趣谈形形色色的 Linux 发行版的代号
Linux 版本 代号
![](/data/attachment/album/201610/24/103044ml5713m41y4ie18l.jpg)


你是否对你喜爱的 Linux 发行版的最新发布版本的代号感到好奇？


比如说今年发布的 [Linux Mint 18](/article-7529-1.html) 的代号是 Sarah，而 Ubuntu 16.10 则叫做 [Yakkety Yak](/article-7862-1.html "Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak 正式发布")，这样的名字还有很多很多。


代号这个问题真不是一个大事，毕竟这些代号不能代表不同的发行版功能之间的不同。然而，对于一个好奇的 Linux 用户来说，你或许想知道每个发行版本代号背后的逻辑。不管怎么说，代号都是每个版本不可分割的一部分，而开发团队也为此付出了不少的努力，对吧？


下面我将会告诉你这些最流行的 Linux 发行版的代号背后的故事，请安坐，有趣的部分即将来到 :)


### Ubuntu 的版本号和代号


![](/data/attachment/album/201610/24/103105ossyfliilbzkuigb.jpg)


作为最流行的 Linux 发行版之一，[Ubuntu](http://www.ubuntu.com/) 有着一个稳定的开发周期，每年 4 月份和 10 月份各发布一个主要版本。


其所发布的年份和月份构成了 Ubuntu 发布版本的版本号。它的版本号格式是 XX.YY，其中 XX 是年份后两位，YY 是月份。比如说 Ubuntu 16.04 就是 2016 年 4 月份发布的版本，而 Ubuntu 16.10 则是该年 10 月份发布的。之所以 Ubuntu 没有像其它软件一样有 1.0 版本，也只是因为其第一个版本是[发布于 2004 年](https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2004-October/000003.html)而已。


这么久以来，在过去的 11 年之中， 除了一次例外之外，Ubuntu 的所有版本都是 4 月份和 10 月份发布的。这唯一的一次例外是 Ubuntu 在 2006 年 4 月份的版本延迟了两个月，并因此其版本号叫做 Ubuntu 6.06，而不是 6.04。


另外，顺便提一句，每两年的 4 月份，都会推出一个长期支持版本（LTS），其支持期长达五年，而非 LTS 版本的支持期通常只有半年。


现在让我们看看 Ubuntu 的代号，你也许注意到了每个 Ubuntu 版本的代号都是两个相同首字母的单词，比如说， Ubuntu 14.04 叫做 Trusty Tahr，就是以两个“T”字母开头的。


Ubuntu 的代号一直遵循两个单词的规则，第一个是一个形容词，第二个则是一种濒危物种的名称（后来也包含一些传说生物，比如<ruby> 独角兽 <rp>  （ </rp> <rt>  Unicorn </rt> <rp>  ） </rp></ruby>、<ruby> 狼人 <rp>  （ </rp> <rt>  Werewolf </rt> <rp>  ） </rp></ruby>）。在前面的例子中，Trusty 是一个表示“忠实的”的形容词，而 [Tahr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahr) （塔尔羊）则是一种濒危的小物种动物。


另外一个有趣的事情是，这些字母的顺序是按字母表排列的（除了最开始时的两个），所以我们看到，Ubuntu 14.04 是 Trusty Tahr， Ubuntu 14.10 是 Utopic Unicorn， Ubuntu 15.04 是 Vivid Vervet ，明年即将发布的 Ubuntu 17.04 则是 Zesty Zapus 等等。至于再之后的版本，字母“Z”之后该用哪个，目前还没有得到 Canonical 官方的消息，我猜测或许是将没有用过的 A 和 C 用上，或许是从头开始循环，抑或是其它的可能也未尝可知。


