Linux Mint

**Linux Mint** is a Linux distribution for desktop computers based on and compatible with Debian and Ubuntu.

While at the core Linux Mint is mostly based on Ubuntu, the design of the desktop and user interface are very different. These differences include a unique desktop theme and desktop environment, a custom Linux Mint menu and the MintTools, a collection of system tools designed to make managing the computer easier for users.

## Releases

Originally, Linux Mint did not follow a predictable release cycle. The project first defined the goals for the next release, and when all the goals are achieved, a beta version is released and a date is announced for the stable release. Recently, however, it has been decided that Linux Mint will release with the 6-month Ubuntu release cycle.

|Version|Code name|Release date|Support status||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|1.0 beta|Ada|2006-08-27|Obsolete since April 2008. Unstable.||
|2.0|Barbara|2006-11-13|Obsolete since April 2008.||
|2.1|Bea|2006-12-20|Obsolete since April 2008.||
|2.2|Bianca|2007-02-20|Obsolete since April 2008.||
|3.0|Cassandra|2007-05-30|Obsolete since October 2008.||
|3.1|Celena|2007-09-24|Obsolete since October 2008.||
|4.0|Daryna|2007-10-15|Obsolete since April 2009.||
|5 LTS|Elyssa|2008-06-08|Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2011.||
|6|Felicia|2008-12-15|Obsolete since April 2010.||
|7|Gloria|2009-05-26|Obsolete since October 2010.||
|8|Helena|2009-11-29|Obsolete since April 2011.||
|9 LTS|Isadora|2010-05-18|Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2013.||
|10|Julia|2010-11-12|Obsolete since April 2012.||
|11|Katya|2011-05-26|Obsolete since October 2012.||
|12|Lisa|2011-11-26|Obsolete since April 2013.||
|13 LTS|Maya|2012-05-23|Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2017.||
|14|Nadia|2012-11-20|Obsolete since May 2014.||
|15|Olivia|2013-05-29|Obsolete since January 2014.||
|16|Petra|2013-11-30|Obsolete since July 2014.||
|17 LTS|Qiana|2014-05-31 v2 "respin" 2014-06-29||Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2019.|
|17.1 LTS|Rebecca|2014-11-29|First of 17.x series of releases, Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2019.||
|17.2 LTS|Rafaela|end of May 2015|Second of 17.x series of releases, Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2019.||
|17.3 LTS|Rosa|2015-12-04|Third of 17.x series of releases, Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2019.||
|18 LTS|Sarah|2016-06-30|Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2021.||
|19 LTS|Tara|2018-06-29|rowspan="4"|Long-term support release (LTS), obsolete since April 2023.|
|19.1 LTS|Tessa|2018-12-19|||
|19.2 LTS|Tina|2019-08-02|||
|19.3 LTS|Tricia|2019-12-18|||
|20 LTS|Ulyana|2020-06-27|rowspan="4"|Long-term support release (LTS), supported until 2025.|
|20.1|Ulyssa|2021-01-08|||
|20.2|Uma|2021-07-08|||
|20.3|Una|2022-01-07|||
|21 LTS|Vanessa|2022-07-31|rowspan="4"|Long-term support release (LTS), supported until 2027.|
|21.1 LTS|Vera|2022-12-20|||
|21.2 LTS|Victoria|2023-07-16|||
|21.3 LTS|Virginia|2024-01-12|||
|22 LTS|Wilma|2024-07-25|rowspan="3"|Long-term support release (LTS), supported until 2029.|
|22.1 LTS|Xia|2025-01-16|||
|22.2 LTS|Zara|2025-09-04|||

## Comparison with Ubuntu

Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu, and because of this, both distributions have a lot in common. Both distributions use the same software repositories. For instance, release 2.2 (“Bianca”) uses the package pools of Ubuntu “Edgy Eft” (6.10). Most packages are the same on both distributions, and the two systems behave almost identically. Ubuntu is based on Debian, so Linux Mint is also compatible with and has similar functionality to Debian.

Most differences are on the desktop. Ubuntu and Linux Mint both focus on usability, but _Linux Mint_ offers a different user experience, and it includes a number of applications that are not available in Ubuntu (see aforementioned Mint Tools).

Many popular multimedia codecs are installed by default in Linux Mint. Ubuntu, and many other gratis GNU/Linux distributions, do not distribute these codecs with the initial install media due to patent issues.

Ubuntu has a vastly larger support community than Linux Mint. However, the majority of Ubuntu help and advice is also applicable to Linux Mint. Ubuntu supports more languages from the Live CD, and comes with better localization.

## Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE)

Linux Mint Debian Edition, also known as LMDE, is a version of Linux Mint that is based on Debian. The reason it is developed is to make sure Linux Mint gives the same experience if Ubuntu disappears. It also helps test software made by Mint's developers to make sure they are compatible outside of Ubuntu.

LMDE is designed to look and have the same experience as the normal versions of Linux Mint, without Ubuntu, with packages being provided by Debian instead.

## Related pages

- Linux
- Debian
- Ubuntu
- Getdeb
- Super OS (formerly: Super Ubuntu)

## Other websites

- Official Linux Mint Web Site
- Official Linux Mint Wiki
- Official Linux Mint Blog
- Official Linux Mint Forum
- Linux Mint on Distrowatch

## Infobox (os)

- **name**: Linux Mint
- **logo**: New Linux Mint logo.svg
- **screenshot**: Linux Mint 21.3 MATE menu - English.png
- **caption**: Linux Mint 21.3 ("Virginia") running MATE (software), MATE 1.26
- **family**: Unix-like, based on Ubuntu (operating system), Ubuntu, optionally based on Debian (Linux Mint Debian Edition, LMDE) Linux Mint Xfce Linux Mint KDE
- **source model**: Open source
- **developer**: Clement Lefebvre, Jamie Boo Birse, Kendall Weaver, and community
- **latest release version**: Linux Mint 22.1 ("Xia")
- **language**: Multilingual
- **kernel type**: Monolithic kernel, Monolithic (Linux kernel, Linux)
- **ui**: 1.0-8: KDE SC, KDE
 9: GNOME 2
 12: GNOME 3 with MGSE
 13-18: Cinnamon (user interface), Cinnamon/MATE (software), MATE/Xfce/KDE
 19-22 Cinnamon (user interface), Cinnamon/MATE (software), MATE/Xfce
- **working state**: Active
- **supported platforms**: x86, i486, x86-64
- **updatemodel**: Advanced Packaging Tool, APT (+ mintUpdate, Synaptic (software), Synaptic)
- **package manager**: dpkg
- **license**: Mainly GPL and other free software licenses, minor additions of proprietary software, proprietary