Ubuntu 6.10 Goes Live

While most operating system vendors struggle to meet their target delivery
dates, Canonical is working hard at keeping its promises.

When it comes to hitting release dates, Ubuntu’s Edgy Eft has edged out the competition.

Ubuntu this week released the latest version of its latest Linux distribution, code-named the Edgy Eft, and officially called Ubuntu 6.10.
The release follows the last Ubuntu release, Dapper Drake, by only four months.

In the last few years, Ubuntu has arguably become one of the most popular community-based Linux distribution in the world.

Ubuntu is derived from Debian GNU/Linux, which is also scheduled to release an update, code-named Etch, at the end of the year. Debian encountered significant
delays on the road to its current release, Sarge.

Ubuntu sees its ability to deliver releases on time as a major accomplishment.

“One interesting accomplishment in the 6.10 release is that we are on track to release it on schedule, given the rapid development cycle of four months compared to our usual six,” Ubuntu CTO Matt Zimmerman told internetnews.com. “This brings us back into sync with the GNOME release cycle.”

Ubuntu uses the GNOME Linux desktop as its default. It also has a sister project, Kubuntu, that releases the same operating system but
with the rival KDE Linux desktop instead.

Ubuntu updates nearly all the major packages on the system from its Dapper
versions but is aware that not all Dapper users will want to upgrade to Edgy.

The reason is that Dapper is considered by Ubuntu to be a long-term support
(LTS) release. Zimmerman explained that maintenance support for Dapper will
continue through June 2009 for desktops and June 2011 for servers.

Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy) will receive the standard 18 months of
maintenance, so its end-of-life will be June 2009.

“Users who require the longer life cycle may choose not to upgrade,”
Zimmerman said. “For this reason, users of the LTS release will not be
automatically offered the upgrade.”

This article was originally published on InternetNews.com.