如下是当前的 Ubuntu 的版本号和代号： 




| 版本号 | 代号 | 发布日期 | 支持期 | 内核版本 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 桌面版 | 服务器版 |
| 4.10 | Warty Warthog | 2004-10-20 | 2006-04-30 | 2.6.8 |
| 5.04 | Hoary Hedgehog | 2005-04-08 | 2006-10-31 | 2.6.10 |
| 5.10 | Breezy Badger | 2005-10-13 | 2007-04-13 | 2.6.12 |
| **6.06 LTS** | Dapper Drake | 2006-06-01 | 2009-07-14 | 2011-06-01 | 2.6.15 |
| 6.10 | Edgy Eft | 2006-10-26 | 2008-04-25 | 2.6.17 |
| 7.04 | Feisty Fawn | 2007-04-19 | 2008-10-19 | 2.6.20 |
| 7.10 | Gutsy Gibbon | 2007-10-18 | 2009-04-18 | 2.6.22 |
| **8.04 LTS** | Hardy Heron | 2008-04-24 | 2011-05-12 | 2013-05-09 | 2.6.24 |
| 8.10 | Intrepid Ibex | 2008-10-30 | 2010-04-30 | 2.6.27 |
| 9.04 | Jaunty Jackalope | 2009-04-23 | 2010-10-23 | 2.6.28 |
| 9.10 | Karmic Koala | 2009-10-29 | 2011-04-30 | 2.6.31 |
| **10.04 LTS** | Lucid Lynx | 2010-04-29 | 2013-05-09 | 2015-04-30 | 2.6.32 |
| 10.10 | Maverick Meerkat | 2010-10-10 | 2012-04-10 | 2.6.35 |
| 11.04 | Natty Narwhal | 2011-04-28 | 2012-10-28 | 2.6.38 |
| 11.10 | Oneiric Ocelot | 2011-10-13 | 2013-05-09 | 3.0.0 |
| **12.04 LTS** | Precise Pangolin | 2012-04-26 | 2017-04-26 | 3.2.0 |
| 12.10 | Quantal Quetzal | 2012-10-18 | 2014-05-16 | 3.5.0 |
| 13.04 | Raring Ringtail | 2013-04-25 | 2014-01-27 | 3.8.0 |
| 13.10 | Saucy Salamander | 2013-10-17 | 2014-07-17 | 3.11.0 |
| **14.04 LTS** | Trusty Tahr | 2014-04-17 | 2019-04 | 3.13.0 |
| 14.10 | Utopic Unicorn | 2014-10-23 | 2015-07-23 | 3.16.0 |
| 15.04 | Vivid Vervet | 2015-04-23 | 2016-02-04 | 3.19 |
| 15.10 | Wily Werewolf | 2015-10-22 | 2016-07-28 | 4.2 |
| **16.04 LTS** | Xenial Xerus | 2016-04-21 | 2021-04 | 4.4 |
| 16.10 | Yakkety Yak | 2016-10-13 | 2017-07 | 4.8 |
| 17.04 | Zesty Zapus | TBA | TBA | TBA |


 （表格来自[维基百科](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_version_history)）


哈，Ubuntu 每次发布新版本都能扩充我们的英语词汇，也会让我们了解一种世界上需要关注的的濒危动物。


### Linux Mint 的版本号和代号


![](/data/attachment/album/201610/24/120455cnhsoahcaalzkhrc.jpeg)


作为 Ubuntu 的远亲，Linux Mint 也是一个 Debian 族系的流行发行版。现在让我们深挖一下 Linux Mint 的版本号和代号。


Linux Mint 是基于 Ubuntu 的，通常在 Ubuntu 发布后几个月内，Linux Mint 就会发布它基于 Ubuntu 衍生的版本。


但是不像 Ubuntu，Linut Mint 的版本号并没有遵循年和月的规则，只是简单的递增。所以 Linux Mint 15 之后就是 Linux Mint 16，Linux Mint 17 等等。这是主要版本，还会有维护的小版本，比如 Linux Mint 17.1、Linux Mint 17.2 等等。


这就是 Linux Mint 的版本号，现在让我们看看代号。每个 Linux Mint 版本，无论是主要版本还是维护版本，都有一个代号，而且和 Ubuntu 一样，都是按字母顺序递增的。


更有意思的一点是 Linux Mint 的代号都是女性名，而且以字母“a”结尾，而这些名字都来自于[亚伯拉罕诸教](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BA%9E%E4%BC%AF%E6%8B%89%E7%BD%95%E8%AB%B8%E6%95%99)。比如说 Linux Mint 17 的代号是 Qiana（国内戏称“钱啊”，其实发言应该是“奎阿纳”）。


主要版本会递增代号的首字母顺序，而通常维护版本会使用相同的首字母，不过在 Linux Mint 17.x 发生了变化，没有继续使用 Linux Mint 17 的“Q”，而是使用了“R”：Linux Mint 17.1 是 Rebecca, 17.2 是 Rafaela，17.3 是 Rosa。


