Linux versions and features

Choose the right edition¶

You can download Linux Mint from the Linux Mint website.

Read below to choose which edition and architecture are right for you.

Cinnamon, MATE or Xfce?¶

Linux Mint comes in 3 different flavours, each featuring a different desktop environment.

Cinnamon	The most modern, innovative and full-featured desktop
MATE	A more stable, and faster desktop
Xfce	The most lightweight and the most stable

The most popular version of Linux Mint is the Cinnamon edition. Cinnamon is primarily developed for and by Linux Mint. It is slick, beautiful, and full of new features.

Linux Mint is also involved in the development of MATE, a classic desktop environment which is the continuation of GNOME 2, Linux Mint’s default desktop between 2006 and 2011. Although it misses a few features and its development is slower than Cinnamon’s, MATE runs faster, uses less resources and is more stable than Cinnamon.

Xfce is a lightweight desktop environment. It doesn’t support as many features as Cinnamon or MATE, but it’s extremely stable and very light on resource usage.

Of course, all three desktops are great and Linux Mint is extremely proud of each edition. Although there are more features and better support in some editions than others, and some do run faster and use less resources than others, they’re all great alternatives and choosing the right edition is largely a matter of taste.

Other than their features and performance, Cinnamon, MATE and Xfce also represent three different desktop environments, with different menus, different panels and configuration tools. The right one for you is the one where you feel at home.

If you are unsure which desktop to choose start with the Cinnamon edition. Try them all eventually when you have the time. All three of them have their own audience within the Linux Mint community and they’re all very popular.

32-bit or 64-bit?¶

64-bit is recommended.

The 32-bit ISO images are provided for compatibility with older computers. 32-bit processors are extremely rare nowadays and most computers are able to run in 64-bit. If your computer was manufactured after 2007, you probably have a 64-bit processor.

If you have an old computer and you are unsure whether or not it can run in 64-bit, read X86 Chronology.

You can try to boot Linux Mint 64-bit on your computer. If it isn’t compatible, nothing bad will happen. You will just get an error message.

© Copyright 2017, Linux Mint Revision 11740971 .

Источник

How to check your Linux version: easy ways to view the distribution and version number

When most people think of Linux, an open source operating system that serves as an alternative to Microsoft and Apple comes to mind. But unlike these market leaders that offer commercial operating systems, there is no single Linux operating system.

Instead, there is a whole series of free, open-source operating systems (referred to as “distributions”) that are built based on the Linux kernel. This means that Linux merely serves as the basis for potential operating systems, which are then built from the kernel and other programming elements. While Microsoft and Apple release closed-source, proprietary software products, the Linux kernel is open-source code that any member of the Linux community can use or modify to make their own applications and operating systems.

Since there exist countless Linux versions, it’s of utmost importance to know which version you’re running, especially when you run into technical problems, have questions, or want to do an update. Luckily, it’s very easy to find out. Keep reading for instructions on how tocheck your Linux version.

Linux version: what do the distribution and version number mean?

As of June 2020, there are now over 500 unique Linux distributions. The best-known are Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, SUSE, Manjaro, and Linux Mint.

The family tree for Ubuntu alone contains over 65 software applications built on the basis of Ubuntu. The current distribution was released in 2020 with the version number 20.04. The first version of Ubuntu came out in 2004 and was based on the Debian operating system.

The various Linux distributions can be roughly divided into three basic family trees as well as countless other smaller branches and independent versions. For example, the entire Ubuntu family is based on Debian, the distribution Fedora is based on Red Hat Linux, and SUSE used Slackware.

Even though they’re all based on the Linux kernel, the various distributions serve as their own operating systems with different GNU toolchains and graphic interfaces. In order to find your way in the busy Linux landscape, it’s important to know which version of the Linux kernel and which distribution you’re using.

Checking the Linux version in the terminal

Whether you’re using Linux privately or professionally, it’s always important to know which Linux version and distribution you’re working with. That way you’ll know which package manager you’ll need for downloading new tools and updates, and which Linux forum you should turn to when you have questions or experience problems.

If you’re looking for details about your Linux version, there are two words which will be of particular significance:

1. The version number of the distribution
2. The version of the Linux kernel

To find out these two values, you’ll need to use Linux commands. In general, when working in Linux, user input is entered into so-called “shells”, which are interfaces between systems and users. Shells run using a graphic terminal that processes the commands in the relevant programming language. This will serve as your starting point in checking your Linux version.

Step 1: Distribution version number

Open the Linux terminal with the keys [Ctrl] + [Alt] + [T] or by using the search function. Type the following command into the terminal and then press enter:

The asterisk in the code ensures that the command will apply to all distributions and shows you the installed version. The data that you see now may look a bit messy, with some lines appearing twice or several ending in “release”. The most important line here is “PRETTY_NAME=”, which contains the name of the distribution and version number that you’re currently using.

Another command that works on all distributions without the need for a special tool is the following:

If you only need the name and version number of your current distribution, the following command will suffice:

In the following example, you can see that Ubuntu 20.04 LTS is currently running:

The command “lsb_release -d” shows the current distribution and its version number.

The following command lists more comprehensive information about the version:

The command “lsb_release -a” shows additional information about the distribution version you’re currently running.

This command should work on every Linux distribution, as long as you’ve installed the lsb-release package or it’s part of your Ubuntu version. If you haven’t already installed it, you can easily do so with the following command for Debian and Ubuntu:

Step 2: Linux kernel version number

If you’d like to know which version of the Linux kernel you’re using, type the following command into the terminal and press enter:

The command “uname -r” shows the version of the Linux kernel that you’re currently using.

