Ubuntu budgie

HOW TO UPGRADE FROM 18.04 TO 19.04

Short story — you cannot directly upgrade. You must first upgrade to 18.10 before upgrading to 19.04. Anything else is not supported nor supportable.

Please refer to the community wiki for more help:

Also, Ask Ubuntu has an excellent guide to help you upgrade:

GETTING SUPPORT

Thanks to the generosity of discourse.org, our support site is the crucial site for all things Ubuntu Budgie.

One to bookmark https://discourse.ubuntubudgie.org

More information can be found here.

DIGITAL OCEAN

On a mission to simplify cloud computing so developers and their teams can spend more time building software that changes the world.

DISCOURSE

Discourse is the 100% open source discussion platform built for the next decade of the Internet. Use it as a mailing list, discussion forum, long-form chat room, and more!

STATUS.IO

Status.io was built to help companies enhance transparency and keep their customers in the loop during downtime. The Status.io platform enables organizations to maintain a customized public system status page, external to their infrastructure, that always displays the current health of their app, website or service.

David (project lead)

The Downsides to Budgie

As a relatively young desktop environment, Budgie doesn’t have much of its own identity. The interface is deeply integrated with GNOME, to the point where it can feel more like a customized version of GNOME than a separate entity. It’s possible to recreate much of the Budgie experience inside a GNOME desktop using extensions.

Budgie is not an interface that gives you much to tinker with. That may turn off some people. At the same time, the distinction between System Settings and Budgie Settings may confuse less technical users. This can make it unclear whom Budgie is targeting.

Budgie isn’t yet mature, which means new releases subject you to quite a bit of change. Switching from GTK to Qt may help with this, but it may take years for things to settle down after such a major transition.

This timeframe may be impacted by the relative lack of investment in Budgie. Compared to larger desktop environments, Budgie’s development team is rather small. This can keep the project agile, but it also means there are fewer hands doing the work that needs doing. In the open source world, it helps to have more eyes spotting bugs and more hands fixing them.

18.10 STUFF CARRIED THROUGH TO 19.04

• Firefox is the default browser. So out goes a chromium-browser icon on both the icon-task-list and plank dock — in comes Firefox
• For good measure, we have added ubuntu budgie welcome as a default program icon to make discovery instant (on both the icon-task-list and plank dock).
• We have dropped TLP from the default install. The power savings in the kernel from kernel 4.18 and later are significant for newer computers. TLP is still available to be installed if the kernel power savings do not impact you due to using an older CPU.
• The caffeine appindicator has been dropped — this has been replaced with the native caffeine budgie-applet that comes with budgie-desktop v10.5
• We’ve added a new game 2048 as part of the default install — a great way to while away a few hours

Releases

Current release

Release no longer supported

Release still supported

Future release

Version	Codename	Release date	Supported until	Remarks	Kernel version
16.04 LTS	Xenial Xerus	2016-04-25	2018-08	First release, branded budgie-remix	4.10 (16.04.3)
16.10	Yakkety Yak	2016-10-16	2017-07- 20		4.8
17.04	Zesty Zapus	2017-04-11	2018-01	First release after rename to Ubuntu Budgie following recognition as an official Ubuntu flavor	4.10
17.10	Artful Aardvark	2017-10-19	2018-07		4.13
17.10.1	2018-01-12	Re-release due to the original Ubuntu 17.10 ISOs getting pulled due to a bug that messed up some BIOSes
18.04 LTS	Bionic Beaver	2018-04-26	2021-04	First Long-term-support release as an official Ubuntu flavor	4.15
19.04	Disco Dingo	2019-04-18	2020-01	Better graphics support with Mesa 19.0	5.0.0-13
19.10	Eoan Ermine	2019-10-17	2020-07
20.04 LTS	Focal Fossa	2020-04-23	2023-04

budgie-remix 16.04

budgie-remix 16.04 was released on April 25, 2016, four days after the release of Ubuntu 16.04.