如下是当前的 Linux Mint 的版本号和代号： 




| 版本 | 代号 | 分支 | 上游 | 默认桌面环境 | 发布日期 | LTS | 支持期 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1.0 | Ada | Main | Kubuntu 6.06 | KDE | 2006-08-27 |  | 未知 |
| 2.0 | Barbara | Main | Ubuntu 6.10 | GNOME | 2006-11-13 |  | 2008-04 |
| 2.1 | Bea | Main | Ubuntu 6.10 | GNOME | 2006-12-20 |  | 2008-04 |
| 2.2 | Bianca | Main | Ubuntu 6.10 | GNOME | 2007-02-20 |  | 2008-04 |
| Light | Ubuntu 6.10 | GNOME | 2007-03-29 |
| KDE CE | Kubuntu 6.10 | KDE | 2007-04-20 |
| 3.0 | Cassandra | Main | Bianca 2.2 | GNOME | 2007-05-30 |  | 2008-10 |
| Light | Bianca 2.2 | GNOME | 2007-06-15 |
| KDE CE | Bianca 2.2 | KDE | 2007-08-14 |
| MiniKDE CE | Bianca 2.2 | KDE | 2007-08-14 |
| Xfce CE | Cassandra 3.0 | Xfce | 2007-08-07 |
| 3.1 | Celena | Main | Bianca 2.2 | GNOME | 2007-09-24 |  | 2008-10 |
| Light | Bianca 2.2 | GNOME | 2007-10-01 |
| 4.0 | Daryna | Main | Celena 3.1 | GNOME | 2007-10-15 |  | 2009-04 |
| Light | Celena 3.1 | GNOME | 2007-10-15 |
| KDE CE | Cassandra 3.0 | KDE | 2008-03-03 |
| 5 | **Elyssa** | Main | Daryna 4.0 | GNOME | 2008-06-08 | 是 | 2011-04 |
| Light | Daryna 4.0 | GNOME | 2008-06-08 |
| x64 | Ubuntu 8.04 | GNOME | 2008-10-18 |
| KDE CE | Daryna 4.0 | KDE | 2008-09-15 |
| Xfce CE | Daryna 4.0 | Xfce | 2008-09-08 |
| Fluxbox CE | Ubuntu 8.04 | Fluxbox | 2008-10-21 |
| 6 | Felicia | Main | Ubuntu 8.10 | GNOME | 2008-12-15 | 否 | 2010-04 |
| Universal (Light) | Ubuntu 8.10 | GNOME | 2008-12-15 |
| x64 | Ubuntu 8.10 | GNOME | 2009-02-06 |
| KDE CE | Elyssa 5 | KDE | 2009-04-08 |
| Xfce CE | Xubuntu 8.10 | Xfce | 2009-02-24 |
| Fluxbox CE | Xubuntu 8.10 | Fluxbox | 2009-04-07 |
| 7 | Gloria | Main | Ubuntu 9.04 | GNOME | 2009-05-26 | 否 | 2010-10 |
| Universal (Light) | Ubuntu 9.04 | GNOME | 2009-05-26 |
| x64 | Ubuntu 9.04 | GNOME | 2009-06-24 |
| KDE CE | Kubuntu 9.04 | KDE | 2009-08-03 |
| Xfce CE | Xubuntu 9.04 | Xfce | 2009-08-13 |
| 8 | Helena | Main | Ubuntu 9.10 | GNOME | 2009-11-28 | 否 | 2011-04 |
| Universal (Light) | Ubuntu 9.10 | GNOME | 2009-11-28 |
| Gnome x64 | Ubuntu 9.10 | GNOME | 2009-12-14 |
| KDE | Kubuntu 9.10 | KDE | 2010-02-06 |
| KDE x64 | Kubuntu 9.10 | KDE | 2010-02-12 |
| Fluxbox | Helena Main | Fluxbox | 2010-02-12 |
| Xfce | Xubuntu 9.10 | Xfce | 2010-03-31 |
| LXDE | Helena Main | LXDE | 2010-03-31 |
| 9 | Isadora | Main | Ubuntu 10.04 | GNOME | 2010-05-18 | 否 | 2013-04 |
| Gnome x64 | Ubuntu 10.04 | GNOME | 2010-05-18 |
| LXDE | Lubuntu 10.04 | LXDE | 2010-07-18 |
| KDE | Kubuntu 10.04 | KDE | 2010-07-27 |
| KDE x64 | Kubuntu 10.04 | KDE | 2010-07-27 |
| Xfce | Xubuntu 10.04 | Xfce | 2010-08-24 |
| Fluxbox | Lubuntu 10.04 | Fluxbox | 2010-09-06 |
| 10 | Julia | Main | Ubuntu 10.10 | GNOME | 2010-11-12 | 否 | 2012-04 |
| Gnome x64 | Ubuntu 10.10 | GNOME | 2010-11-12 |
| KDE | Kubuntu 10.10 | KDE | 2011-02-23 |
| KDE x64 | Kubuntu 10.10 | KDE | 2011-02-23 |
| LXDE | Lubuntu 10.10 | LXDE | 2011-03-11 |
| 11 | Katya | Main | Ubuntu 11.04 | GNOME | 2011-05-26 | 否 | 2012-10 |
| Gnome x64 | Ubuntu 11.04 | GNOME | 2011-05-26 |
| LXDE | Lubuntu 11.04 | LXDE | 2011-08-16 |
| 12 | Lisa | Main | Ubuntu 11.10 | GNOME 3 with MGSE,MATE | 2011-11-26 | 否 | 2013-04 |
| KDE | Kubuntu 11.10 | KDE | 2012-02-02 |
| LXDE | Lubuntu 11.10 | LXDE | 2012-03-09 |
| 13 | **Maya** | Main | Ubuntu 12.04 | Cinnamon, MATE | 2012-05-22 | 是 | 2017-04 |
| Xfce | Xubuntu 12.04 | Xfce | 2012-07-21 |
| KDE | Kubuntu 12.04 | KDE | 2012-07-23 |
| 14 | Nadia | Main | Ubuntu 12.10 | Cinnamon, MATE | 2012-11-20 | 否 | 2014-05 |
| Xfce | Xubuntu 12.10 | Xfce | 2012-12-21 |
| KDE | Kubuntu 12.10 | KDE | 2012-12-23 |
| 15 | Olivia | Main | Ubuntu 13.04 | Cinnamon, MATE | 2013-05-29 | 否 | 2014-01 |
| Xfce | Xfce | 2013-07-12 |
| KDE | KDE | 2013-07-21 |
| 16 | Petra | Main | Ubuntu 13.10 | Cinnamon, MATE | 2013-11-30 | 否 | 2014-07 |
| KDE | KDE | 2013-12-22 |
| Xfce | Xfce | 2013-12-22 |
| 17 | **Qiana** | Main | Ubuntu 14.04 | Cinnamon, MATE | 2014-05-31 | 是 | 2019-04 |
| KDE | KDE | 2014-06-23 |
| Xfce | Xfce | 2014-06-15 |
| 17.1 | **Rebecca** | Main | Cinnamon, MATE | 2014-11-29 |
| KDE | KDE | 2015-01-08 |
| Xfce | Xfce | 2015-01-11 |
| 17.2 | **Rafaela** | Main | Cinnamon, MATE | 2015-06-30 |
| KDE | KDE | 2015-07-23 |
| Xfce | Xfce | 2015-07-23 |
| 17.3 | **Rosa** | Main | Cinnamon, MATE | 2015-12-04 |
| KDE | KDE | 2016-01-09 |
| Xfce | Xfce | 2016-01-09 |
| 18 | **Sarah** | Main | Ubuntu 16.04 | Cinnamon, MATE | 2016-06-30 | 是 | 2021 |


