Ubuntu Core Desktop ‘accelerating’ development ahead of 27.04

Canonical has announced it’s ‘accelerating’ development of Ubuntu Core Desktop, its immutable, snap-based version of its desktop OS.

Ubuntu Core Desktop was announced in 2023 and made available in preview for enthusiasts to try. But a lack of of obvious progress and direction (not to mention up-to-date builds) had left many wondering if Canonical was running cool on the idea.

Now, things are finally kicking up a gear, says Jon Seager, VP of Engineering at Canonical.

A newly-formed Ubuntu Core Desktop team within the company will work on bringing Ubuntu Core Desktop into shape, with builds available ahead of the 27.04 release next year. Seager says the classic, Deb-based Ubuntu desktop is not going away.

Ahead of Ubuntu 27.04, which will begin offering daily builds of Ubuntu Core Desktop, three use-cases will be worked towards:

• Browser-based workflows
• Developer workstations
• Gaming systems

Don’t expect miracles too soon.

Creating all-Snap Ubuntu experience is on-par with a classic Deb-based desktop will not be trivial. For one, the entire desktop stack needs to be made into a snap that’s modular so that parts can be replaced (the KDE Plasma desktop will be available too).

There’s also an “app gap” problem. A swathe of popular Linux software folks rely on for their day-to-day computing isn’t available on the Snap Store – officially, or is, but not all features work, and so on.

It’s not as simple as “make snap versions” other, as developer in particular will want access to alternative packaging systems, even Flatpak, that virtualisation and containerisation will need to account for – in a way users aren’t bewildered by.

Plus, the rest of the things that a standard desktop build offers that a sandboxed, immutable desktop shouldn’t.

Simply, a lot of technical challenges are in the way – but some call that the fun part!

Ubuntu Core Desktop default?

Seager says the long-term ambition is to make Ubuntu Core (and snaps, to an extent) the “de facto target for Linux applications and workflows, and the default Ubuntu experience on the desktop, in the data centre and at the edge”.

Ubuntu Core Desktop will offer a “safer, more resilient, more trustworthy and future-proof Ubuntu”, Seager says, that users will “have a blast using”.

Me? I’m glad there’ll be another Ubuntu development cycle with plenty of hashtagcontent to cover.

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