Linux Mint


Linux Mint is a community-driven Linux distribution based on Ubuntu or Debian. Linux Mint comes bundled with a variety of free and open-source applications and can provide full out-of-the-box multimedia support for those who choose to include some proprietary software, such as multimedia codecs.
The project was created by Clément Lefèbvre and is being actively developed by the Linux Mint Team and community.

History

Development of Linux Mint began in 2006 with a beta release of Linux Mint 1.0, code-named 'Ada', based on Kubuntu. Following its release, Linux Mint 2.0 'Barbara' was the first version to use Ubuntu as its codebase. Linux Mint had few users from these early versions until the release of Linux Mint 3.0, 'Cassandra'.
Linux Mint 2.0 was based on Ubuntu 6.10, using its package repositories and using it as a codebase. From there, Linux Mint followed its own codebase, building each release from its previous one, but continued to use the package repositories from the latest Ubuntu release. This resulted in making the base between the two systems almost identical, guaranteeing full compatibility between the two distributions rather than having Mint become a fork.
In 2008, Linux Mint adopted the same release cycle as Ubuntu and dropped its minor version number before releasing version 5 'Elyssa'. The same year, in an effort to increase the compatibility between the two systems, Linux Mint decided to abandon its code-base and changed the way it built its releases. Starting with Linux Mint 6 'Felicia', each release was now completely based on the latest Ubuntu release, built directly from it, and timed for approximately one month after the corresponding Ubuntu release, usually in May or November.
In 2010, Linux Mint released Linux Mint Debian Edition. Unlike the other Ubuntu-based editions, LMDE was originally a rolling release based directly on Debian and was not tied to Ubuntu packages or its release schedule. It was announced on May 27, 2015 that the Linux Mint team would no longer support the original rolling release version of LMDE after January 1, 2016. LMDE 2 'Betsy' was a long term support release based on Debian Jessie. When LMDE 2 was released it was announced that all LMDE users would be automatically upgraded to new versions of MintTools software and new desktop environments before they were released into the main edition of Linux Mint.
On February 20, 2016, the Linux Mint website was breached by unknown hackers, who briefly replaced download links for a version of Linux Mint with a modified version that contained malware. The hackers also breached the database of the website's user forum. Linux Mint immediately took its server offline to fix the issue and subsequently implemented enhanced security configurations for their website and forum.

Releases

Every version of Linux Mint is given a version number and, until the 18.x series, was code-named with a feminine first name ending in 'a' and beginning with a letter of the alphabet that increased with every iteration. The 18.x series broke from the pattern with version 18 having the name 'Sarah'.
Initially, there were two Linux Mint releases per year. Following the release of Linux Mint 5 in 2008, every fourth release was labeled a long-term support version, indicating that it was supported for longer than traditional releases. Versions 5 and 9 had three years of support, and all LTS versions following received five years of support.
On May 31, 2014, with the release of Linux Mint 17, the Linux Mint team adopted a new release strategy. Starting with the release of Mint 17, all future versions were planned to use a LTS version of Ubuntu as a base, until 2016. Under this strategy, Mint 17.1 was released on November 29, 2014, Mint 17.2 was released on June 30, 2015, and Mint 17.3 was released on December 4, 2015. The 17.x releases are intended to be an easy, optional upgrade. All three versions included upgrades to the Cinnamon and MATE Desktop Environments and various Mint tools. In addition, Mint 17.2 and 17.3 included an upgrade to the LibreOffice suite. The 18.x series follows the pattern set by the 17.x series, by using Ubuntu 16.04 LTS as a base.
Linux Mint does not communicate specific release dates as new versions are published 'when ready', meaning that they can be released early when the distribution is ahead of schedule or late when critical bugs are found. New releases are announced, with much other material, on the Linux Mint blog.
Reviews of Linux Mint 18 'Sarah' were somewhat mixed, with several that were quite favourable and others critical of several specific new problems, with multiple reviews complaining about the lack of multimedia/codec support by default. Multimedia codecs that had previously been included in the standard Mint distribution were no longer included in 'Sarah', but could be loaded with a graphical application that one Ars Technica reviewer said should be obvious for new users.
On January 3, 2018, the Linux Mint Team released news of Linux Mint 19 'Tara'. The team has stated that the 19.x releases will use GTK 3.22, and will be based on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, which will be supported until 2023. On June 29, 2018, Linux Mint 19 'Tara' Cinnamon was released. On December 24, 2019, Linux Mint 19.3, 'Tricia' was released, which will receive security updates until 2023.
On June 27, 2020, Linux Mint 20 'Ulyana' was released. It is an LTS version with support until 2025.

