coffee or a beer, he excels at knuckling down and getting stuff done. The work he’s put into this book is stellar. As an Ubuntu insider for coming on two decades, he is perfectly placed to convey every chapter with the confidence and expertise needed by software developers, DevOps engineers, hobbyists, and even technology veterans.

This book is anchored to Ubuntu 24.04, a Long Term Support (LTS) release, which makes it a solid and long-lasting investment. These releases are stable platforms for development and production workloads for years to come. The topics are well-explained, taking readers on a journey from the absolute basics to the perfect developer workstation setup and beyond. It’s a real “zero-to-hero” publication.

The Ultimate Ubuntu Handbook is an essential resource for any Windows refugee or Apple refusenik, and for happy, willing converts, too! While the Linux desktop’s market share may be small, the opportunity to spread Ken’s wealth of knowledge to new users is immense.

As I experienced firsthand at Canonical, you can achieve great things with Ken’s knowledge by your side. Readers will see immense value in his expertise and the way he shares it with the world. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I have enjoyed working with Ken over the years.

-- Alan Pope, Developer Advocate, and Ubuntu Community Member

Contributors

About the author

Ken VanDine found his way into open source by following his innate curiosity about how things worked. Unable to inspect and modify the code of proprietary operating systems, Ken discovered Linux and open source via Slackware in 1993. Soon, he was responsible for High-Performance Computing (HPC) at a large pharmaceutical company, architecting a globally distributed Linux cluster and building purpose-built Linux systems, which led to future roles in open source, solving software distribution and optimization. Ken has over 30 years of experience building Linux distributions, with over 16 years working at Canonical on Ubuntu. During his career at Canonical, his focus has been on GNOME, Ubuntu Desktop, and Snap integration. When Ken is not working, he enjoys volunteering with Kramden Institute, a local non-profit that aims to bridge the digital divide, coaching youth baseball, and spending time with his family.

About the reviewers

Robert Ancell has been involved in the open source ecosystem for more than 20 years, both for his own interests and professionally as a developer for Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu. When not behind a screen, he enjoys cycling with his family in New Zealand.

Thijs van de Kamp is the Vice President of Network Connectivity Partnerships at Compudopt, a national nonprofit expanding technology access and education in under-resourced communities. He joined the organization in 2023 as Director of Technical Operations, where he improved internal systems and processes in collaboration with Canonical before being promoted to lead Compudopt’s connectivity division. Since then, he has overseen the launch of broadband initiatives—including CBRS, Fiber to the Home (FTTH), and 5G home internet. Thijs manages a national team under the COO and has led efforts in network design, device procurement, and system automation.

I’d like to sincerely thank Ken VanDine for his generous guidance and support across multiple projects. His willingness to share his insight and offer assistance whenever needed has been instrumental in my Linux education journey. Ken’s passion for our mission shines through in everything he does, and his contributions have made a lasting impact.

Contents

Preface

Who this book is for

What this book covers

To get the most out of this book

Get in touch

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Part 1: Getting to Know Ubuntu

Introduction to Ubuntu

A brief history of Ubuntu

The Ubuntu mission – free software for everyone

Ubuntu’s values

Ubuntu releases – trust through stability

Different release channels

Building trust through stability (and predictability)

The power of community – collaboration and support

Summary

Further reading

What’s New in Ubuntu 24.04?

A fresh look and feel – desktop environment enhancements

New installer

Highlights of the new installer

New Ubuntu app center

New firmware updater

Update to the Ubuntu font

GNOME 46

Files app

Microsoft OneDrive

Remote login with RDP

Settings app

Accessibility improvements

Improved notifications

App window shortcuts

On-screen keyboard

Touch screen

Quarter-tiling window management

Dynamic workspace indicator

Wi-Fi credential sharing

WireGuard VPN

Firefox’s native Wayland support

Under-the-hood improvements

Linux kernel version 6.8

PipeWire

ZFS guided install

NetworkManager with Netplan

Security focus – enhanced protection

TPM-backed full disk encryption

Active Directory certificates auto-enrollment

Summary

Further reading

Security and Transparency – The Advantages of Open Source Software

I am who I am because of who we all are

What is free software?

