Linux Mint
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 Linux Mint 13 ("Maya") with Cinnamon desktop |
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| Company / developer | Linux Mint team |
|---|---|
| OS family | Unix-like (based on Ubuntu and Debian Edition (LMDE) from September 2010) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Free and open source software and proprietary software |
| Initial release | 27 August 2006 |
| Latest stable release | Linux Mint 13 ("Maya") / May 23, 2012 |
| Latest unstable release | Linux Mint 14 ("Nadia") RC / November 11, 2012 |
| Available language(s) | Multilingual, most European languages are available |
| Update method | mintUpdate (and APT) |
| Package manager | dpkg |
| Supported platforms | IA-32, x86-64 |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux) |
| Default user interface | 1.0: KDE 3 2.0 to 11: GNOME 2.x 12: GNOME 3 with MGSE 13: Cinnamon/MATE/Xfce |
| License | Mainly the GPL |
| Official website | www.linuxmint.com |
Linux Mint is a Linux distribution for desktop computers based on and compatible with Debian.
While at the core Linux Mint is mostly based on Ubuntu, the design of the desktop and User interface are very different. These differences include a very unique desktop theme, a custom Linux Mint menu and the MintTools, a collection of system tools designed to make managing the computer easier for users.
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Releases [change]
Originally, Linux Mint did not follow a predictable release cycle. The project first defined the goals for the next release,[source?] and when all the goals are achieved a beta is released and a date is announced for the stable release. Recently however, it has been decided that Linux Mint will be with the 6 month Ubuntu release cycle
| Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Old release; not supported |
| Yellow | Old release; still supported |
| Green | Current release |
| Purple | Test release |
| Blue | Future release |
Fluxbox [change]
| Version | Codename | Edition | Code Base | APT Base | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | Daryna BETA 028 | Fluxbox CE | Daryna 4.0 | Gutsy | 3 Jan2008 |
GNOME [change]
| Version | Codename | Edition | Code Base | APT Base | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 | Barbara | Main | Ubuntu Edgy | Edgy | 13 Nov2006 |
| 2.1 | Bea | Main | Ubuntu Edgy | Edgy | 20 Dec2006 |
| 2.2 | Bianca | Main | Ubuntu Edgy | Edgy | 20 Feb2007 |
| 2.2 | Bianca | Light | Ubuntu Edgy | Edgy | 29 Mar2007 |
| 3.0 | Cassandra | Main | Bianca 2.2 | Feisty | 30 May2007 |
| 3.0 | Cassandra | Light | Bianca 2.2 | Feisty | 15 Jun2007 |
| 3.1 | Celena | Main | Bianca 2.2 | Feisty | 24 Sep2007 |
| 3.1 | Celena | Light | Bianca 2.2 | Feisty | 01 Oct2007 |
| 4.0 | Daryna | Main | Celena 3.1 | Gutsy | 15 Oct2007 |
| 4.0 | Daryna | Light | Celena 3.1 | Gutsy | 15 Oct2007 |
| Test | Debian ALPHA 023 | Debian | Debian | Testing | 3 Jan2008 |
| 5 | Elyssa | Main | Daryna 4.0 | Hardy | 8 June2008 |
| 5 | Elyssa | Light | Daryna 4.0 | Hardy | 8 June2008 |
KDE [change]
| Version | Codename | Edition | Code Base | APT Base | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Ada | Main | Kubuntu Dapper | Dapper | 27 Aug2006 |
| 2.2 | Bianca | KDE CE | Kubuntu Edgy | Edgy | 20 Apr2007 |
| 3.0 | Cassandra | KDE CE | Bianca 2.2 | Feisty | 14 Aug2007 |
| 3.0 | Cassandra | MiniKDE CE | Bianca 2.2 | Feisty | 14 Aug2007 |
| 4.0 | Daryna | KDE CE | Cassandra 3.0 | Gutsy | 03 Mar2008 |
| 5 | Elyssa | KDE CE | Daryna 4.0 | Hardy | TBD |
XFCE [change]
| Version | Codename | Edition | Code Base | APT Base | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | Cassandra | Xfce CE | Cassandra 3.0 | Feisty | 07 Aug2007 |
| 4.0 | Daryna BETA 008 | Xfce CE | Cassandra 3.0 | Gutsy | 2 Nov2007 |
| 5 | Elyssa | XFCE CE | Daryna 4.0 | Hardy | TBD |
- As of "Elyssa," the minor version number has been dropped (i.e. "Linux Mint 5.0" is now "Linux Mint 5"). This is due to a decision to follow Ubuntu's 6 month release cycle; there should no longer be more than one release per Ubuntu base.[1]
- The Debian base release is released as an alpha because "it is not intended to be used as your main operating system but to give you a technological preview of how Linux Mint would behave if it was based on Debian."[2] Also note that the ISO acts as a "non-installable" live CD.
- Linux Mint 5 will see the addition of a Professional Edition with a desktop targeted at the core professional desktop.
Comparison with Ubuntu [change]
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu and both distributions have a lot in common. Both distributions use the same software repositories. For instance, release 2.2 (“Bianca”) uses the package pools of Ubuntu “Edgy Eft” (6.10). Most packages are the same on both distributions and the two systems behave almost identically.
Most differences are on the desktop. Ubuntu and Linux Mint both focus on usability, but Linux Mint offers a different user experience, and it includes a number of applications that are not available in Ubuntu (see aforementioned Mint Tools).
Many popular multimedia codecs are installed by default in Linux Mint. Ubuntu, and many other gratis GNU/Linux distributions, do not distribute these codecs with the initial install media due to patent encumberment issues.
Ubuntu has a vastly larger support community than Linux Mint. However, the majority of Ubuntu help and advice is also applicable to Linux Mint. Ubuntu supports more languages from the LiveCD, and comes with better localization.[source?] Lastly, whilst Linux Mint only supports x86 architectures, Ubuntu also supports x86-64.
