Linux @lemmy.ml lemmyreader @lemmy.ml 7 mo. ago

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Beta Is Now Available for Download with GNOME 46, Linux 6.8 - 9to5Linux

9to5linux.com Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Beta Is Now Available for Download with GNOME 46, Linux 6.8 - 9to5Linux

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) is now available for public beta testing with Linux kernel 6.8 and the latest GNOME 46 desktop environment.

44 comments

I wonder what percentage of desktop users still use Ubuntu nowadays. Seems like there’s no way to have a clear picture, besides DistroWatch which is more like “interest” and not actual usage?
- At my work, Ubuntu was the only Linux distro that was used on the desktop.
  Some of my relatives use Linux, all Ubuntu.
  The only other person I know who uses something else is also a hardcore nerd and professional sysadmin. He uses OpenSUSE.
  
  Outside of the tech bubble, Ubuntu is still synonymous with Linux.
- Permanently Deleted
  
  I don't think the people excited about Linux are using or talking about Ubuntu, though, which probably skews people's perceptions if they're on Lemmy and Reddit a lot. Enthusiast spaces have all the "I run arch btw" people and even weirder and more obscure distros.
  
  This is exactly the thing. 10 years ago when I was in college, everybody just used Ubuntu for laptops, and nowadays I don’t hear about it at all. I had the impression it kinda died, but seems like things are more or less the same.
- Everyone I know IRL who uses Linux uses Ubuntu. Sample size of 5.
  
  The corpo I work for uses both Windows and Ubuntu for software development workstations. Lately a lot more Ubuntu than Windows. That's a sample size of a thousand.
  
  The official distro at my job is rhel.
- I personally have Xubuntu on multiple machines (I think 3 currently?) And Ubuntu server with i3wm on a 4th.
- I still use it. With all its faults, I still think it's the best distro out there.
  
  As a fellow Ubuntu user, I think there are distros that are technically superior. But at some point I just got tired of chasing the best option. I just want an operating system that works on all devices I install it to, and that listens to my commands. Ubuntu does that just fine. I love what they've done with GNOME, its ram usage is minimal (1.4GB), apps launch fast, snap is nicer to use than flatpak (which I can install with a single command), and if I wanted to I can stick to an LTS for up to 12 years.
  
  Out of genuine curiosity, what makes you think so?
- I haven't touched Ubuntu for years, but I bet it's still popular with new linux users and there are probably plenty other people who don't care about the snap issues.
Release notes: https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/noble-numbat-release-notes/39890
I’m running 22.04.4 Server with kernel 6.5.0-27 and everything is rock solid.

Any reason I should upgrade when stable 24.04 releases? It doesn’t seem to me that there is, but I’m worried missing something.
- Nah, if you’re on LTS, the recommended upgrade is at XX.04.1, which typically comes around July. And 22.04 doesn’t go end of life until April of 2027, so there’s no mad rush to upgrade if you’re happy.
  
  Insightful. Your comment made me smile :)
- Maybe the newer kernel? But if you don't think you need it you're probably fine tbh
- If you don't already see a reason, you probably don't have one, especially for a server. Especially if you sign up for the Ubuntu Pro free tier, you have 10 years to come up with one. 😂
- To be pedantic, you can't upgrade to a new LTS the moment it releases (unless you force it). It's offered to users running the old LTS after 6 months IIRC. It's possible to start with 24.04 from scratch, but you can't upgrade for a while.
  
  Ah right. I didn’t know that - thank you. Only really got into self hosting in the last couple of year.
Does it have the option of using TPM to unlock a LUKS2 encrypted partition like the previous betas? Or was that dropped?
Long Term Support... beta?

e: dis a joke yall autistic
- Yes, what's strange? This is the beta release or release candidate or pre-release snapshot for a version that will enjoy long-term support.
  
  I'd say "release candidate" is a much better name but probably they're testing Ubuntu-specific features and those are in beta. Then it makes some sense
- 24.04 is an LTS release.
  
  This is a beta of 24.04.
  
  The “name” of the release is “24.04 LTS” ( a perfectly reasonable name that communicates its intent ).
  
  Therefore, this is the “24.04 LTS” beta.
  
  Pretty clear to anybody familiar with the Ubuntu product line.
- Yes. Debian uses words like Milestone and freeze : https://release.debian.org/bullseye/freeze_policy.html Ubuntu uses the word Beta.
The release names get weirder every year.
- I never understood the importance given to release names. It’s all fine and dandy to have internal project names, but it features on apt sources files and whatnot. It’s confusing for the user, especially since they have a great numerical scheme. Just refer to the version and be done with it.
  
  Yeah I hate when I read some tutorial that says "tested on Grumpy Gremlin" and I have to google how old that is.
- They're running out of names. I would not mind them using the Ubuntu 4.10 (Warty Warthog) name from 2004 for future releases.
  
  Wrinkly Waterbear

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