Many people make light work – the power of open source

Transparency builds trust – a foundation for secure computing

Bug reports

Tests

Documentation

Code comments

Does it build?

Code analyzers

A case study – XZ Utils backdoor

How to make your mark on the world

Feedback/bug reports

Documentation

Translations

Community engagement

Code

A showcase of open source projects

GNOME

KDE

Mozilla

Summary

Further reading

Getting Started with Ubuntu: A User’s Guide

Booting up – your first steps with Ubuntu

Decisions

Downloading and preparing the USB installer

Ubuntu

Other Linux systems, Windows, or Mac

Installation made easy – a guided process

Boot installation media

Language

Accessibility

Keyboard layout

Network

Update installer

Try Ubuntu and Install Ubuntu

Interactive installation

Automated installation

Applications

Proprietary drivers and codecs

Disk setup

Installation options

Advanced features

Manual installation

Account creation

Active Directory

Time zone

Confirmation

Slideshow

Debugging

Installation complete

Ubuntu Welcome

Ubuntu Pro

Ubuntu report

Essential hardware – installing necessary drivers

Summary

Further reading

Part 2: Getting the Most Out of Your Ubuntu System

Using Your Ubuntu Desktop

Mastering the desktop – your gateway to applications

Applications

Dock

Customization

Panel

Date/time and notifications

Indicators

Unveiling the power of workspaces – multitasking made easy

Introducing tiling window management

Tiling Popup

Tile Groups

Capturing screenshots and screen recording

Screenshots

Screencasts

Controlling your desktop like a pro with keyboard shortcuts

Working with files and folders – the power of file management

File properties

Bookmarks

Views

Grid view

List view

Search

The power of customization – tailoring your Ubuntu experience

Style

Background

GNOME Tweaks

GSettings

A tour of essential applications

Firefox browser

Thunderbird email

LibreOffice

Text Editor

Clocks

App Center

GIMP – GNU Image Manipulation Program

Inkscape

Visual Studio Code

Android Studio

Summary

Further reading

Software Discovery: Finding and Installing Applications

Introducing Debian packages

Ubuntu repositories

main

restricted

universe

multiverse

Personal Package Archive

Third-party package repositories

Introducing Snap packages

Unveiling the Ubuntu App Center: your one-stop shop for applications

Explore/Discover

Search

The app view

Ratings

Installation

Exploring the power of Snap

Snap

SnapD

Snap Store

Snapcraft

Benefits of Snap

What is confinement?

Snapcraft

The power of the command line: installing software with APT and Snap

apt show

apt update

apt search

apt install

apt reinstall

apt remove

apt purge

apt autoremove

apt autopurge

apt autoclean

apt-file find

command-not-found

snap find

snap info

snap list

snap install

snap remove

snap refresh

snap revert

snap connections

snap interface

snap connect and disconnect

snap help

Advanced Snap concepts

Snap channels

Tracks

Risk levels

Branches

Snap tasks

Managing updates

snap enable/disable

Snap services

Snapshots

Summary

Further reading

Software Updates: Enhancing Security and Stability

The importance of updates: constantly vigilant

Keeping your system updated: exploring update methods

Snaps

Unattended upgrades

Update Manager

apt updates

Release upgrades

Best practices for smooth updates: a proactive approach

Ubuntu Pro

Expanded Security Maintenance

Livepatch

Landscape

Troubleshooting update issues: when things don’t go as planned

Recovery mode

Summary

Further reading

Getting Help: The Ubuntu Community and Beyond

Official Ubuntu documentation: a reliable reference

Online documentation

Contributing

The Ubuntu community: a wealth of knowledge and support

Ubuntu Discourse

Ask Ubuntu

Ubuntu Matrix

Ubuntu Hideout on Discord

Launchpad

Beyond Ubuntu: exploring online resources

Reporting bugs

Summary

Further reading

Ubuntu in the Enterprise and at Scale

What is Landscape?

Why use Landscape?

