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Ubuntu 27.04 may bring a preview of the long-awaited Core Desktop

Software1 min read

Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has restarted work on Ubuntu Core Desktop, a version of its locked-down Linux system for PCs. A preview may come with Ubuntu 27.04, but no firm date has been set.

What happened

Jon Seager, an engineering leader at Canonical, said on the company's Discourse forum that Canonical is speeding up work on Ubuntu Core Desktop. The project was years behind schedule, but activity has started again. Seager said the team will build the basic tools needed for daily image builds over the coming weeks.

Key facts

  • Ubuntu Core Desktop was first expected in 2024, based on a 2023 plan.
  • Seager's post describes three use cases: a browser-focused machine, a developer workstation, and a gaming machine.
  • Ubuntu Core 16 was announced about a decade ago.
  • No solid release timeline has been given.

Background

Ubuntu Core is an immutable system. That means the core system files cannot be changed easily, which makes it harder to break. Other companies already sell similar systems for PCs. Google has ChromeOS, Fedora has Atomic editions, and Valve has SteamOS. The Register says these products have been around for five to ten years.

Why it matters

Canonical is late to this market. Its work on Ubuntu Core shows it has the technology, but the desktop version has taken a long time to arrive. If Canonical succeeds, Ubuntu users could get a safer, more stable desktop choice. The article suggests that Canonical knows who its strongest rivals are.

What to watch

  • Whether a preview of Ubuntu Core Desktop appears in Ubuntu 27.04.
  • Whether daily image builds for Ubuntu Core Desktop start on schedule.
  • Which of the three use cases Canonical focuses on first.

Glossary

Canonical
The company that makes Ubuntu, a popular free Linux system.
Ubuntu Core Desktop
A planned desktop version of Ubuntu Core, a locked-down Linux system that is hard to break.
immutable
A system whose core files are hard to change, so it is safer and easier to restore.
ChromeOS
Google's operating system for Chromebook laptops, built around the web browser.
SteamOS
Valve's Linux-based system for gaming, used on the Steam Deck.

Same story, different eyes

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