Kubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system using the KDE Plasma Desktop.

Kubuntu is an official derivative of the Ubuntu operating system using the KDE Plasma Desktop instead of the Unity graphical environment.

It is part of the Ubuntu project and uses the same underlying system.

It is possible to install both the KDE Plasma Desktop (kubuntu-desktop) as well as the Gnome desktop (ubuntu-desktop) on the same machine.

Every package in Kubuntu shares the same repositories as Ubuntu.

It is released regularly on the same schedule as Ubuntu.

The difference between these two sister operating systems is typically only graphical applications and tools used.

"Kubuntu", means "towards humanity" in Bemba, and is derived from ubuntu ("humanity"). The K at the beginning represents the KDE community on whose platform Kubuntu is built. By coincidence, Kubuntu also means "free" in Kirundi.

Updates (via Distrowatch):

Kubuntu 11.04, a useful Ubuntu variant featuring the latest KDE desktop, is ready: "The Kubuntu team is proud to announce the release of 11.04 - codename 'Natty Narwhal': the latest version of our popular Linux distribution, based on Ubuntu and KDE's Plasma and Applications 4.6. With the combination of its Ubuntu backbone, the amazing KDE Software Compilation, and a few unique extras, 11.04 aims to provide the best fusion of stability, beauty, and up-to-date software. Whether working, browsing the web, playing your music, composing an email or connecting with your friends on social networks, Kubuntu brings you a powerful, innovative and attractive platform for all your desktop needs!"

See the release announcement and release notes for additional details.

Download (SHA256): kubuntu-11.04-desktop-i386.iso (696MB, torrent), kubuntu-11.04-desktop-amd64.iso (694MB, torrent).

Recent releases:

• 2011-04-28: Distribution Release: Kubuntu 11.04
• 2010-10-10: Distribution Release: Kubuntu 10.10
• 2010-04-29: Distribution Release: Kubuntu 10.04
• 2009-10-29: Distribution Release: Kubuntu 9.10
• 2009-04-23: Distribution Release: Kubuntu 9.04
• 2009-02-22: Distribution Release: Kubuntu 8.04.2

Color	Meaning
Green	Both OS's
Yellow	Ubuntu Default
Blue	Kubuntu Default

Software	Ubuntu	Kubuntu
Kernel & Core	Ubuntu Kernel & Core
Graphics	X.org
Sound	PulseAudio
Multimedia	GStreamer	Xine (moving to GStreamer) via Phonon
Desktop	Unity	Plasma
Primary Toolkit	GTK+	Qt
Browser	Firefox	Rekonq
Office	OpenOffice / LibreOffice
Email & PIM	Evolution	Kontact / Kmail

Kubuntu's Plasma desktop is fully customizable, much more so than a typical GNOME or Unity desktop is without extra tools or configuration file editing. Originally designed to ease transition for users from other operating systems (such as Microsoft Windows) by allowing a similar desktop layout, the KDE Plasma Desktop incorporates widget-centric modularity that allows the user to incorporate function similar to all other operating systems and also create new functionality not found in other operating system desktops. Desktop effects are integrated in the standard KDE SC 4 installation, and enabled by default if supported.

It is worth noting that because Ubuntu and Kubuntu use the same sources/origins for their software, any application intended for one is installable, and will work, on the other. This makes it very common to see Firefox on Kubuntu or K3B on Ubuntu.

Gallery.

Kubuntu 8.04

Kubuntu 8.10

Kubuntu 9.04

Kubuntu 10.10

The desktop version of Kubuntu currently supports the Intel x86 and the AMD64 architectures. Some releases additionally support the SPARC architecture.,the PowerPC, IA-64 (Itanium), and PlayStation 3 architectures (though, due to an official firmware update from Sony released in April 2010, users of the PS3 cannot run other operating systems on their machine - a feature previously supported by OtherOS). Because Kubuntu is Ubuntu with a KDE desktop, any version available in Ubuntu is also available for Kubuntu.

The minimum system requirements for a desktop installation are a 300 MHz x86 processor, 512 MB of RAM, 5 GB of hard drive space,and a video card which supports VGA at 640x480 resolution. The recommended system requirements for the desktop installation are a 1 GHz or better x86 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 15 GB of hard drive space, and a video card which supports VGA at 1024×768 resolution, and optionally supporting visual effects.

Before Kubuntu 10.10, there was some aggravation by members of the community and general reputation online was a commonly negative one. The Kubuntu team sought to remedy this negative impression.

Causes:

* Lack of branding - since the transition to KDE SC4
* Delay of Ubuntu improvements into Kubuntu - sometimes requiring a release or two
* Stability of software

Responses:

* Project Timelord – An initiative, name inspired by Doctor Who, to improve the developer workflow and quality of Kubuntu.
* Working Upstream – Much of the work done by Kubuntu developers is done in upstream, such as furthering GHNS integration and the KDE SC 4.4 login manager theme.
* Best in class (KDE) – The use of Ubuntu's PPA system allows easy upgrading to the latest KDE SC. The argument is that if you want the latest KDE software, you run Kubuntu.

The results have been overwhelmingly positive.[citation needed] Many pieces from the KDE community have matured and stabilized, while the team itself seems more productive. Kubuntu's package manager has a category view very similar to that of the Ubuntu software center, the default web browser is now based on webkit, and many more features showcased in Ubuntu are being matched by those in Kubuntu, such as the upcoming wireless connection page in the installer discs. Kubuntu's website also received a welcomed[by whom?] redesign.