Key features of Landscape

System monitoring

Package management

Configuration management

Compliance reporting

User management

Identity management

Configuring Microsoft Entra ID

Step 1: Registering the application

Step 2: Configuring API permissions

Step 3: Generating a client secret

Configuring Google IAM

Step 1: Setting up Google IAM

Step 2: Generating an OAuth 2.0 client ID

Installing and configuring authd

Installing and configuring the necessary identity broker

Logging in with your identity broker

Configuring authd at scale with Landscape

Summary

Further reading

Command-Line Tricks and Shortcuts: Boosting Your Efficiency

Mastering navigation: moving around with ease

Opening the terminal

The current directory

Listing files

Changing directories

Tab completion

Essential file and directory management: taking control

Creating directories

Creating files

Copying files

Moving/renaming files

Deleting files

Viewing file content

Finding files and directories

Advanced techniques: working with permissions and ownership

Understanding permissions

Changing permissions

Ownership

Elevated permissions

Mastering text manipulation with powerful tools

grep

sed

awk

Input and output

Process control

top

htop

btop

Foreground and background

History

Disk usage

Report filesystem space usage: df

Estimate file space usage: du

Report memory usage: free

Hardware information

Fun and useful utilities

asciinema and asciinema-agg

ImageMagick

Beyond the basics: exploring advanced features

Unleashing the power of Bash with .bashrc

Finding your .bashrc file

What can you do in .bashrc?

Making your changes take effect

A word of caution

Taking it a step further: your own Bash scripts

Alternative shells

Summary

Further reading

Part 3: Security and Privacy

Introduction to Network Security

The connected world: a landscape of potential threats

Understanding the threat landscape

Building a secure foundation: essential security practices

Protecting your system: essential software updates

Securing your system with UFW: a user-friendly firewall

Network security with ss: a powerful tool in your arsenal

Hunting rootkits with chkrootkit: A network security essential

Summary

Further reading

Understanding Firewalls

Why you need a firewall?

UFW: your friendly firewall

Diving deeper with iptables

Advanced routing with iptables

Best practices

Summary

Further reading

Safeguarding Information with Data Encryption

Why encrypt your entire disk?

Key benefits of full disk encryption

Securing your system with LUKS full disk encryption

How LUKS works

LUKS during Ubuntu installation

TPM-backed full disk encryption: enhanced security with hardware integration

What is a TPM?

Why use TPM-backed full disk encryption?

How to enable TPM-backed LUKS (experimental)

Considerations

Future of TPM-backed encryption

ZFS on root: a robust foundation with integrated encryption

Why ZFS?

ZFS with full disk encryption

Considerations

Encrypting your home directory

How to encrypt your home directory

Install eCryptfs utilities

Create a second user account

Log out and log in

Encrypt your home directory

Enter your passphrase

Reboot your system

Log in and verify

Remove the temp account

Considerations

Encrypting a USB drive

How to encrypt a USB stick

Considerations

Password: the last link in the chain

Choosing a password

Screen locking

Secure remote access with SSH

Key SSH security features

Best practices for SSH

Enabling SSH Server

Securing SSH

Summary

Further reading

Part 4: Ubuntu, the Ultimate Development Platform

Ubuntu for Developers

Why choose Ubuntu?

It’s free (as in freedom and beer)

It has a robust and stable foundation

It has a vast software ecosystem

It has a vibrant and supportive community

Security is at its core

It is customizable and flexible

It allows cloud-native development

Essential development tools on Ubuntu

The foundation: build-essential

Version control with Git

Debugging with GDB

Powerful text editors and IDEs

Building GUIs with Flutter, GTK, Qt, and Electron

Other useful tools

Embrace the Ubuntu development ecosystem

Beyond the basics: Advanced development resources

Virtualized development with virtual machines and containers

Virtual Python environments with venv

Advanced debugging with Valgrind

Static code analysis

Profiling and performance optimization

Specialized development tools

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

Cloud computing with AWS, Azure, and GCP

Continuous learning and exploration

Contributing to the open source community

Find your project

Start small

Contribute code

Be a good community member

Summary

Leveraging Containers for Development

The LXD advantage: Redefining development workflows

Lightweight and efficient

Image-based management

Security fortified

Scalability and flexibility

Seamless Ubuntu integration

LXD on Ubuntu: A step-by-step guide

LXD container management

Crafting development environments with LXD

Leveraging pre-built images

Fine-grained customization

Snapshots and rollbacks

Sharing and collaboration

Creating and using your first LXD container

Unlocking advanced LXD features for developers

Remote access

Networking mastery

Storage management

Profiles for reusability

Moving and migrating containers

LXD in action: Real-world development use cases

Microservices development

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)