You’ll now see which Linux kernel you’re using. In the above example, the Linux kernel is 5.4.0-26.

If you’d like to see more information (about computer architecture for example), you can enter the following command:

The command “uname -a” shows the version of the Linux kernel you’re using, as well as additional details.

Step 3: View everything at once with Inxi

With the tool Inxi, you can easily view all the information about your hardware, host, Linux kernel, desktop environment, and distribution. To install the program in Debian/Ubuntu, enter the following command into the terminal:

Once installed, you can view the above-mentioned data with this simple command:

• 16.10.20
• Know-how

• How did you like the article? 0

  

  How to check Debian version: the quick and easy way

  Knowing which Debian version you have not only helps you to choose the right install package for a program – you also need it to get appropriate support in forums. There are several different methods to check your Debian version. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll explain how to check your version using Terminal and Hardinfo.

  

  How to check your Ubuntu version: a guide

  Knowing which Ubuntu version you’re running is helpful for different things. You can use this information to check whether programs are compatible with your system. Or you can include the version number in troubleshooting searches. It’s thus of crucial importance to know how to check your Ubuntu version. Keep reading to find out how to do so in a few simple clicks.

  

  Remove a directory in Linux: a simple guide

  Sometimes you may need to delete an entire folder rather than just individual files. If you want to remove a Linux directory, there are several ways to do it. Here are a few basic solutions that use either File Manager or Terminal. We also explain what you can do if you don’t have the necessary rights.

  

  Deleting files in Linux: a how-to guide

  Deleting files in Linux couldn’t be easier. Whether you use the file manager or work directly in the terminal with the command “rm”, you can remove Linux files in just a few clicks. Keep reading to find out how to remove single files, multiple files, files of a certain type, or entire folders.

  Linux find command: search and find files

  While working on a Linux system the command line is frequently used. Many administrative tasks require you to find files and directories based on specific criteria. In doing so, Linux admins are accustomed to using the find command. Here, we’ll show you how the command works and how to use it as a handy tool.

  Источник

  Features

  Enjoy the simplicity of Ubuntu’s intuitive interface. Fast, secure and with thousands of apps to choose from — for everything you want to do, Ubuntu has what you need.

  

  A whole world of apps

  Ubuntu offers thousands of apps available for download. Most are available for free and can be installed with just a few clicks.

  Spotify

  Play and stream your favourite songs, playlists and albums for free with Spotify.

  Skype

  The free instant messaging, voice or video calling service.

  VLC player

  No other video player is compatible with as many different file formats.

  Firefox

  Firefox Quantum is now 2x faster and 30% lighter than Chrome.

  Slack

  Team communication and collaboration in one place so you can get more done.

  A hackable text editor for the 21st Century.

  Chromium

  A fast, simple and secure web browser, built for the modern web.

  PyCharm

  PyCharm provides all the tools you need for productive Python coding.

  Telegram

  A fast and secure desktop messaging app, perfectly synced with your mobile phone.

  Office software

  Create professional documents, spreadsheets and presentations on Ubuntu with LibreOffice, the open source office suite that’s compatible with Microsoft Office. That means you can open and edit files like Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations and share them with other users quickly and easily. You can also use Google docs directly from your desktop.

  Web browsing

  Renowned for speed and security, Ubuntu and Firefox make browsing the web a pleasure again. Ubuntu also support Chrome and other browsers that can be installed from the Ubuntu Software centre.

  Email

  Ubuntu comes with Thunderbird, Mozilla’s popular email application, so you’ll have fast desktop access to your email. No matter which email services you use; Microsoft Exchange, Gmail, Hotmail, POP or IMAP, email just works.

  Photos

  Ubuntu is full of free apps to help you enjoy, manage, edit and share your photos — whatever you use to take them. With fantastic support for cameras and phones, you won’t need any extra drivers to get up and running.

  Organise your photos

  With Shotwell, you can quickly and easily import, organise, edit and view your pictures. And you can share your favourite snaps on all popular photo sites and social networks.

  Edit and illustrate

  Edit your photos or create professional illustrations and designs with tools like Gimp and Krita, available in the Ubuntu Software centre.

  Videos

  Watch HD videos from your browser on Ubuntu, or use the default Movie Player and VLC and OpenShot from the Snap Store. Edit your movies with Shotcut or kdenlive and then watch them in Movie Player.

  Gaming

  From Sudoku to first-person shooters, we’ve got loads of games that’ll keep you busy for hours. There are thousands of games available for Ubuntu, including titles from the Unity and Steam platforms. Pick from critically acclaimed titles such as Dota 2, Kerbal Space Program, Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel.

  An open source operating system

  Our code is shared openly throughout the development cycle. We are transparent about our plans for future releases, so as a developer, hardware manufacturer, or OEM, you can work with us to start building Ubuntu applications and systems now.

  Backed by Canonical

  Canonical is the global software vendor that provides commercial, design and engineering support to the Ubuntu project. Today, our hardware enablement team supports the pre-installation of Ubuntu on hundreds of laptops and workstations, worldwide.

  Get started today

  Download Ubuntu for desktop and start using it today, whether you want to replace your current operating system or run Ubuntu alongside it.

  Professional support

  Get professional support from Canonical to manage your Ubuntu desktop, cloud and server deployments.

  Ubuntu flavours

  Ubuntu flavours offer a unique way to experience Ubuntu with different choices of default applications and settings, backed by the full Ubuntu archive for packages and updates.

  © 2021 Canonical Ltd. Ubuntu and Canonical are registered trademarks of Canonical Ltd.

  Источник

  Читайте также:  Firefox не сохраняет настройки windows 10