Shuttleworth to Continue Sponsoring Ubuntu
Mark Shuttleworth, the main sponsor of Ubuntu, may continue to fund the Linux distribution for a few more years.
In an interview with Computerworlduk.com, the South African billionaire explained that Ubuntu vendor Canonical might have an annual revenue of a few million dollars, but it's hardly enough to cover its costs. He goes on to say that it would likely take another three to five years to make it profitable.
Shuttleworth doesn't see any reason to deviate from the company's current business model. Because desktop sales are no longer key revenue sources, services are "the only way to build businesses around Linux." Despite his concern about the current economic crisis, he voices confidence in his blog that it can only help the Linux business model rather than harm it.
In the past, Shuttleworth has always claimed to pursue no commercial plans for Ubuntu. There was never to be a cost-based version; the distribution was to remain free
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.