不过，Sarah 是上述列表中唯一不以“a”结尾的代号，可能是因为没有合适的名称。


### elementary OS 的版本号和代号


![](/data/attachment/album/201610/24/141639iz2tovvudcvmcovo.jpg)


因为我们谈过了 Ubuntu 和 Linux Mint，让我们继续看看 Ubuntu 家族的另外一位： [elementary OS](https://elementary.io/) ，它也是基于 Ubuntu 的一个以优美著称的 Linux 发行版。


elementary OS 的版本号都是 0.X 这样递增的，第一个稳定版本是 0.1，然后是 0.2，现在的稳定版本是 0.3——不知道什么时候可以变成 1.0。



> 
> 开源软件界之前一直有个传统就是使用极其微小的版本，比如 0.1，0.01 这样的，直到作者或开发团队觉得已经非常成熟了，才有可能变成 1.0 这样的看起来正式一些的版本号。当然，也有的软件从未进化到 1.0 就消亡了。不过虽然是这种看起来像是测试版本的版本号，却往往并不代表其质量和功能不可靠。而现在也有一些软件开始飙版本号，比如 Chrome、Firefox 之类的，我觉得用不了几年，或许我们就会见到 xx 100 这样的软件了。
> 
> 
> 


而 elementary OS 的代号则是采用神话中神的名字，通常这些来自于罗马神话或北欧神话中。比如现在已有的三个版本的代号是 Jupiter（罗马神话中的神王）、 Luna （月神，不是“撸哪” ）、 Freya（北欧神话中的爱与美之女神，不过 0.3 之前的代号名是 ISIS ，后因避讳而改名），以及现在的 0.4 Loki（北欧神话中的火与恶之神）。


### Debian 的版本号和代号


![](/data/attachment/album/201610/24/131931a0d0let2lf2215s5.jpg)


让我们回到 Ubuntu 、Linux Mint 和 elementary OS 的父系看看。[Debian](https://www.debian.org/) 是 Ubuntu 及其族系派生的来源，它的代号命名非常有意思。事实上，Debian 这个发行版本身的名字就来源于其创始人 Ian 及其女朋友 Debra 的名词合写，虽然 Ian 已经去世，但是其名字却会随着 Debian 而长存。


Debian 的版本号是递增的，这并没什么特殊的，不过有趣的是所有的 Debian 发行版本的代号都来自于《[玩具总动员](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8E%A9%E5%85%B7%E6%80%BB%E5%8A%A8%E5%91%98)》这个动画片中的角色名。这就是你为什么看到 Debian 的代号是 [Jessie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessie_(Toy_Story)) 和 [Woody](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriff_Woody) 这样的原因。


