Hello there! As you already know, we've been working on a new and improved Ubuntu Desktop installer [1], consisting of subiquity on the backend, and a new Flutter based frontend. We rolled this out incrementally as we tested the installer, but it is now considered stable.
In addition to serving Canonical's own needs for Ubuntu Desktop, we wanted to make sure that the installer was going to be adaptable to different flavours, and as such the installer allows for custom artwork and accent colours, and can include a different set of slides according to its configuration. Much of that detail can be found in the GitHub repository. During the release of Ubuntu 25.04, we experienced a number of issues with Calamares, mostly relating to a new feature that has ultimately not landed in the last release. While this is not systemic to the choice of Calamares, it did give me pause for thought about the installer experience across Ubuntu. After some discussion internally, and a discussion with sabdfl, I intend to ask all of the flavours to transition to the new Ubuntu Desktop installer by 26.04 LTS. Now that it's stable for Ubuntu Desktop, and we have evidence from the flavours who've already adopted it, I'm confident that this goal is achievable within the timeframe. Many of the flavours have already migrated to the new installer, including Ubuntu Mate [2] and Xubuntu [3]. In fact, the only flavours yet to transition are Kubuntu, Lubuntu and Ubuntu Unity. Coincidentally, I received some communication from Rick Timmis (Kubuntu) this week, indicating that he'd like Kubuntu (and other flavours) to make the move. The principal reason for this request is consistency: consistency in experience for our collective userbase, but also consistency in image preparation and release. Our community has an expectation that our flavours, while uniquely tailored, are still very much Ubuntu at their core. The "Ubuntu experience" includes a robust and consistent installation process. We have a dedicated team at Canonical who are actively working on features and fixes for subiquity and the desktop installer, so we'll be much better placed to support them once they've made the transition. There are a couple of features that I know are not yet available in the new installer. My ask will be that the flavours make the transition, and then we collaborate on adding those features to a single codebase that all Ubuntu flavours can benefit from. I've spoken with the lead of subiquity (Dan), and the lead for the Desktop Installer (Dennis), both of whom are content to be named points of contact for the flavours to assist the transition. I'm raising this to the TB on recommendation from the Community Team, and want to ensure that there is no strong objection to this before carefully communicating with the flavours. Thanks, Jon VP Engineering, Ubuntu [1] https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-desktop-provision [2] https://github.com/ubuntu-mate/ubuntu-mate-settings/tree/master/usr/share/desktop-provision [3] https://github.com/Xubuntu/xubuntu-default-settings/tree/master/debian/live/desktop-provision
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