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Ubuntu 22.04, codenamed Jammy Jellyfish, was released on 21 April 2022.
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It was followed by Ubuntu 22.10 Kinetic Kudu on 20 October 2022.
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It was followed by Ubuntu 23.10 Mantic Minotaur on 12 October 2023.
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It was followed by Ubuntu 25.04 Plucky Puffinnwas on 17 April 2025
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It was followed by Ubuntu 25.10 Questing Quokka on 9 October 2025
All Linux distros keep publishing new versions: Fedora, Mint, Debian
Yet strangely, I don’t actually notice any change. I’m just a normie user. It seems only computer nerds understand why the new versions are game changers.
Apart from “increased security”, what is actually the point of these releases?
All OSes are a collection of lots of different software that work together to run your system.
For Linux distros, that includes kernel packages (the core of the OS), but also a huge range of software to make the desktop work, apps you run (office software etc) and more. They are all separate projects, constantly working on and releasing updates at their own paces. There are new software releases all the time for all sorts of things.
If you install a Linux point release Distro, like Ubuntu 22.04, you get the OS and a snapshot of lots of different software they have chosen to package. Then after install you will receive constant minor patches and security updates, but the main software doesn’t get major updated. For example, tf Ubuntu uses say version 1.0 of your desktop (Gnome or KDE), and 2.0 releases in the meantime, you won’t receive that. You’ll just receive patches and security fixes for 1.0, but not big updates for new features or changes. This allows Ubuntu to keep 22.04 stable and working predictably for people, and means they don’t have to retest the whole OS to make sure it works and stays secure. All they have to do is test the security patches, make sure those work well with the existing OS and then release that to users.
But overtime Ubuntu 22.04 inevitably falls further behind all the major releases of the software they use, and people are missing out on more and more new features, more major bug fixes and more. The desktop environment for example might have released version 2.0 with new features, and the Office software may have released 2.0 with new features, and 100s of other components the same even in just 6 months. So the distro maintainers then build a whole new version of the OS with all the big changes they want to include, and release that as 22.10 in October 2022 - this is their next 6 monthly point release. People can chose to stay on 22.04 and just get security patches (so the OS is stable and safe) or decide to move their PC to 22.10 and get the newer software.
This is a constant process. Ubuntu is on a 6 monthly release cycle, and people can chose when they want to switch; they can do it every 6 months or less frequently if they want. Ubuntu and other distros also have LTS releases - Long Term Service releases - if you use that version, it is maintained for a few years as is, except for patches and security updates. Not everyone wants the latest version of software, they may just want something that they know works and they get on with using it.
Another model is rolling releases where the Linux distro constantly rolls out new updates for all the components. This can even be weekly, or near enough daily; for example OpenSuSE Tumbleweed is a rolling release. People might not update every day but the maintainers are constantly rolling out the latest versions of software (after some testing to make sure it works) so that end users can keep bang up to date on near enough everything. This is riskier than a point-release, and sometimes bugs get through that have to be undone, but it allows those who want cutting edge systems to have them. OpenSuSE also have a point release version Leap which updates once a year, and is also developing Slowroll which works on a monthly release cycle.
Windows actually does something very similar to the “Point Release” system for new features and major changes, although the updates are all closed source and under Microsofts control. Windows 11 has had major annual updates 21H2, 22H2, 23H2, 24H2, and now 25H2. One big difference though is that Windows updates are only Windows and Microsoft provided software; all the rest of the OS including drivers the user has to update (or sometimes Windows Update manages). On Linux, much more of the system is usually updated by the Distro, and the user generally updates a much smaller proportion themselves (e.g. maybe their Nvidia drivers, and their flatpaks).
The big point releases are not about increased security, they are instead more about getting feature releases out to users from lots of different projects. The security side is managed by constant patches and smaller bugfixes rolled out within each major version.
Such a thing is actually quite enormous in terms of the sheer number of little details. Its like updates to maps. There are constantly little fixes and changes and improvements to the online maps of your country, but how likely are you personally to ever notice any of them?
I mean no harm but…
Did my software dev team manager post this? Lol
New features, fixing bugs, security fixes, hardware support, etc. Why would Linux updates be different than updates to any other OS?
I’m just wondering why do OS need new releases?
Is there really such a huge difference between Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10 ? Because I don’t see them.
What? Windows 7, 8, and 10 had completely different UI designs. Even if you ignore the technical differences, the UIs make these versions more easily distinguishable than most Linux distros. 7 was glassy (aero), 8 was flat, colorful, and square (metro), and 10 was also flat, but more refined and less colorful (fluent).
They are so drastically different that I could tell you which version is being used within 5 seconds of seeing a screenshot of a blank desktop with no icons and just the taskbar.
You’re on crack.
There were some pretty big differences in windows 8. Not sure how you wouldn’t have noticed them.
Yeah, this screams “the default browser is my operating system”/“chrome hasn’t changed in 10 years why do I need to update my computer”. Hell even assuming op is using their computer like a kiosk, you’d still have to notice a few differences. I’m partially blind and I can see lots of changes, lol.
You could use something like OpenSUSE Tumbleweed where all software is updated on a rolling basis whenever updates are tested and ready. That might be for you but the downside is that big updates to software come “randomly” and could break your workflow. The point of version releases is usually to save the big feature-changing updates so they all come at a predictable point in time, and there’s usually a window to upgrade in so you can do it when most convenient. For Ubuntu, Fedora, etc. this happens every six months, so the difference between one version to the next isn’t likely to be huge, but many people prefer the predictability of an update cycle. You could also look at LTS distros which are supported for longer, but you have to wait longer for features.