如下是当前的 Debian 的版本号和代号： 




| 版本 | 代号 | 发布日期 | Linux 内核 | 安全支持期 | 长期支持期 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1.1 | Buzz | 1996-06-17 | 2.0 | N/A | 无 |
| 1.2 | Rex | 1996-12-12 | N/A | N/A |
| 1.3 | Bo | 1997-06-05 | 2.0.33 | N/A |
| 2.0 | Hamm | 1998-07-24 | 2.0.34 | N/A |
| 2.1 | Slink | 1999-03-09 | 2.0.34, 2.0.35, 2.0.36, 2.0.38 | 2000-10-30 |
| 2.2 | Potato | 2000-08-14 | 2.0.38, 2.2.19 | 2003-06-30 |
| 3.0 | Woody | 2002-07-19 | 2.2.20, 2.4.6 | 2006-03-30 |
| 3.1 | Sarge | 6 June 2005 | 2.4.27, 2.6.8 | 2008-03-31 |
| 4.0 | Etch | 8 April 2007 | 2.6.18 | 2010-02-15 |
| 5.0 | Lenny | 14 February 2009 | 2.6.26 | 2012-02-06 |
| 6.0 | Squeeze | 6 February 2011 | 2.6.32 | 2014-07-19 | 2016-02-29 |
| 7 | Wheezy | 4 May 2013 | 3.2 | 2016-04-26 | 2018-05 |
| 8 | Jessie | 25–26 April 2015 | 3.16 | 2018-05 | 2020-04 |
| 9 | Stretch | TBA | 4.10 | TBA | TBA |
| 10 | Buster | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| 11 | Bullseye | TBA | TBA | TBA | TBA |


我觉得动画片《玩具总动员》里面还有很多角色，所以我们不用担心不够用了。


### openSUSE 的版本号和代号


![](/data/attachment/album/201610/24/134316j619xtj2p11w2w6s.jpg)


[openSUSE](https://www.opensuse.org/) 的第一个版本 10.2 发布于 2006 年。


SUSE 家族的 Linux 发行版的版本号相当的任性，包括发行版的名字也换来换去。最初，该发行版的名字叫做 S.u.S.E Linux，这个名字从 1994 年用到了 1998 年，后来改成了 SuSE Linux（把名字中的“.”去掉了），然后到了 2003 年的时候变成了 SUSE Linux Enterprise。在 2005 年的时候，Novell 公司宣布将 SUSE 专业版系列变为开源项目，由于当时 SUSE 的版本是 9.X，所以第一个 SUSE Linux 的版本是以 10.0 开始的。到 2006 年底的时候，再次决定改名为 openSUSE，第一个版本是 10.2。接下来将近十年倒是没再改名称，直到 2015 年 openSUSE 已经发展到 13.2 时，又又又改名成 openSUSE Leap，版本号嘛，好吧，就是这么任性，直接变成了 42.1（当然[这个数字是有说法的](/article-6533-1.html)）。


SUSE 家族最初发布的 Linux 发行版是没有代号的，后来可能是受到了其它 Linux 发行版的启发，从 openSUSE 11.2 开始有了代号。由于 openSUSE 以绿色为代表色，所以它的代号也都是各种绿色色调。


如下是当前的 openSUSE 的版本号和代号： 




| 名字 | 版本 | 代号 | 发布日期<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-openSUSE_Roadmap_33-0"></sup> | 生命周期 | 内核版本 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 标准 | Evergreen/ Major |
| SUSE Linux | 10.0 | N/A | 2005-10-06 | 2007-11-30 | N/A | 2.6.13 |
| 10.1 | N/A | 2006-05-11 | 2008-05-31 | N/A | 2.6.16 |
| openSUSE | 10.2 | N/A | 2006-12-07 | 2008-11-30 | N/A | 2.6.18 |
| 10.3 | N/A | 2007-10-04 | 2009-10-31 | N/A | 2.6.22 |
| 11.0 | N/A | 2008-06-19 | 2010-06-26 | N/A | 2.6.25 |
| 11.1 | N/A | 2008-12-18 | 2011-01-14 | 2012-04-13 | 2.6.27 |
| 11.2 | Emerald | 2009-11-12 | 2011-05-12 | 2013-11 | 2.6.31 |
| 11.3 | Teal | 2010-07-15 | 2012-01-16 | N/A | 2.6.34 |
| 11.4 | Celadon | 2011-03-10 | 2012-11-05 | 2015-07 | 2.6.37 |
| 12.1 | Asparagus | 2011-11-16 | 2013-05-15 | N/A | 3.1.0 |
| 12.2 | Mantis | 2012-09-05 | 2014-01-15 | N/A | 3.4.6 |
| 12.3 | Dartmouth | 2013-03-13 | 2015-01-01 | N/A | 3.7.10 |
| 13.1 | Bottle | 2013-11-19 | 2016-01 | 2016-11 | 3.11.6 |
| 13.2 | Harlequin | 2014-11-04 | Q1 2017 | N/A | 3.16.6 |
| openSUSE Leap | 42.1 | Malachite | 2015-11-04 | Q2 2017 | N/A | 4.1 |
| 42.2 | N/A | 2016-11-16 | Q2 2018 | N/A | 4.4 |