Reproducible research

Training and education

LXD versus Docker: Choosing the right containerization tool

System containers

Statefulness

Security

Unprivileged containers

Best practices for LXD development

Use descriptive names

Organize with labels and tags

Regular updates

Leverage profiles

Monitor resource usage

Backups and disaster recovery

Optimize for performance

The future of LXD in development

Integration with Kubernetes

Improved virtualization support

Enhanced security features

GUI enhancements

Accessing the web user interface

Setting up authentication

Summary

Further reading

Cloud-Style VMs on Your Desktop

Why Multipass?

Multipass for development workflows

Advanced Multipass uses

Getting started with Multipass

Installation

Launching your first instance

Accessing your instance

Multipass GUI

Multipass catalog

Multipass instances

Multipass shell

Multipass details (configuration)

Summary

Further reading

Kubernetes Development on Your Desktop

Why MicroK8s?

Getting started with MicroK8s

Installation

Verification

Accessing the cluster

Developing with MicroK8s

Deploying applications

Accessing services

Exploring add-ons

MicroK8s for specific workflows

Advanced MicroK8s techniques

Summary

Further reading

Building Your Data Science Toolkit

Why Canonical’s Data Science Stack?

The components of Data Science Stack

Getting started with Data Science Stack

Installing DSS

Optional configuration

Initializing DSS

Launching Jupyter Notebook

Accessing MLflow

Leveraging Data Science Stack

Developing models

Training models

Tracking experiments

Deploying models

Advanced usage

Summary

Further reading

Embracing the Spirit of Ubuntu

A retrospective: exploring the potential of Ubuntu

Beyond the book: the open road of exploration

Conclusion: the spirit of Ubuntu

Other Books You May Enjoy

Index

Landmarks

Cover

Index

Preface

Welcome to the world of Ubuntu, a powerful and user-friendly operating system that has revolutionized the way we interact with our computers. As one of the most popular Linux distributions, Ubuntu has gained a reputation for its ease of use, flexibility, and commitment to community-driven development.

In this book, we will take you on a journey through the world of Ubuntu, exploring its features, capabilities, and applications. Whether you are a seasoned Linux user or just starting out, this book is designed to provide you with a comprehensive guide to getting the most out of your Ubuntu experience.

From installing and configuring your system to exploring the latest features and applications, we will cover it all. You will learn how to navigate the Ubuntu Desktop interface, manage your files and folders, and customize your desktop to suit your needs. We will also delve into the world of Ubuntu’s software repositories, showing you how to find, install, and manage the thousands of free and open source applications available.

But Ubuntu is not just about technology – it’s also about the community that drives it. In this book, we will introduce you to the Ubuntu philosophy and the values that underpin the project, including the importance of freedom, collaboration, and mutual support. You will learn how to get involved in the Ubuntu community, contribute to the project, and connect with other users and developers from around the world.

Throughout this book, we will use a combination of step-by-step tutorials, screenshots, and real-world examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques you need to know about to master Ubuntu. Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply a curious user, this book is designed to be your companion and guide as you explore the exciting world of Ubuntu.

So, let’s get started on this journey together! With this book, you will be able to unlock the full potential of Ubuntu and discover a whole new world of computing possibilities.

Who this book is for

This book caters to a diverse audience, including software engineers (embedded, frontend, backend, full stack), machine learning/data science professionals, DevOps engineers, systems administrators, and technology enthusiasts (hobbyists). Whether you’re eager to delve into Linux for the first time or seek to deepen your understanding of Ubuntu, this guide is designed to empower you. While a basic knowledge of operating systems is beneficial, no prior experience with Linux is required.