The system contains Budgie Desktop 10.2.5. Has a window manager based on Mutter, a customizable panel, notification center settings. The Arc-GTK+ theme is used. Compared to Ubuntu 16.04, budgie-remix has Nautilus version 3.18, as at that time Ubuntu had a version of Nautilus 3.14. Also has a dock-panel Plank version 0.11.1, gedit version 3.18, GNOME 3.18 photos, gThumb 3.4.3, Rhythmbox 3.3, Totem 3.18, GNOME Terminal 3.18, LibreOffice 5.1.2, Mozilla Firefox 45.0, Transmission 2.84, GTK+ 3.18.9, Mesa 11.2.0, XOrg 1.18.3 and the Linux kernel 4.4.0.

budgie-remix 16.10

budgie-remix 16.10 was released on October 16, 2016, three days after the release of Ubuntu 16.10.

The system contains a shell Budgie Desktop 10.2.7, GTK+ 3.22, the Linux kernel 4.8. There are many new features implemented in this version, such as full disk encryption, home folder encryption, and support for multiple languages during installation. Has the theme of design Arc GTK+, a new theme icons Pocillo.

One of the developers of budgie-remix, David Mohammed, says:

Ubuntu Budgie 17.04

Ubuntu Budgie 17.04 was released on April 19, 2017. budgie-remix was renamed to this name after the distribution became official for the Ubuntu community.

The system contains the Budgie Desktop 10.2.9 shell, the Linux 4.10 kernel, Mesa 17.0.3, Xorg 1.19.3. Budgie-Welcome application was updated, support for application indicator appeared, sound applets were managed, GNOME 3.24 applications were enabled, GNOME Terminal was replaced with Termix and Chromium replaced Google Chrome , and GTK+ theme support for Qt was enabled. Use the theme of the design Arc GTK+, the theme of the icons Moka.

In the record about the release of this version, it was written as follows:

Ubuntu Budgie 17.10

Ubuntu Budgie 17.10 was released on October 19, 2017.

The system contains the Budgie Desktop 10.4 shell, the Linux 4.13 kernel. The Budgie 10.4 desktop environment is equipped with a set of native features that include a new stylish Alt-Tab, support for Spotify in Raven, support for switching window controls to the left or right, support for SMB files and encrypted volumes through the addition of applets and supports customizing the appearance of dates and times. In addition, there is support for left or right side panels in Budgie Desktop 10.4, support for converting panels in the dock, transparency and dynamic auto-image for all panels, and the ability to replenish the bottom panel to work without a terrible «jump» effect. Other noteworthy improvements in the release of Ubuntu Budgie 17.10 include Night Light and Caffeine tools, Tilix as the default terminal emulator instead of Termix, as well as support for Tilix Quake mode with the F12 key, updated panel icons and new wallpapers.

On December 20, 2017, Canonical withdrew the Ubuntu 17.10 distribution in October and hid the link on the site for downloading. The reason was a critical bug with BIOS damage on some Lenovo notebook models and one Acer model.

On January 12, 2018, version 17.10.1 was released, which contained the correction of a serious problem in version 17.10.

Ubuntu Budgie 18.04

Ubuntu Budgie was released on April 26, 2018.

The system includes the Linux 4.15 kernel. It became possible to install OpenVNC through network-manager. New applets have appeared, such as Quick Note for notes, DropBy for downloading and viewing data from USB devices, Hot Corners for moving windows to the corner of the screen, Windowpreviews for viewing open windows, Clockworks for viewing some time zones, Autoswitch for tying the keyboard layout to the application, Window Mover in order to quickly move the window to another virtual desktop. All GNOME applications have been updated to version 3.28, but Nautilus has version 3.26.

ISSUES RESOLVED:

• Resolve the slow startup of QT based apps in 19.10.
• Reduction of the number of error reports seen on logout and login
• GNOME Software Updates tab has been hidden — it doesn’t really work and the recommended update process is via Menu — Software & Updates
• Fixed budgie-desktop bug to allow custom layouts that include left & right panels.
• Papercut — uninstalling default applets now no longer uninstalls the Ubuntu Budgie desktop environment.
• F12 no longer launches Tilix — this was interfering with a common browser keyboard shortcut
• Budgie Desktop now includes a patch developed by myself hopefully to reduce the number of crash reports you see on first logon.