可能你都从来没听说过这么多的绿色色调，或许你会担心 openSUSE 会把绿色都用完，不过我觉得不用担心，毕竟连灰色都有 15 种之多，何况绿色呢？


### 你怎么看？


你喜欢哪个代号呢？你觉得是代号好记还是版本号好记呢？你认为需要代号吗？你又喜欢哪个发行版的代号命名方式呢？请在下面发表您的留言吧。


OK
![Warp Terminal](/assets/images/warp-terminal.webp)


![Warp Terminal](/assets/images/warp-terminal.webp)

Have you ever wondered about the code name of the latest release of your favorite Linux distribution?

The latest Linux Mint 21.2 release goes by the code name "**Victoria**". And, the upcoming Ubuntu 24.04 release (when updating this article) is code-named '**Noble Numbat**'.

The question about the code-names is really trivial. It does not make any difference to how a particular Linux distribution functions. Yet, as a curious Linux user, you might want to know the logic behind the code name of a release.

After all, the code name is an integral part of a release and the dev team puts an effort for that as well, isn’t it?

I am going to tell you about the logic behind the code naming of some of the most popular Linux distributions. Sit tight, this will be a fun ride! :)

## Ubuntu Version Numbering and code-naming

![ubuntu lts](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/11/ubuntu-lts-illustration.png)

One of the most popular Linux distributions, [Ubuntu](http://www.ubuntu.com/?ref=itsfoss.com) follows a biannual release cycle, with one release coming in April and the other in October.

There is an interesting story behind this naming convention. Mark Shuttleworth and Robert Collins were discussing the first version of Ubuntu:

lifeless: how long before we make a first release?sabdfl: it would need to be punchy. six months max.lifeless: six months! thats not a lot of time for polish.sabdfl: so we’ll have to nickname it the warty warthog release.

In the above discussion, user *lifeless* is Robert Collins and *sabdfl* is Mark Shuttleworth. And, that's how the **first-ever Ubuntu release name** was finalized.

Furthermore, the first mailing list for the Ubuntu team was called “warthogs“, and the team used to hang out on #warthogs on irc.freenode.net.

But, before we move on to the naming scheme, how is the version number selected?

The month and year of the release play a vital role in the version number of an Ubuntu release. **An Ubuntu release has a version number of the format XX.YY. **

**The XX is the year of the release and YY is the month of the release.**

For example, we got Ubuntu 16.04 in the 4th month (April) of the year 2016. Ubuntu 23.10 was released in the 10th month (October) of the year 2023.

So far, there has only been one exception to the Ubuntu releases in either April or October in the past 11 years. The release of Ubuntu 6.04 was delayed for two months and this is the reason it was **Ubuntu 6.06**, instead of the usual **XX.04** or **XX.10**.

Now coming to the code naming of Ubuntu 👨💻

You may have noticed that every Ubuntu release has a two—worded code name that starts with the same letter. For example, U**buntu 14.04 was called Trusty Tahr (starting with T).**

**that includes endangered species or mythological creatures like a werewolf.**

**the first being an adjective and the second being an animal**In the previous example, Trusty is an adjective meaning some who could be trusted while [Tahr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahr?ref=itsfoss.com) is an animal with some of their subspecies considered to be endangered.

Another interesting fact is that these code names are incremented alphabetically in each release (except a few initial releases). So, we have Ubuntu 20.04 as **Focal Fossa**, Ubuntu 20.10 as **Groovy Gorilla**, Ubuntu 21.04 as **Hirsute Hippo** and so on.