Same as any update for any other OS - Fix bugs, patch security, add features.
If you come from a non-linux background, you may not be aware of the division in responsibility however between what is your distro’s concern, and what isn’t.
The thing that people think of as the “operating system” in the sense of Windows or Mac is likely really just the desktop environment - the stuff you can see and click on; your taskbar, control panel, file explorer, etc. In Linux the desktop environments such as Gnome, Plasma, xfce and many others are built by separate teams and used in many different distros, and so changes and improvements in those aspects won’t necessarily be part of the distro’s release notes even if improvements are happening.
This modular nature of Linux is likely a big part of why it doesn’t seem like much is announced, even on major updates, because it’s not your distro specifically which is responsible for that.
As an example, Pop_OS! are working on a new desktop environment called Cosmic, and some of the release notes for that may sound more like what you’d expect.
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Same as anything else. Security updates are the new antivirus, but baked in. That’s the most important reason.
There are new features that you may not notice or use. But think about it, support for new resolutions, refresh rates, cable standards, VRR, HDR, drivers for new hardware and USB devices, improved drivers for existing hardware, bug fixes. All of this has happened within the last few years. Not to mention visually obvious changes like redesigning the Ui, aesthetics, adding new baked in programs.
This is how updates should be. Important fixes and security and not change for change sake. improve the ui or such when you have actual improvements. I mean most ui improvement to is with the window manager not the os.
If you don’t notice any change, they are working as intended.
You’re not going to get popups to ask you to please use Copilot, if that is what you’re expecting :-)
Apart from “increased security”, what is actually the point of these releases?
That is the point. The desktop landscape… aside from maybe KDE, changes very little over time. It’s more that new software is created to try out, while old software would rather retain their current userbase and not be tarred and feathered over sweeping changes.
in the background, though
The kernel is constantly adapting and updating to changes in the cybersecurity threat landscape, and shit is happening, all the time, relentlessly, forever.
Commercial software products usually release updates which add new user-oriented features that they can advertise to increase interest in their product. Open source products usually release updates that add or improve functionality, regardless of how fancy it looks in a press release. So a new Windows update might add new “AI” features that are widely advertised, while a Linux kernel update might add support for new devices, fix bugs with existing drivers, and improve performance. Those make for less exciting changelogs but I’d argue they’re more important.
You mean for the Linux kernel specifically? Linux distributions?
For software in general — not Linux-specific — updates fix bugs (some of which might be security-related). Adds features.
That may be too general to be useful, but the question doesn’t have much by way of specifics.
I feel like maybe more context would make for better answers. Like, if what you’re asking is “I have a limited network connection, and I’d like to reduce or eliminate downloading of updates” or “I have a system that I don’t want to reboot; do I need to apply updates”, that might affect the answer.
EDIT: Okay, you updated your post, and it sounds like it’s the Ubuntu distribution and the new release frequency that’s an issue.
Well, if you want fewer updates and are otherwise fine with Ubuntu, you could try using Ubuntu LTS.
https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle
LTS releases
LTS are released every two years and receive 5 years of standard security maintenance.
LTS releases are the go-to choice for users who value stability and extended support. These versions are security maintained for 5 years with CVE patches for packages in the Main repository. They are recommended for production environments, enterprises, and long-term projects.
You’ll still get security updates, but you won’t see new releases on a six-month basis.
It can be nice to have a relatively-new kernel, as it means support for the latest hardware (like, say you have a desktop with a new video card), but if you have some system that’s working and you don’t especially want it to change, a lower frequency might be preferable for you.
I use Debian myself, and Debian stable tends to have less-frequent new releases. You’ll normally get a new stable release every two years, with inter-release updates generally just being bugfixes, and new stuff going in every two years.
https://www.debian.org/releases/
Debian announces its new stable release on a regular basis. The Debian release life cycle encompasses five years: the first three years of full support followed by two years of Long Term Support (LTS).
EDIT2: If you already have Ubuntu on your system and only want LTS updates, it looks like this is how one selects notification of new LTS releases or all releases.
https://ubuntu.com/tutorials/upgrading-ubuntu-desktop#5-optional-upgrading-to-interim-releases
Navigate to the ‘Updates’ tab and change the menu option titled ‘Notify me of a new Ubuntu version’ to For any new version.
EDIT3: I’d wait until an LTS release to switch to LTS, if you aren’t currently using LTS, so that you aren’t on a system that isn’t getting updates. Looking at that Ubuntu release page, it looks like 26.04 is an LTS release. The Ubuntu versioning scheme refers to the year and month (26.04 being the fourth month of 2026). It’s the third month of 2026 right now, so the next release will be LTS, so switching over to LTS notifications now is probably a good time. You’ll get a release update notification next month. You do that update, and then will be on LTS and won’t receive another notification again for the next two years.
All Linux distros keep updating every year.
That’s what release-notes are for. Usualy bugfixes and new functions/features/hw-support.
It’s a free choice to follow them or not. If you don’t need the new features. If the bugs don’t hit/bother you …
Some updates are very necessary for bug fixes and security patches. Which you may not personally notice, but do potentially impact a lot of people.
However, I agree that “in general” most software devs push out updates way too frequently. Often it’s just to look and feel busy and productive. “Look boss, I did a thing.”
It’s like a dog barking at the mailman. Annoying, but it’s in their nature. Software development is never finished to their satisfaction in the hearts and minds of programmers.