INFRASTRUCTURE

We just wanted to thank our infrastructure sponsors who help us keep the lights on.

On a mission to simplify cloud computing so developers and their teams can spend more time building software that changes the world.

Discourse is the 100% open source discussion platform built for the next decade of the Internet. Use it as a mailing list, discussion forum, long-form chat room, and more!

Status.io was built to help companies enhance transparency and keep their customers in the loop during downtime. The Status.io platform enables organizations to maintain a customized public system status page, external to their infrastructure, that always displays the current health of their app, website or service.

Cloud hosting for developers — Platinum client hardware partner for the Ubuntu Budgie team

David (project lead)

20.04 STUFF TO LOOK OUT FOR

• Stylish menu applet as the default
• budgie based network manager applet as the default
• Window Shuffler — animations, faster, keyboard friendly tiling CTRL+ALT+keypad numbers; The currently focussed window can be now tiled to each corner, side to side or maximized/unmaximized all from the keyboard. Give it a try (enable via Menu — Shuffler control).
• Desktop Layouts — choose your default desktop layout with one click
• 4K resolution friendly budgie desktop and budgie applet support
• GNOME Firmware and Drawing are new default applications
• Ubuntu Budgie Team Wallpapers for 20.04 — there was a community contest to choose its favourite wallpapers — and the community certainly contributed amazing desktop images. I hope you like them. We will next run a community contest for the 22.04 LTS
• All our backport packages have now been rebuilt for 20.04 — look out for nemo-share and nemo-dropbox and also skippy-xd is available through backports.
• Firefox is the default browser.
• Catfish file and text search is now a default install
• The community has requested Files (Nautilus) to be switched to Files (Nemo) — so welcome back split screen and other goodies. Tip — press Alt or right-click the toolbar to show the Menu for preferences etc.
• budgie-nemo integration — right click options for changing the background, launch budgie-desktop-settings and catfish file & text search. Nemo folder-color is unfortunately not available in the repositories, so it has been dropped.
• QogirBudgie from the fiendishly clever themer vinceliuice — so three of the best themes are now default in budgie-desktop-settings (Arc, Pocillo and QogirBudgie)
• As the community has requested, Plank dock has now been switched to the bottom of the screen, is transparent and has the bounce animations by default

20.04 STUFF TO LOOK OUT FOR

• Stylish menu applet as the default
• budgie based network manager applet as the default
• Revamped Window Shuffler — animations, faster, keyboard friendly tiling
• Desktop Layouts — choose your default desktop layout with one click
• Wallstreet — budgie friendly and lightweight desktop wallpaper rotator
• 4K resolution friendly budgie desktop and budgie applet support
• GNOME Firmware and Drawing are new default applications
• Ubuntu Budgie Community Wallpapers for 20.04 — there was a community contest to choose its favourite wallpapers — and the community certainly contributed amazing desktop images. I hope you like them. We will next run a community contest for the 22.04 LTS
• All our backport packages have now been rebuilt for 20.04 — look out for nemo-share and nemo-dropbox and also skippy-xd is available through backports.
• Budgie Welcome — Translation team has been bustling — many more languages now available
• Latest versions of our default themes Pocillo & QogirBudgie

HWE

The Ubuntu LTS enablement (also called HWE or Hardware Enablement) stacks provide newer kernel and X support for existing Ubuntu LTS releases. These enablement stacks can be installed manually but are also available when installing with Ubuntu LTS point release media such as 18.04.4

We would stress — if everything is working as you expect, there is no need to change to the HWE. If you need newer graphics for applications and games, or if you are moving your installation to newer hardware then you may wish to consider uplifting your installation to the HWE.

To install the HWE (only applies to everyone who installed at 18.04 and 18.04.1):

BUDGIE APPLETS & BUDGIE MINI-APPS

Debuting for 20.04 are:

Budgie Applications Menu

We are pleased to ship by default our take on a simple but elegant menu for our desktop. Heavily based upon the good work of the ElementaryOS crew, this menu displays your installed applications via a Grid View as well as the traditional category view budgie users know and love.

