Edubuntu is based largely on the standard GNOME-based Ubuntu distribution. Curated sets of applications (metapackages) and default desktop settings tailored to specific age groups (including preschool, primary, secondary, and tertiary education) can be selected during the installation. Applications are sorted into folders for specific subject areas, and can be hidden system-wide by an administrator.
The primary goal of Edubuntu was to enable an educator with limited technical knowledge and skills to set up a computer lab or an online learning environment in an hour or less and then effectively administer that environment.[citation needed]
The principal design goals of Edubuntu were centralized management of configuration, users, and processes, together with facilities for working collaboratively in a classroom setting. Equally important was the gathering together of the best available free software and digital materials for education. According to a statement of goals on the official Edubuntu website: "Our aim is to put together a system that contains all the best free software available in education and make it easy to install and maintain."
It also aimed to allow low-income environments to maximize utilisation of their available (older) equipment.[citation needed]
Versions
Edubuntu 7.04 package.
The first Edubuntu release coincided with the release of Ubuntu 5.10, which was codenamed Breezy Badger, on 2005-10-13. On Ubuntu 8.04, Edubuntu was replaced with Ubuntu Education Edition, which was an add-on CD intended for installing the Edubuntu packages on top of an existing Ubuntu installation.
From version 9.10 onwards, Edubuntu returned to being a standalone distribution.
Beginning with 14.04, Edubuntu was to be released only for Ubuntu long-term support (LTS) versions, after Jonathan Carter and Stéphane Graber stepped down from Edubuntu to focus on other projects. It was eventually announced that Edubuntu would not be released for Ubuntu 16.04, due to a lack of contributors.
In December 2022, it was announced that Edubuntu would be revived to target the Ubuntu 23.04 cycle, with development headed by Ubuntu Studio head Erich Eickmeyer and his wife Amy, an early childhood educator. The revived project adopted a tightened goal of providing software for different age groups, as well as associated customization options, on top of the current Ubuntu desktop environment.
Release
Codename
Release date
End-of-life date
5.10
Breezy Badger
October 13, 2005
April 13, 2007
6.06 LTS
Dapper Drake
June 1, 2006
July 14, 2009
6.10
Edgy Eft
October 26, 2006
April 25, 2008
7.04
Feisty Fawn
19 April 2007
19 October 2008
7.10
Gutsy Gibbon
18 October 2007
18 April 2009
8.04 LTS
Hardy Heron
24 April 2008
12 May 2011
8.10
Intrepid Ibex
30 October 2008
30 April 2010
9.04
Jaunty Jackalope
23 April 2009
23 October 2010
9.10
Karmic Koala
29 October 2009
29 April 2011
10.04 LTS
Lucid Lynx
29 April 2010
9 May 2013
10.10
Maverick Meerkat
10 October 2010
10 April 2012
11.04
Natty Narwhal
28 April 2011
28 October 2012
11.10
Oneiric Ocelot
13 October 2011
9 May 2013
12.04 LTS
Precise Pangolin
26 April 2012
28 April 2017
12.10
Quantal Quetzal
18 October 2012
16 May 2014
13.04
Raring Ringtail
25 April 2013
27 January 2014
13.10
Saucy Salamander
17 October 2013
17 July 2014
14.04 LTS
Trusty Tahr
17 April 2014
30 April 2019
23.04
Lunar Lobster
20 April 2023
25 January 2024
23.10
Mantic Minotaur
12 October 2023
July 2024
24.04 LTS
Noble Numbat
25 April 2024
April 2027
24.10
Oracular Oriole
10 October 2024
July 2025
25.04
Plucky Puffin
17 April 2025
January 2026
25.10
Questing Quokka
9 October 2025
9 July 2026
26.04 LTS
Resolute Raccoon
23 April 2026
April 2029
26.10
Stonking Stingray
15 October 2026
July 2027
Legend:Old version, not maintainedOlder version, still maintainedCurrent stable versionFuture version