Ceci est une ancienne révision du document !
The third and final interim release of this Lubuntu development cycle is 23.10, released on 12 October, 2023. This marks the last version before the next long term support version (LTS) expected in April, 2024 and also provides some good clues about what to expect in that LTS.
This time around the three interim releases have introduced very minimal changes and that points toward the next LTS being very similar to the last one, Lubuntu 22.04 LTS, with just a few updates, tweaks and fixes. Rather than a disappointment, I think this is actually a good thing, indicating that the developers have Lubuntu pretty much where they think it should be. The users, too, seem to agree, as I am not hearing any clamoring for big changes from that quarter either. As the 11th LXQt release and the 28th overall Lubuntu release, 23.10 represents a Linux distribution that is fulfilling its intended mission as a relatively lightweight, but full-featured, Qt-based operating system, with a classical menu-driven desktop.
Being an interim release, Lubuntu 23.10 comes with a short leash, just nine months of support, until July, 2024.
Installation
I downloaded Lubuntu 23.10 from the official source using BitTorrent. Once I had the ISO file, I completed a command line SHA256 sum check on it to make sure the download was good. I then dropped it onto a USB stick equipped with Ventoy 1.0.96 and it booted up from there without issue.
The Lubuntu 23.10 ISO download file was 3.0 GB, while 23.04 was 2.9 GB in size, Lubuntu 22.10 was 2.7 GB and Lubuntu 22.04 LTS was 2.5 GB, so they are getting slowly bigger which each new version. In comparison, the latest mainstream Ubuntu 23.10 release is 5.2 GB to download, almost double the size of Lubuntu.
System requirements
Lubuntu does not publish recommended minimum system requirements, but it should run on any modern 64-bit hardware with at least 4 GB of RAM, although 8 GB would be better.
New
Lubuntu 23.10 introduces very little that is new, something in common with the previous two interim versions.
The Lubuntu LXQt desktop has moved to version 1.3.0, which is based on the Qt 5.15 toolkit. Work has started on moving to Qt 6, but the lack of a stable version of KF6 has delayed this, probably until the next development cycle. With the LXQT 1.3.0 desktop, Lubuntu 23.10 looks the same as the other recent LXQt releases with the changes incorporated mostly hidden away as behind-the-scenes upgrades.
The new file manager version, PCManFM-Qt 1.3.0, has some bug fixes included, as does the terminal emulator, QTerminal 1.3.0, which brings improved Wayland compatibility.
Settings
Lubuntu continues to use the Lubuntu Arc window color theme as its default, with blue ePapirus icons. For user customization, there are 19 window color themes, 13 icon themes, 12 LXQt themes, two cursor themes and eight GTK3 and GTK2 themes. So, as always, Lubuntu provides a wide range of user choices.
The Linux kernel used is version 6.5, with Systemd 253.5 as the initialization system, providing a fast and smooth boot.
Since the release codename is “Mantic Minotaur”, the default wallpaper features a Minotaur, the half-bull half-human creature of Greek mythology, with a labyrinth design incorporated. The Lubuntu Minotaur wallpaper was designed by Lubuntu contributor Walter Lapchynski, with some help from Erich Eickmeyer of Ubuntu Studio. There are also 10 other wallpapers included, many from recent Lubuntu releases.
Applications
Some of the applications included with Lubuntu 23.10 are:
2048-qt 0.1.6 simple lightweight game* Bluedevil 5.27.8 bluetooth connector Discover Software Center 5.27.8 package management system FeatherPad 1.3.5 text editor* Firefox 118.0.1 web browser ImageMagick 6.9.11.60 image editor* Kcalc 23.08.1 calculator KDE partition manager 23.08.1 partition manager LibreOffice 7.6.2 office suite, Qt interface version Lubuntu Update Notifier 0.5.4 software update notifier* LXimage-Qt 1.3.0 image viewer and screenshot tool LXQt Archiver 0.8.0 archive manager Muon 5.8.0 package manager* Noblenote 1.2.0 note taker* PCManFM-Qt 1.3.0 file manager PipeWire 0.3.79 audio controller Qlipper 5.1.2 clipboard manager* qPDFview 0.5.0 PDF viewer* QTerminal 1.3.0 terminal emulator Qtransmission 4.0.2 BitTorrent client, Qt interface version* Quassel 0.14.0 IRC client* ScreenGrab 2.6.0 screenshot tool Skanlite 23.08.1 scanning utility Startup Disk Creator 0.3.17 (usb-creator-kde) USB boot disk maker VLC 3.0.18 media player* Wget 1.21.3 command line webpage downloader* XScreenSaver 6.02 screensaver and screen locker* * Indicates the same version as used in Lubuntu 23.04 supplied as a snap, so version depends on the upstream package manager
Other than just updated versions and not too many of those as can be seen by the asterisks, there have been no changes to the suite of applications provided in Lubuntu 23.10.
As in the previous Lubuntu LXQt releases, version 23.10 does not come with a webcam application, email client, CD/DVD burner, photo editor or video editor, although these can be easily added from the repositories using the Discover Software Center or command line, if desired.
The Lubuntu installer in use remains Calamares 3.3 Alpha 2, which has been used in every version since Lubuntu 22.10. The developers report it works well, so there is not much motivation to change it, always a good philosophy.
Conclusions
Lubuntu 23.10 is a good solid release, but with very few changes over 23.04 that users will notice. Overall, the lack of any major changes in this development cycle should keep Lubuntu fans happy as, in general, it works well and provides a very simple and appealing Linux desktop experience.
It may be worth installing this release if you have new hardware that is better supported with the newest Linux kernel, otherwise I am sure most users will wait for the next LTS version, Lubuntu 24.04 LTS, due out in April, 2024, as it will come with three years of support.
External links
Official website: https://lubuntu.me/