Desktop with Application Menu

… with powerstrip

Menu with Powerstrip

We have enhanced the menu to optionally show the budgie powerstrip — so for those users who dont want to use the default power applet in the panel.
The menu has many extra features — e.g. right click action options for those applications live steam that offer them.

Menu with application options

… a couple of hidden extras — type 2+2 — its a built in calculator
or type ubuntubudgie.org into the search.

Again optionally — if you install zeitgeist the menu will start to learn what you frequently search for — and the search results be more tailored to your frequent requests — i.e. find things first time.

Network Manager Applet

Budgie Desktop has shipped with a legacy network manager icon in the panel. It has never integrated very well — and together with the buggy system tray weird icon effects were visible on logon.

Network Manager Applet

Enter the native Network Manager budgie applet. This integrates fully with our budgie desktop. We have tidied up and built upon the good work of the Daniel Pinto (original creator) and the ElementaryOS team from which the budgie-applet was derived from.

Budgie Window Shuffler

Focal’s Window Shuffler is a completely rewritten and re- designed version of Budgie’s tiling add-on. Apart from the drastically improved responsiveness, features now include:

• Setting margins and padding of the window grid
• Shortcuts for snapping windows to the nearest tile
• Shortcuts for resizing windows in all directions
• Scroll over the GUI grid to set its shade
• Targeted position preview when using the GUI grid
• Animated window movement when using shortcuts to move windows
• Swapping windows in case a window is moved to an existing window’s position
• Shortcuts for Quarter / half tiling

The new Shuffler Control window
Shuffler Controls

Wallstreet

One request that continually was made was to have the ability to rotate through a folder full of photos and display on your desktop. We know there are many heavy-weight tools out there — but what our community wanted is a simple — very lightweight solution built into the desktop.

Wallstreet Controls

Enter — WallStreet — a new lightweight wallpaper rotator every x minutes. Just enable it through the menu — wallstreet control

Visual-Space

New applet budgie-visualspace-applet — a stylish compact workspace switcher as a default on the panel.

Visualspace

So this desktop focused productivity tool is used if you have lots of windows spread over your desktop and/or between workspaces — you can quickly focus that window without having to alt-tab through everything.

Dropby

Dropby applet makes a reappearance as a default panel applet

Dropby

When any USB device is connected then you have easy access to it — with the ability to copy its contents, open to see what is on it and to eject the device safely directly from a popup and panel applet.

What’s Ubuntu Budgie?

Ubuntu Budgie is a proud official member of the Ubuntu family. We combine the simplicity and elegance of the Budgie interface to produce a traditional desktop orientated distro with a modern paradigm. Budgie is a desktop environment focused on having a clean and yet a powerful desktop without unnecessary bloat. To learn more about Budgie Desktop visit: Budgie Website

Fully functional out of the box, we include the best available Linux applications that makes you (our community) productive immediately. Backed by the powerful Debian derived Ubuntu repositories, customisation is just a ‘point & click’ away from allowing you to tailor the desktop to your way of working. Ubuntu Budgie comes with a collection of apps that enables you to work on everyday tasks and be productive. Ready to take the challenge?

Safe & easy web browser that protects your privacy.

Full-featured office productivity suite with Microsoft Office compatibility

Music player & organiser.

Ubuntu Budgie’s Welcome Center — Learn and control your OS.

Free, open source & cross-platform media player.

Show me how it looks

Let’s start downloading!

Fly me to the moon!

Features

This is why you’ll love Ubuntu Budgie

Yet Flexible

Using Ubuntu Budgie provides you with the freedom to run a complete, full-featured operating system, pre-configured with most, if not all, of the applications you will need for your daily computing — or to change anything about the way it looks, the way it works, or the applications it runs to suit your taste. 

Built-In Security

You are in good hands

Ubuntu Budgie is designed with security in mind. Unlike operating systems that update only once a month, Ubuntu Budgie receives updates continuously. The updates include security patches for Ubuntu Budgie and all of its components. Security updates for all of its installed applications are also provided on the same schedule. This ensures that you have the latest protection for all of your computer’s software, as soon as it’s available!