What this book covers

Chapter 1, Introduction to Ubuntu, explains what Ubuntu is, its history, and key concepts of Ubuntu and the open source ecosystem.

Chapter 2, What’s New in Ubuntu 24.04?, walks you through changes in Ubuntu 24.04 since the previous LTS release, 22.04.

Chapter 3, Security and Transparency – The Advantages of Open Source Software, demonstrates the advantages of open source software.

Chapter 4, Getting Started with Ubuntu: A User’s Guide, guides you through the installation process, ensuring you understand the necessary fundamentals.

Chapter 5, Using Your Ubuntu Desktop, takes you on a tour of the features found in Ubuntu.

Chapter 6, Software Discovery: Finding and Installing Applications, shows you how to find and install the software you want and need to get things done.

Chapter 7, Software Updates: Enhancing Security and Stability, demonstrates the importance of keeping your software updated.

Chapter 8, Getting Help: The Ubuntu Community and Beyond, introduces you to the amazing Ubuntu community as the most powerful resource when you need help and teaches you how to best engage with the community to become part of something bigger.

Chapter 9, Ubuntu in the Enterprise and at Scale, explains features commonly required for Ubuntu to be used in an enterprise environment.

Chapter 10, Command-Line Tricks and Shortcuts: Boosting Your Efficiency, demonstrates the powerful Linux command line and shows you that it’s not something to be worried about; it’s not just for power users but it can boost anyone’s efficiency.

Chapter 11, Introduction to Network Security, explains key concepts of network security.

Chapter 12, Understanding Firewalls, delves deeper into network security, focusing on more advanced firewall usage.

Chapter 13, Safeguarding Information with Data Encryption, introduces concepts necessary for data privacy and how to leverage encryption to keep your data safe.

Chapter 14, Ubuntu for Developers, discusses the many ways Ubuntu can be used for development.

Chapter 15, Leveraging Containers for Development, explains key concepts necessary to understand Linux containers and how to use them to improve your development workflow.

Chapter 16, Cloud-Style VMs on Your Desktop, demonstrates how you can use virtual machines to simulate a cloud-style environment for development.

Chapter 17, Kubernetes Development on Your Desktop, shows how to set up your own Kubernetes cluster on your desktop.

Chapter 18, Building Your Data Science Toolkit, explains how to simplify setting up your data science environment on Ubuntu.

Chapter 19, Embracing the Spirit of Ubuntu, wraps up with more ways to not just use Ubuntu, but become part of the Ubuntu community.

To get the most out of this book

Start with the basics: If you’re new to Ubuntu, begin with the introductory chapters to get a solid understanding of the operating system and its core concepts.Practice as you go: Ubuntu is a hands-on operating system, and the best way to learn is by doing. Try out the commands, tools, and techniques described in each chapter to reinforce your understanding.Experiment and explore: Don’t be afraid to try new things and explore the many features and tools that Ubuntu has to offer. From customizing your desktop to experimenting with new software, the more you explore, the more you’ll learn and appreciate the power and flexibility of Ubuntu.Take notes and review: As you work through the book, take notes on key concepts, commands, and techniques. Reviewing these notes regularly will help solidify your understanding and make it easier to recall important information when needed.Use the book as a reference: This book is designed to be a comprehensive guide to Ubuntu, but it’s not meant to be read cover to cover in one sitting. Use it as a reference, dipping in and out of chapters as needed, to help you solve problems, answer questions, and learn new skills.Join the Ubuntu community: The Ubuntu community is vast and active, with numerous online forums, social media groups, and local meetups. Joining the community will give you access to a wealth of knowledge, support, and resources to help you learn and grow with Ubuntu.

Conventions used

There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.

CodeInText: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. For example: “If you do not know the package name, don’t fret! Simply running the ubuntu-bug command without any package name will give you a window to guide you through the process.”

A block of code is set as follows:

import torch torch.cuda.is_available()

Any command-line input or output is written as follows:

ken@monster:~$ sudo snap install authd-msentraid ken@monster:~$ sudo mkdir -p /etc/authd/brokers.d/ ken@monster:~$ sudo cp /snap/authd-msentraid/current/conf/authd/msentraid.conf /etc/authd/brokers.d/

Bold: Indicates a new term, an important word, or words that you see on the screen. For instance, words in menus or dialog boxes appear in the text like this. For example: “To ensure security updates are installed promptly, ensure Download and install automatically is selected in the dropdown next to When there are security updates.”

