What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is based on the Linux kernel, and it is one of the Linux distributions, a project started in 2004 by South African Mark Shuttleworth. He wanted to create a more user-friendly Linux distribution than Debian, which was very popular among Linux users at that time.
Ubuntu is the most used type of Linux based operating system in desktop installations. Ubuntu provides a friendly operating system and stable enough, which is targeted toward the average computer user.
It is easy to install, and simplicity is one of its key features. Ubuntu is officially released in three editions: Desktop, Server, and Core for Internet of things devices and robots. All the editions can run on the computer alone, or in a virtual machine.
What is Lubuntu?
Lubuntu is defined as Linux distribution for lightweight, easy-to-use, and fast operating system as it selects fewer apps which makes it lighter, and mainly it uses LDXE or LXQt desktop environment.Lubuntu was founded by Mario Behling and has been grown for many years by Julien Lavergne.
Lubuntu originally used the LXDE desktop, but moved to the LXQt desktop with the release of Lubuntu 18.10 in October 2018, due to the slow development of LXDE, losing support for GTK 2 as well as the more active and stable LXQt development without GNOME dependencies.
The main aim of development of Lubuntu was to create systems running on low spec hardware including PCs and laptops. It requires a minimum of 50 to 60 MB of RAM to run without a desktop. It requires a minimum of 224 MB of RAM to run the desktop. Minimum 160 MB of RAM is required to install Lubuntu.
Also Read: Difference Between Lubuntu And Xubuntu
Ubuntu vs Lubuntu in tabular form
| Ubuntu | Lubuntu |
|---|---|
| It is a full-fledged mainstream Linux distribution. | It is a lightweight derivative of the Ubuntu distro. |
| It uses the latest desktop environment: GNOME 3. | It uses the lightweight desktop environments: LXDE or LXQt. |
| It can be used as a cloud-based server or server in Data Centers. | It can be used to start old systems with low specifications. |
| It uses more system resources like RAM and hard disk space. | It uses relatively fewer system resources. |
| It imposes high system requirements like a 2 GHz processor with 2GB RAM. | It can even run on 266 MHz processor with 128 MB RAM. |
| It heavily relies on animations and other visual effects. | It uses no animations and visual effects. |
| It works exceptionally well with High-definition screens. | It has to struggle with High-definition screens. |
| It easily supports modern PC games. | It does not support modern PC games well due to low graphics. |
| It has a larger number of active users. | It has a relatively small number of active users. |
What you need to know about Ubuntu
- The general interface of Ubuntu is Gnome. Using Gnome, Canonical offers a global menu for accessing advanced features. The user can launch it by tapping on the Ubuntu icon. The Gnome user feels a similar experience to the Mac OS user.
- Ubuntu is available with Libre Office and Firefox. Apart from this, it is available with pre-installed software such as Java and codecs.
- Ubuntu has less limited access to customize user settings.
- Ubuntu usually runs slower in older machines. So the user can prefer Xubuntu or Lubuntu.
- Ubuntu relies on Canonical for its development and provides firm support to community support.
- It uses dependency injection and allows modification.
- Ubuntu is one of the most stable operating systems available, with a built-in firewall and virus security features.
- Its features and characteristics make it suitable for general computer uses.
- Ubuntu is distributed in stable and predictable release cycles, with a new release every six months. In fact, Ubuntu will release long-term support (LTS) every two even years, which will be supported for five years.
- On Ubuntu, you can watch HD videos in your browser or with the default Movie Player, VLC, and OpenShot from the Snap Store.
Also Read: Difference Between Kernel And Operating Systems
What you need to know about Lubuntu
- Lubuntu is defined as Linux distribution for lightweight, easy-to-use, and fast operating system as it selects fewer apps which makes it lighter, and mainly it uses LDXE or LXQt desktop environment.
- Lubuntu provides a lean desktop as it compromises with a lot to make it easy-to-use and another reason is it makes choices of limited applications and software packages which mean LXQt is the barest of bones of the desktop.
- Lubuntu comes with software packed such as Gnumeric and Abiword which provides some default applications instead of LibreOffice.
- Lubuntu allows very minimal customizations which make it look outdated.
- In Lubuntu, the LXQt developers use the Qt programming toolkit which is also used to create a Plasma interface.
- Lubuntu is the latest version of ubuntu for working with an older computer which traditionally uses LDXE interface but LXQt is much modern than LDXE.
- Lubuntu is generally ubuntu flavor that uses a desktop environment such as either LDXE or LXQt instead of Ubuntu’s GNOME. Lubuntu provides stability and security as of Ubuntu.
- Lubuntu runs perfectly even on computers with less RAM i.e 265 MB.
- Lubuntu supports a wide range of file types, including photos, songs, movies, spreadsheets, text documents, internet radio stations, and much more.