Powerful Applications

Software for every need

While Budgie Desktop provides the essential user interface to control and use a computer, Ubuntu Budgie adds a collection of additional applications to turn your computer into a truly powerful workstation: from productivity to entertainment!

Gaming

Powered by Steam

In the last couple of years Linux has become a first class gaming platform thanks to the arrival of the Steam Platform on Linux. At the time of writing Steam has more than 2000 high quality indie and AAA titles ready for Ubuntu Budgie. While Steam is a major step forward for gaming on Linux, there are also many high quality and enjoyable Open Source games titles available for Ubuntu Budgie. It doesn’t matter if you like flight simulators, motor racing, first person shooters, jump and run or card games, you’ll find something to keep you entertained.

Easy Migrations

You’ll feel quite at home

Connect your accounts, sync your calendars and download your favorite apps. Ubuntu Budgie is your very own Operating System!

We are based on Ubuntu and share the same massive community. Ask for help, discover new apps and meet new friends! Join us

HOW TO UPGRADE FROM 18.10/19.04/19.10 TO 20.04

IMPORTANT: remember to double-check you have the following vital package before you upgrade:

After the release of 20.04, you will be offered to upgrade when you run Software & Updates. Alternatively, from a command line run:

IMPORTANT We do not recommend running from a Tilix terminal since this will hang during the upgrade. If you want to use do-release-upgrade switch to a TTY and login before running the command.

Some of the packages that were installed as part of the Ubuntu Budgie backports PPA (ppa:ubuntubudgie/backports) will be uninstalled as part of the upgrade. Use budgie-welcome to reinstall anything that is removed.

KNOWN ISSUES:

• When installed on default VirtualBox settings or QEMU, on first logon the session will crash when budgie-welcome is first open. The session also crashes when other applications such as Settings is open. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg-server/+bug/1745345
• For virtualbox ensure the VMSVGA graphics driver is used in the virtual machine settings
• For QEMU use the VMVGA graphics driver.
• Alternatively for both uninstall the gstreamer1.0-vaapi package
• If you find that after the upgrade clicking the menu button crashes the panel, then CTRL+ALT+T to open a terminal then run:
• Launching terminal based apps from the menu does not work. Workaround is to fool GLib to assume that a supported terminal (tilix isnt supported) is installed . https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/budgie-desktop/+bug/1873428
• Please read the Ubuntu Release notes which covers issues common to all Ubuntu Flavors.

History

Ubuntu Budgie started out as an unofficial community flavor in parallel with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, referred to as budgie-remix. Budgie-remix 16.10 was later released by strictly following the time frame issued for Ubuntu 16.10.

It was eventually recognized as an official community flavor of Ubuntu, and was rebranded as Ubuntu Budgie.

Vincenzo Bovino was hired as the new brand and PR Manager.

Ubuntu Budgie 17.04 was released in April 2017, and was updated to version 17.10 in October 2017.

In Ubuntu Budgie 18.10, 32-bit support has been dropped. 32-bit support has been also dropped in Ubuntu MATE.

HOW TO UPGRADE FROM 19.04 TO 19.10

IMPORTANT: remember to double-check you have the following vital package before you upgrade:

After the release of 19.10, you will be offered to upgrade when you run Software & Updates.

Alternatively, from a command line run:

IMPORTANT We do not recommend running  from a Tilix terminal since this will hang during the upgrade. If you want to use  switch to a TTY and login before running the command.

Some of the packages that were installed as part of the Ubuntu Budgie backports PPA (ppa:ubuntubudgie/backports) will be uninstalled as part of the upgrade. Use budgie-welcome to reinstall anything that is removed.

INFRASTRUCTURE

We just wanted to thank our infrastructure sponsors who help us keep the lights on.

DIGITAL OCEAN
On a mission to simplify cloud computing so developers and their teams can spend more time building software that changes the world.

DISCOURSE
Discourse is the 100% open source discussion platform built for the next decade of the Internet. Use it as a mailing list, discussion forum, long-form chat room, and more!

