Logic behind the Linux version names
Logic behind the Linux code names.
Today I came across the case of Linux code/version names. As a Android developer I know there are different version names for Android operating systems like Lollipop,Marshmallow,Nougat and latest Oreo.So that led me to write post on what’s the
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Logic behind the Linux version names.
The question about the code-names is really trivial. It doesn’t make any difference to how a particular Linux distribution function.
One of the most popular Linux distribution, Ubuntu follows a biannual release cycle with one release coming in April and other in October.
Linux Ubuntu
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The month and year of the release play a vital role in the version number of an Ubuntu release. An Ubuntu release has version number of the format XX.YY. The XX is the year of the release and YY is the month of the release. So, we get Ubuntu 17.10 in the 10th month (October) of the year 2017.You may have noticed that any Ubuntu release has a two worded code name that start with the same alphabet. For e.g, Ubuntu 17.10 is known as Artful Aardvark (starting with a A).
Ubuntu code names are indeed made of two words, first being an adjective and the second being an endangered species (lately it also contains mythological creatures such as Unicorn or Werewolf).
Artful is an adjective which means to be skilful, clever or resourceful, often in a unconventional or unique manner.An Aardvark is “a nocturnal badger-sized burrowing mammal of Africa, with long ears, a tubular snout, and a long extensible tongue, feeding on ants and termites.“
Interesting fact: These code names are incremented alphabetically in each release (except the few in the beginning). So, we have Ubuntu 14.04 as Trusty Tahr, Ubuntu 14.10 as Utopic Unicorn, Ubuntu 15.04 as Vivid Vervet and so on.
If we have to summarize all of the releases, they go like:
| Version | Codename |
|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 | Bionic Beaver |
| Ubuntu 17.10 | Artful Aardvark |
| Ubuntu 17.04 | Zesty Zapus |
| Ubuntu 16.10 | Yakkety Yak |
| Ubuntu 16.04 | Xenial Xerus |
| Ubuntu 15.10 | Wily Werewolf |
| Ubuntu 15.04 | Vivid Vervet |
| Ubuntu 14.10 | Utopic Unicorn |
| Ubuntu 14 .04 | Trusty Tahr |
| Ubuntu 13.10 | Saucy Salamander |
| Ubuntu 13.04 | Raring Ringtail |
| Ubuntu 12.10 | Quantal Quetzal |
| Ubuntu 12.04 | Precise Pangolin |
| Ubuntu 11.10 | Oneiric Ocelot |
| Ubuntu 11.04 | Natty Narwhal |
| Ubuntu 10.10 | Maverick Meerkat |
| Ubuntu 10.04 | Lucid Lynx |
| Ubuntu 9.10 | Karmic Koala |
| Ubuntu 9.04 | Jaunty Jackalope |
| Ubuntu 8.10 | Intrepid Ibex |
| Ubuntu 8.04 | Hardy Heron |
| Ubuntu 7.10 | Gutsy Gibbon |
| Ubuntu 7.04 | Feisty Fawn |
| Ubuntu 6.10 | Edgy Eft |
| Ubuntu 6.06 | Dapper Drake |
| Ubuntu 5.10 | Breezy Badger |
| Ubuntu 5.04 | Hoary Hedgehog |
| Ubuntu 4.10 | Warty Warthog |
Linux Mint
Linux-Mint
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu. So, a couple of months after an Ubuntu release, a Linux Mint releases comes up based on that Ubuntu release.
Unlike Ubuntu, Linux Mint versioning doesn’t follow the month and year. It is simply incremental. So, we have Linux Mint 15 then Linux Mint 16, Linux Mint 17 and so on. This is for major releases. The minor releases (loose analogy to service pack in Windows), are incremented in decimal points. So, that gives us Linux Mint 17.1, 17.2 etc.