Warnings or important notes appear like this.

Tips and tricks appear like this.

Get in touch

Feedback from our readers is always welcome.

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Part 1

Getting to Know Ubuntu

In this first part of the book, you will learn about the foundational aspects of Ubuntu, exploring its latest features and highlighting the advantages of open source software. From mastering Ubuntu Desktop usage to deciphering software support lifecycles, this part lays the groundwork for a comprehensive understanding of the Ubuntu ecosystem.

This part of the book includes the following chapters:

Chapter 1, Introduction to UbuntuChapter 2, What’s New in Ubuntu 24.04?Chapter 3, Security and Transparency – The Advantages of Open Source SoftwareChapter 4, Getting Started with Ubuntu: A User’s Guide

1

Introduction to Ubuntu

Welcome to the world of Ubuntu! Whether you’re a first-time Ubuntu user, a first-time Linux user, or a seasoned Linux veteran, this book will serve as a primer for getting the most out of your Ubuntu experience. We’ll cover many key concepts, from what a Linux distribution is to the history of Ubuntu, all the way through setting up an optimal development or data science environment on Ubuntu.

We’ll start with the most basic question: what is Linux? Just like Windows and macOS, Linux is an operating system. Linux is the most popular platform in the world today! Android is powered by Linux, as is most of the world’s cloud and web infrastructure. An operating system provides software with access to your hardware. Actually, Linux is just the core part of the operating system (called a kernel) and is surrounded by other applications and services.

However, even though the Linux kernel provides the most critical part of the operating system, access to the hardware, more is necessary for the operating system to be useful. This is where the term distribution comes in, which is a collection of software required to boot and use the system effectively. The concept of a Linux distribution is actually what most people think of when they think of an operating system.

Many Linux distributions are available today, each with its mission, flavor, and value proposition. Essentially, each has its own curated collection of software that improves everything from hardware support to the user experience.

In this book, we’ll focus on Ubuntu, which is widely known as the most popular and user-friendly distribution today. More specifically, this book is based on Ubuntu 24.04, the Long-Term Support (LTS) version of Ubuntu released in April 2024.

In this chapter, we’re going to cover the following main topics:

A brief history of UbuntuThe Ubuntu mission – free software for everyoneUbuntu releases – trust through stabilityThe power of community – collaboration and support

A brief history of Ubuntu

Before we get to the history of Ubuntu, let me answer one of the most common questions I hear: how do you pronounce Ubuntu? Is it You-buntu or Oo-buntu? Ubuntu is pronounced Oo-buntu.

Ubuntu’s story began in 2004, conceived by South African entrepreneur and developer Mark Shuttleworth, inspired by the ideals of the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which translates to “humanity towards others.” The phrase “I am what I am because of who we all are” is commonly used to describe the term Ubuntu, which for me really sums up what Ubuntu is all about!

The first version of Ubuntu, codenamed Warty Warthog, was released on October 20, 2004. The version was 4.10, which marks the 10th month of 2004:

Figure 1.1 – Ubuntu Desktop Warty Warthog 4.10 user interface

A fun thing to know about Ubuntu releases is what’s up with the code names. The Ubuntu code names comprise an adjective and an animal with the same first letter. Except for the first three releases, the code names are alphabetical by first letter, making them easy to distinguish. The adjective and animal chosen for the code name are based on a theme or goal for the release. You can imagine there was likely some symbolism with the Warty Warthog code name chosen for the first release as it was likely to have some warts.

Early versions of Ubuntu featured earthy brown colors throughout, and more recent releases feature a vibrant orange accent and beautiful eggplant colors.

Ubuntu has made huge strides in the past 20 years since the Warty Warthog release, with Ubuntu 24.04, Noble Numbat, the latest LTS released on April 25, 2024.