STATUS.IO
Status.io was built to help companies enhance transparency and keep their customers in the loop during downtime. The Status.io platform enables organizations to maintain a customized public system status page, external to their infrastructure, that always displays the current health of their app, website or service.

UpCloud
Cloud hosting for developers — Platinum client hardware partner for the Ubuntu Budgie team

David (project lead)

BUDGIE DESKTOP:

Once again Ubuntu Developers (thanks Marco Trevisan) & Ubuntu Budgie continues to take the lead to ensure budgie desktop remains compatible with the latest GNOME stack. This time around the development ride has been particularly rough but I’ve worked with the GNOME mutter developers to ensure a smooth ride for all distros uplifting to GNOME 3.34.

I’ve added the following enhancements:

• patch to bring support for nemo-desktop and DesktopFolder to budgie desktop settings.
• ability to increase the spacer applet sizing without impacting the overall size of the panel.
• sort the menu taking into account your user locale characters such as accents
• ability to launch applications from the menu requiring elevated privileges
• hopefully reduced the occasional budgie desktop based apport dialogs seen during logon

Also have pulled from upstream a Fonts DPI configuration option in budgie desktop settings.

ACCESSIBILITY

We have taken a closer look at making our distro more easy to use for those of us who need just a little extra help. This is where we need your help. What tricks & techniques are you aware of that helps improve the accessibility of the desktop?

We have incorporated a super useful screen magnifier — just enable via the Settings — Accessibility options

Bind both Super + Alt + = and Super + Alt + + as zoom-in keys

Also we have included the on-screen keyboard (onboard)

NVIDIA

Our 19.10 distro now includes the NVIDIA proprietary driver sets on its ISO. This allows NVIDIA users to install & configure drivers out of the box without needing an internet connection. Just click the wifi installer option to install the correct NVIDIA driver for your computer — obviously assuming that your hardware needs it.

Likewise, we have added support for Optimus graphics switching direct from the budgie panel. If you have Optimus graphics look for the intel/nvidia icon to switch between your intel & nvidia GPUs.

Nvidia Menu

ZFS

We are pleased to support Ubuntu’s ZFS initiative. For Ubuntu Budgie, you will have the option to install the ZFS file-system from the ISO

Remember this is experimental — so don’t use on a valuable production system. Canonical devs are very interested in feedback — so this is an easy way to help-out early with 20.04LTS development.

You will need a minimum of 4GB RAM to install ZFS — don’t use on RAM limited systems.

Is Budgie the Right Desktop Environment for You?

As a newer desktop environment, Budgie lacks some of the baggage that other projects carry. The interface feels modern. Popup menus look like they were designed in the 2010s, not the 1990s. If you want a free desktop that looks like a newer creation, Budgie is worth a look.

At the same time, the Budgie desktop doesn’t function all that differently from other interfaces you may have grown up using. GNOME often requires you change the way you interact with your computer. This isn’t true of Budgie. So if you like the traditional paradigm, add Budgie to your list (though you may have to move a few bits around depending on your distro’s default Budgie layout).

Also consider Budgie if you like being invested in a project from a smaller team with vision and imagination. The desktop is not unlike Pantheon in that regard. The interface is young, and how it matures remains to be seen.

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About The Author

Bertel is a digital minimalist who writes from a laptop with physical privacy switches and an OS endorsed by the Free Software Foundation. He values ethics over features and helps others take control over their digital lives.

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KNOWN ISSUES:

• When installed on default VirtualBox settings or QEMU, on first logon the session will crash when budgie-welcome is first open. The session also crashes when other applications such as Settings is open. https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/xorg-server/+bug/1745345
• For virtualbox ensure the VMSVGA graphics driver is used in the virtual machine settings
• For QEMU use the VMVGA graphics driver.
• Alternatively for both uninstall the gstreamer1.0-vaapi package
• If you find that after the upgrade clicking the menu button crashes the panel, then CTRL+ALT+T to open a terminal then run:
• Launching terminal based apps from the menu does not work. Workaround is to fool GLib to assume that a supported terminal (tilix isnt supported) is installed . https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/budgie-desktop/+bug/1873428

Please read the Ubuntu Release notes which covers issues common to all Ubuntu Flavors.