Using Ubuntu Linux/Ubuntu Variations

The Linux ecosystem is diverse and allows for a multitude of desktop environments to be built for it. Many are packaged in their own flavours of Ubuntu.

Official Editions

Ubuntu for desktops

This is the main Ubuntu version, also known as Ubuntu Desktop. All other versions of Ubuntu are based on it. It uses the Unity desktop environment. Recommended requirements are 1 GiB of RAM and 5 GB (minimum) of Hard Drive space.

Ubuntu Server

This edition strips the desktop features for server capabilities, and allows you to have a fully working LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) Web Server up and running in less than an hour. It requires at least 192 MiB of RAM and 5 GB Hard Drive space.

Supported Derivatives

Flavours are listed according to this downloads page.

Kubuntu

The KDE spin, featuring KDE versions of software. Emphasizes productivity over general purpose use.

Mythbuntu

A Xubuntu spin designed to make building your own DVR (Digital Video Recorder) using the MythTV software suite as easy as possible.

Lubuntu

A scaled down variant of Ubuntu that is lighter, less resource hungry and more energy-efficient by using lightweight applications and LXDE, the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, as its default desktop environment. It's geared towards low-spec hardware that doesn't have enough resources for all the bells and whistles of the "full-featured" mainstream distributions.

Ubuntu Budgie

A spin of Ubuntu using Budgie as its desktop environment (developed for Solus, another Linux distribution).

Ubuntu GNOME

Uses the GNOME desktop environment instead of Unity.

Ubuntu Kylin

Geared towards Chinese users.

Ubuntu MATE

Goes closer to Ubuntu's origins by using the MATE desktop environment.

Xubuntu

A lightweight version of Ubuntu that uses the XFCE environment. The standard applications are a 50/50 mix of GNOME and XFCE-centric programs. This version is geared towards older hardware.

Ubuntu Studio

An unofficial, community-built Ubuntu derivative geared towards Musicians, Digital Artists/Designers, and Movie Makers.

Other Derivatives

Edubuntu

This version includes applications geared toward education. A KDE version and a GNOME version exists. It is recommended to install the Standard Edition as the website has not been updated to distribute 16.04 LTS images.