The two distributions need to continue to work together to improve
both distributions and GNU/Linux in general.
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Choosing and Installing a Linux Distribution Part III
Fast release cycles??”Ubuntu has set itself a pace of six-month release cycles. In terms
of major free Linux distributions, only Fedora has stayed close to a six-month release
cycle. Debian has certainly not been known to rush to release new versions??”the slowness
of Debian releases was one of the initial inspirations for Ubuntu. Some delays have
already occurred??”for example, the Ubuntu 6.06 release was originally scheduled for
April 2006 (6.04), but was intentionally slipped to include significant improvements.
The Ubuntu 6.10 release was essentially on time, as have been subsequent releases, but a
six-month release schedule is still an aggressive target.
Business model??”While the Ubuntu project does offer shirts, hats, teddy bears, and
other products you can purchase that carry the Ubuntu logo (https://shop.canonical
.com/), proceeds from that and donations are clearly not going to be enough to support
a long-term development effort. The project has made it clear that it intends to be committed
to software that is ???100% free of charge??? going forward. Canonical, Ltd, and many
other vendors around the world, provide paid commercial support for Ubuntu releases,
but ???paid support??? business models for Linux have rarely been successful.
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