Linux Mint codenames is that these female names ending with alphabet ‘a’ and the names have origin in the mythology of Abrahamic religion
| Version | Codename |
|---|---|
| Linux Mint 19 | Tara |
| Linux Mint 18.3 | Sylvia |
| Linux Mint 18.2 | Sonya |
| Linux Mint 18.1 | Serena |
| Linux Mint 18 | Sarah |
| Linux Mint 17.3 | Rosa |
| Linux Mint 17.2 | Rafaela |
| Linux Mint 17.1 | Rebecca |
| Linux Mint 17 | Qiana |
| Linux Mint 16 | Petra |
| Linux Mint 15 | Olivia |
| Linux Mint 14 | Nadia |
| Linux Mint 13 | Maya |
| Linux Mint 12 | Lisa |
| Linux Mint 11 | Katya |
| Linux Mint 10 | Julia |
| Linux Mint 9 | Isadora |
| Linux Mint 8 | Helena |
| Linux Mint 7 | Gloria |
| Linux Mint 6 | Felicia |
| Linux Mint 5 | Elyssa |
| Linux Mint 4 | Daryna |
| Linux Mint 3.1 | Celena |
| Linux Mint 3.0 | Cassandra |
| Linux Mint 2.2 | Bianca |
| Linux Mint 2.1 | Bea |
| Linux Mint 2.0 | Barbara |
| Linux Mint 1 | Ada |
Linux Debian
Debian
Debian ,which can be called as father of the Ubuntu,from which the Ubuntu,Mint and elementary OS are designed had the most interesting naming case.
In fact, Debian itself derived name after its founder Ian and his girlfriend Debra.
Debian version numbers are incremental. That’s not the interesting part. The interesting fact is that all Debian releases are codenamed after the characters of Toy Story movie.
And based on the villain of the movie,Sid who is a neighborhood boy loves to destroy the toys,so all the unstable version are codenamed as Debian Sid.
| Version | Name | Toy Story Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Buzz | Buzz Lightyear |
| 1.2 | Rex | T REX |
| 1.3 | Bo | Bo Peep |
| 2.0 | Hamm | Hamm(Pig) |
| 2.1 | Slink | Slinky dog |
| 2.2 | Potato | Potato Head |
| 3.0 | Woody | Woody(Cow Boy) |
| 3.1 | Sarge | Sarge from Bucket Soldiers |
| 4.0 | Etch | Etch A Sketch |
| 5.0 | Lenny | Lenny a binocular |
| 6.0 | Squeeze | Squeeze toy alien |
| 7 | Wheezy | Wheezy Penguin |
| 8 | Jessie | Jessie the Cowgirl |
| 9 | Stretch | Rubber Octopus |
| 10 | Buster | Andy's Pet dog |
| 11 | Bullseye | Toy Horse From Toy Story 2 |
Linux OpenSUSE
Debian
The first OpenSUSE release in 2005 was OpenSUSE 10.1. I do not know why it started with 10 and why not 1. OpenSUSE has a green aura with it. OpenSUSE code names are actually a shade of green color. That explains the code names like Emerald, Teal etc for OpenSUSE.
| Version | Name |
|---|---|
| 11.2 | Emerald |
| 11.3 | Teal |
| 11.4 | Celadon |
| 42.1 | Malachite |
If you are a OpenSUSE lover then don’t worry that they will have shortage of names in future and hope to hear the new shades of green color that you have not heard yet.
Linux Fedora
Fedora
The name of Fedora derives from Fedora Linux, a volunteer project that provided extra software for the Red Hat Linux distribution and sponsored by the Red Hat company.
As of February 2016, Fedora has an estimated 1.2 million users,including Linus Torvalds, creator of the Linux kernel.
Beginning with Fedora version 21, it is available as three distinct primary editions:
Fedora Workstation,Fedora Server and Fedora Cloud.
Spins
Similar to Debian blends, the Fedora Project also distributes custom variations of Fedora called Fedora spins or editions.[29] These are built with specific sets of software packages, offering alternative desktop environments or targeting specific interests such as gaming, security, design, education, robotics and scientific computing.
Differences
Debian uses the deb format, dpkg package manager, and apt-get dependency resolver. Fedora uses the RPM format, the RPM package manager, and dnf dependency resolver.
So with this we wrap up this post and yes you can share your views and tell us if you also know something more about Linux version names in the comment section.
Ravi Yadav is an Android developer whose passion is to develop Android applications and sharing his work. He loves to post the tutorials which he created while learning any new latest technology topic.He loves to share about the latest technology happenings and other tricks that will be helpful for readers of Askfortricks.