Ubuntu Desktop for developers
Whether you're an app or web developer, engineering manager, data scientist, or AI/ML researcher — Ubuntu is your ideal workstation.
Why choose Ubuntu for Desktop?
The developers' choice
- Using Ubuntu Desktop provides a common platform for development, test, and production environments.
- Tools, such as Juju, Microk8s, and Multipass make developing, testing, and cross-building easy and affordable.
- Long term support (LTS) releases are delivered every 2-years, with 5 years of standard support extended to 10 years with an Ubuntu Pro Desktop subscription.
- New Developer editions of Ubuntu Desktop are released every 6-months, with 9-months of support and access to the latest kernel, libraries, and new upstream OS features.
Access to cutting-edge hardware and software
- Ubuntu ships with the latest toolchains for Python, Rust, Ruby, Go, PHP and Perl, and users get first access to the latest updates for key libraries and packages.
- Ubuntu is the OS of choice for data science and machine learning, with support for popular frameworks like OpenCV, TensorFlow, Keras, PyTorch and Kubeflow.
- Ubuntu is the target platform for the NVIDIA data science stack, which enables GPU accelerated data science workloads to be run locally before deploying to the cloud.
A rich ecosystem
- With a Snap Store of over 7,000 applications in addition to the Ubuntu repository, it's easy to tailor Ubuntu desktop to your needs.
- Development tools include Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ, GitKraken, Unity and Blender.
- Office productivity tools include Slack, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, and Zoom as well as the Microsoft-compatible LibreOffice.
- Media, gaming, and content creation apps include Spotify, Steam, Discord and OBS Studio.
Certified hardware
- Streamline deployment of Ubuntu Desktop with certified hardware from OEMs including Dell, Lenovo, and HP — no additional configuration required.
- Ubuntu performs out of the box across a wide range of laptops, desktops, and workstations, including the HP Z series and Dell XPS and Precision lines.
- Strategic partnerships extend to component manufacturers and Ubuntu is certified to work with the full range of NVIDIA GPUs.
What's new in Ubuntu 23.04
- Linux 6.2 kernel
- GNOME 44 desktop environment
- New quick settings UI for bluetooth devices and dark mode
- Up to date toolchains including .Net 7, Java 17, Go 1.20, Rust 1.67, Python 3.11, GCC 12.3, Ruby 3.1
- New installer built on Subiquity with a refreshed user experience
- Snap refresh awareness for improved update management
- Support for user authentication with Azure Active Directory
- New ADsys features:
- Winbind support in addition to SSSD
- Group Policy Object support for network shares and app confinement
- Core productivity apps LibreOffice 7.5.2, Thunderbird 102.9.0 and Firefox 111
What's new in Ubuntu 22.04
- Linux 5.15 kernel
- New Ubuntu theme with accent colors, improved integration for snaps and system-wide dark style preference support
- GNOME Shell and most GNOME libraries updated to the 42 release
- Streamlined user interface and workspace transitions
- Compact and modern on-screen display notifications
- New screenshot/screen recording interface
- New power profile selection
- Improved multi-monitor support
- GNOME desktop performance improvements
- Up to 2x improvement in frame rates with Intel and Raspberry Pi graphics drivers
- Significant improvements for AMD and NVIDIA
- Wayland as the default display server for most systems whilst X11 remains the default for those with an NVIDIA discrete GPU
- Latest PulseAudio support for LDAC and AptX bluetooth codecs, HFP bluetooth profiles and bluetooth device battery level reporting
- Up-to-date toolchains, including Python 3.10, PHP 8.1, Ruby 3.0, Perl 5.34, Go 1.18, GCC 11.2, Rust 1.58.1
- Core productivity apps LibreOffice 7.3.2, Thunderbird 91.8, and Firefox 99 which is now included as a snap
- Active Directory integration with the Ubuntu installer
- Policy-based administration using Microsoft Active Directory Group Policy (GPO) and advanced policy support for Ubuntu Pro Desktop users
- Raspberry Pi 4 2GB Desktop support as a result of various performance improvements
- Better power management for NVIDIA dGPUs
- Wifi 6E support
Developers love Ubuntu, organisations trust it
Operating systems developers prefer
Multiple choice poll
Source: The 2020 HackerEarth Developer Survey
Which of these open source technologies does your organisation use today to support your software infrastructure?
Source: The 2022 State of Open Source Report – OpenLogic
Secure enterprise management with Ubuntu Pro Desktop
Ubuntu Pro Desktop is a comprehensive subscription delivering enterprise-grade security, management tooling, and extended support for developers and organisations. Ubuntu Pro Desktop is free for personal use on up to five machines.
- Security updates for the full open source stack
- Advanced Active Directory and LDAP integration
- Estate monitoring and management
- FIPS 140-2 certified modules and CIS hardening
- Minimise rolling reboots with Kernel Livepatch
- Optional weekday or 24x7 support tiers
Free for personal use on up to five machines
Secure your open source stack with a personal Ubuntu Pro license and get access to security patching for over 23,000 packages in the Ubuntu Universe repository.