The Ubuntu mission – free software for everyone

Ubuntu’s core mission revolves around the principle of free and open source software. It advocates for free access to software, along with the freedom to use, modify, and distribute. The philosophy aligns with the broader open source movement, emphasizing collaboration and community. You can learn more about the mission of Ubuntu at https://ubuntu.com/community/ethos/mission.

Ubuntu’s values

As the Ubuntu community grows, it’s important to never forget that Ubuntu embodies four key values:

Freedom: Ubuntu celebrates freedom – freedom to choose, to change, to participate.Reliable: You can depend on Ubuntu. Like the people who make it, it is trustworthy and keeps its promises.Precise: Ubuntu is crisp and clean in engineering and attitude. There is beauty in the precision of the process and product.Collaborative: Working together is at the heart of Ubuntu. It is the essence of “humanity towards others.”

Let’s drill down into these values a little more and highlight the important themes:

Freedom: Freedom to do what you want with the software. People often use the term free software, which could mean free as in beer or free as in speech. While both are important within Ubuntu, the emphasis is on free as in speech. Ubuntu encourages everyone to use the software however they want, change it to suit their needs, and even distribute it to others.Reliable: For reliability, you need trust – a powerful noun here. It’s important to be able to trust the software you use. That means trust in where it came from, who modified it, and the distribution channel it went through from when it was source code to the binaries you use on your system. There’s another aspect of trust as well: when and how will you get critical security updates or new software versions? Ubuntu takes a great deal of pride in having a reliable release cadence, enabling users to predict when new versions will be available.Precise: Making strong, opinionated choices about what software will and will not be included in the default Ubuntu user experience. Providing the necessary user interface and tools to ensure the broadest audience can get the most out of their Ubuntu experience. This doesn’t mean Ubuntu prevents you from installing other software or making different choices. Ubuntu drives users down the most probable road to success while providing flexibility and access to all the software that an advanced user might want.Collaborative: It’s hard not to call out a favorite in this list of values because they are all incredibly important, but collaborative stands out here when you think back to the phrase “I am what I am because of who we all are.” We truly are stronger together, and the collaborative value is central to everything we do within Ubuntu. The saying “It takes a village to raise a child” may be a good analogy. Geographically separate teams of developers create and maintain the software found in Ubuntu – but there’s more! These developers are not only geographically separate, but sometimes different companies also employ them, while some are students at different schools, and some aren’t even coders. These teams of developers include translators, documentation authors, testers, and enthusiasts, all serving critical parts of the development process. And what’s more amazing? Everyone is welcome to join in!

You can read more about the Ubuntu values at https://design.ubuntu.com/brand.

The Ubuntu logo is known as the circle of friends, three friends embracing in an unbreakable circle:

Figure 1.2 – Ubuntu logo as it appeared in Warty Warthog 4.10, October 2004

Here’s a more recent version of the logo:

Figure 1.3 – Ubuntu logo as it appeared in Jammy Jellyfish 22.04, April 2022

As you can see, thecircle of friends logo has evolved over the past two decades, but it still clearly emphasizes embracing each other.

Having learned about Ubuntu’s origins, mission, values, and, most importantly, how to pronounce Ubuntu, we are ready to learn how vital Ubuntu releases are to those values.

Ubuntu releases – trust through stability

Ubuntu is trusted by millions of users worldwide due to its solid foundation, which has been built over the past two decades. It is trusted on all computing platforms, including desktops, laptops, servers, the cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturing, and robotics.

All Ubuntu users should understand the anatomy of a Ubuntu release version. The version numbers consist of a two-digit year, a period, and a two-digit month.

Ubuntu 24.04 was released in April 2024 (see the explanation in Figure 1.4):

Figure 1.4 – The Ubuntu release version

Ubuntu releases occur every April and October. Releases in April of even years are LTS releases; more on that later in this chapter.

Different release channels

Ubuntu provides two release channels, more precisely, two cadences, depending on risk aversion and need:

LTS: These releases focus on stability and receive security and bug fixes for five years, making them ideal for business-critical systems and users who prioritize a rock-solid system over the latest and greatest versions. For added confidence in security and compliance, Ubuntu Pro is offered as a subscription that provides support for up to 10 years.Standard releases: Released