I presume that now you have a pretty good understanding of Ubuntu version numbering and codenames. If I have to summarize all the releases, they go like:

Version | Codename |
---|---|

4.10 | Warty Warthog |

5.04 | Hoary Hedgehog |

5.10 | Breezy Badger |

6.06 LTS | Dapper Drake |

6.10 | Edgy Eft |

7.04 | Feisty Fawn |

7.10 | Gutsy Gibbon |

8.04 LTS | Hardy Heron |

8.10 | Intrepid Ibex |

9.04 | Jaunty Jackalope |

9.10 | Karmic Koala |

10.04 LTS | Lucid Lynx |

10.10 | Maverick Meerkat |

11.04 | Natty Narwhal |

11.10 | Oneiric Ocelot |

12.04 LTS | Precise Pangolin |

12.10 | Quantal Quetzal |

13.04 | Raring Ringtail |

13.10 | Saucy Salamander |

14.04 LTS | Trusty Tahr |

14.10 | Utopic Unicorn |

15.04 | Vivid Vervet |

15.10 | Willy Werewolf |

16.04 LTS | Xenial Xerus |

16.10 | Yakkety Yak |

17.04 | Zesty Zapus |

17.10 | Artful Aardvark |

18.04 LTS | Bionic Beaver |

18.10 | Cosmic Cuttlefish |

19.04 | Disco Dingo |

19.10 | Eoan Ermine |

20.04 LTS | Focal Fossa |

20.10 | Groovy Gorilla |

21.04 | Hirsute Hippo |

21.10 | Impish Indri |

22.04 LTS | Jammy Jellyfish |

22.10 | Kinetic Kudu |

23.04 | Lunar Lobster |

23.10 | Mantic Minotaur |

24.04 LTS | Noble Numbat |


You will get to know a lot of animal specifies you never knew with the help of these codename. Pretty cool, right?

## Linux Mint version numbering and codenaming

![linux mint](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/11/linux-mint.png)

The distant cousin of Ubuntu (if I may call it that), Linux Mint is another popular Linux distribution.

Some believe that [Linux Mint does a few things better than Ubuntu](https://itsfoss.com/linux-mint-vs-ubuntu/).

Now, let’s dig into the version numbering and code-naming of 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 are incremented in decimal points. Therefore, that gives us Linux Mint 17.1, 17.2 etc.

Now, let’s talk about the code names. Each of the Linux Mint releases, be it minor or major, has a code name. And like Ubuntu, they too are in an incremental alphabetical order.

One more interesting thing about **Linux Mint code names is that these are female names ending with the alphabet ‘a’ and the names may have origin in the mythology of Abrahamic religion. **

**In general, just feminine code names**. That gives us names like Linux Mint 17 Qiana etc.

**The major releases increment the alphabetical order of the codename while the minor ones carry the same starting alphabets but change the name.** For example, Linux Mint 17.1 is Rebecca, 17.2 is Rafaela and 17.3 is Rosa.

To summarize all the Linux Mint releases so far, here is a table:

Version | Codename |
---|---|

Linux Mint 1 | Ada |

Linux Mint 2 | Barbara |

Linux Mint 2.1 | Bea |

Linux Mint 2.2 | Bianca |

Linux Mint 3 | Cassandra |

Linux Mint 3.1 | Celena |

Linux Mint 4 | Daryana |

Linux Mint 5 | Elyssa |

Linux Mint 6 | Felicia |

Linux Mint 7 | Gloria |

Linux Mint 8 | Helena |

Linux Mint 9 | Isadora |

Linux Mint 10 | Julia |

Linux Mint 11 | Katya |

Linux Mint 12 | Lisa |

Linux Mint 13 | Maya |

Linux Mint 14 | Nadia |

Linux Mint 15 | Olivia |

Linux Mint 16 | Petra |

Linux Mint 17 | Qiana |

Linux Mint 17.1 | Rebecca |

Linux Mint 17.2 | Rafaela |

Linux Mint 17.3 | Rossa |

Linux Mint 18 | Sarah |

Linux Mint 18.1 | Serena |

Linux Mint 18.2 | Sonya |

Linux Mint 18.3 | Sylvia |

Linux Mint 19 | Tara |

Linux Mint 19.1 | Tessa |

Linux Mint 19.2 | Tina |

Linux Mint 19.3 | Tricia |

Linux Mint 20 | Ulyana |

Linux Mint 20.1 | Ulyssa |

Linux Mint 20.2 | Uma |

Linux Mint 20.3 | Una |

Linux Mint 21 | Vanessa |

Linux Mint 21.1 | Vera |

Linux Mint 21.2 | Victoria |


Sarah is the only exception in the list that doesn’t end with an ‘a’.

## elementary OS version and codenaming

![elementary os](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/11/elementary-os-ft.png)

Since we are talking about Ubuntu and Linux Mint, let’s extend this family and include [elementary OS](https://elementary.io/?ref=itsfoss.com) (also based on Ubuntu) in the discussion.

elementary OS has version numbers that match the incremental pattern, like 0.X. So, the first stable release of elementary OS was 0.1 and then came 0.2 and the current stable version is elementary OS 0.3.

From its fifth release, they bumped up the version to 5 directly to represent a more complete product as per their vision.

As far as the code name is concerned, **elementary OS prefers a mythological god’s or goddess’ name**. Usually, these names are taken from Roman/Nordic mythology. This gives us code names like Jupiter, Luna, Freya (earlier ISIS) and Loki.

For some point releases, the code name changes and for some, it retains the same code name as its last major release. This could be an intentional thing to reflect if the update is a very significant.

There are no alphabetical constraints here.

Version | Codename |
---|---|

elementary OS 0.1 | Jupiter |

elementary OS 0.2 | Luna |

elementary OS 0.3, 0.3.1, 0.3.2 | Freya |

elementary OS 0.4, 0.4.1 | Loki |

elementary OS 5.0 | Juno |

elementary OS 5.1 | Hera |

elementary OS 6.0 | Odin |

elementary OS 6.1 | Jólnir |

elementary OS 7.0, 7.1 | Horus |


## Debian version and codenaming

![debian](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/11/debian-ft.png)

Let’s switch to the granddaddy of Ubuntu, Linux Mint and elementary OS.

[Debian](https://www.debian.org/?ref=itsfoss.com), of which Ubuntu has been derived, and has a very curious naming system. In fact, Debian itself was named after its founder Ian and his girlfriend Debra. [Debian founder Ian Murdock died mysteriously in 2015 ](https://itsfoss.com/ian-murdock-dies-mysteriously/) but his name has been immortalized on Debian.

Debian version numbers are incremental. That’s not the interesting part. The interesting fact is that all Debian releases are code-named after the characters of the [Toy Story movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toy_Story?ref=itsfoss.com). That explains why you have Debian [Jessie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessie_(Toy_Story)?ref=itsfoss.com) or Debian [Woody](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheriff_Woody?ref=itsfoss.com).

Here is a table for a quick glance at all the Debian releases and their code names:

Version | Codename | Toy Story Character |
---|---|---|

1.1 | Buzz | Buzz Lightyear |

1.2 | Rex | Rex (the T-Rex) |

1.3 | Bo | Bo Peep |

2 | Hamm | Hamm (the pig) |

2.1 | Slink | Slinky Dog |

2.2 | Potato | Mr Potato Head |

3 | Woody | Woody the cowboy |

3.1 | Sarge | Sarge from the Bucket O' Soldiers |

4 | Etch | Etch, the Etch-A-Sketch |

5 | Lenny | Lenny, the binoculars |

6 | Squeeze | Squeeze toy aliens |

7 | Wheezy | Wheezy the penguin |

8 | Jessie | Jessie the cowgirl |

9 | Stretch | Rubber Octopus from Toy Story 3 |

10 | Buster | Andy's pet dog |

11 | Bullseye | Jessie's horse |

12 | Bookworm | A green worm with glasses and a flashlight |

13 (upcoming) | Trixie | Bonnie's blue Triceratops (the dinosaur) |


And if you have watched the first Toy Story movie, you might remember the villain of the movie, Sid. This neighborhood kid is a destroyer of toys. This is why all Debian unstable releases are code-named [Debian Sid](https://www.debian.org/releases/sid/?ref=itsfoss.com).

I think there are plenty of characters in the Toy Story movie series, so we should not run out of codenames for future Debian releases :)

## OpenSUSE version and codenaming

![opensuse](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/2023/11/opensuse-ft.png)

The first [OpenSUSE](https://www.opensuse.org/?ref=itsfoss.com) release in 2005 was OpenSUSE 10.1. It is unclear to me why it started with 10 and not 1. But ever since, the major release increases the version number before the decimal, while the minor releases increase the version number after decimal points. This gives us version numbers like OpenSUSE 11.3, 11.4, 12.1, 12.2 etc.

Initial releases of OpenSUSE did not have a codename. It was with the release of OpenSUSE 11.2 that we started seeing a codename.

Needless to say that OpenSUSE has a green aura to it. This greenish touch is extended to the codenames as well. OpenSUSE codenames are actually a shade of the color green. That explains the codenames like [Emerald](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerald_(color)?ref=itsfoss.com), [Teal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teal?ref=itsfoss.com) etc. for OpenSUSE.

Version | Codename |
---|---|

10 | Prague |

10.1 | Aagama Lizard |

10.2 | Basilisk Lizard |

11.2 | Emerald |

11.3 | Teal |

11.4 | Celadon |

12.1 | Asparagus |

12.2 | Mantis |

13.1 | Bottle |

13.2 | Harlequin |

42.1 | Malachite |


Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of these shades of green before.

After OpenSUSE started Leap 42.X series releases, we do not have codenames anymore.

## Your take?

What’s your take on codenames? Do you think it is easier to remember a release with the codename than a version number?

Do you think codenames are needed at all? Which Linux distribution’s codename pattern you like the most? Feel free to express your views in the comment box below.