Features

Linux Mint primarily uses free and open-source software. Up to and including version 17.3, the installation process included some proprietary software, such as plug-ins and codecs that provide Adobe Flash, MP3, and DVD playback, by default. The installer for version 18 no longer included any proprietary software. Since version 18.1, the installer has provided an option to include third-party and proprietary software.
Linux Mint comes with a wide range of software installed, including LibreOffice, Firefox, Thunderbird, HexChat, Pidgin, Transmission, and VLC media player. Additional software that is not installed by default can be downloaded using the package manager, adding a PPA, or adding a source to the sources file in the etc directory. Linux Mint allows networking ports to be closed using its firewall, with customized port selection available. The default Linux Mint desktop environments, Cinnamon and MATE, support many languages. Linux Mint can also run many programs designed for Microsoft Windows, using the Wine Windows compatibility layer software for Linux, or virtualization software, including VMware Workstation and VirtualBox, or KVM hypervisor using Virtual Machine Manager.
Linux Mint is available with a number of desktop environments to choose from, including the default Cinnamon desktop, MATE and Xfce. Other desktop environments can be installed via APT, Synaptic, or via the custom Mint Software Manager.
Linux Mint actively develops software for its operating system. Most of the development is done in Python and the source code is available on GitHub.

Software by Linux Mint

Cinnamon

The Cinnamon desktop environment is a fork of GNOME Shell based on the innovations made in Mint Gnome Shell Extensions. It was released as an add-on for Linux Mint 12 and has been available as a default desktop environment since Linux Mint 13.

MintTools

Linux Mint can be booted and run from a USB flash drive on any PC capable of booting from a USB drive, with the option of saving settings to the flash drive. A USB creator program is available to install an Ubuntu Live Linux Mint on a USB drive. Alternatively, the Linux Mint ISO can be burned to a DVD to boot from.
The Windows installer Mint4Win allows Linux Mint to be installed from within Microsoft Windows, much like the Wubi installer for Ubuntu. The operating system could then be removed, as with other Windows software, using the Windows Control Panel. This method requires no partitioning of the hard drive. It is only useful for Windows users, and is not meant for permanent installations because it incurs a slight performance loss. This installer was included on the Live DVD until Linux Mint 16, but removed in the Linux Mint 16 'Petra' release because the size of the Live DVD images would have exceeded what the software could reliably handle.
Installation supports a Logical Volume Manager with automatic partitioning only, and disk encryption since Linux Mint 15. UTF-8, the default character encoding, supports a variety of non-Roman scripts.

Editions

Linux Mint has multiple editions that are based on Ubuntu, with various desktop environments available. Linux Mint also has an edition based on Debian.

Ubuntu-based editions

As of Linux Mint 13, there are two main editions of Linux Mint developed by the core development team and using Ubuntu as a base. One includes Linux Mint's own Cinnamon as the desktop environment while the other uses MATE. Linux Mint also develops an additional version that features the Xfce desktop environment by default but has generally had secondary priority and is usually released somewhat later than the two main editions.
Beginning with the release of Linux Mint 19, the KDE edition was officially discontinued; however, the KDE 17.x and 18.x releases will continue to be supported until 2019 and 2021, respectively. Older releases, now also obsolete, included editions that featured the GNOME, LXDE, and Fluxbox desktop environments by default.

OEM version

The distribution provided an OEM version for manufacturers to use; however, this version was discontinued with the release of v18 Sarah in order to reduce the number of ISO images that needed to be maintained. Manufacturers wanting to perform an OEM install now have the option to choose so in the live CD boot menu.

No Codecs version

The distribution provided a 'No Codecs' version for magazines, companies, and distributors in the United States, Japan, and countries where the legislation allows patents to apply to software and distribution of restricted technologies may require the acquisition of third-party licences; however, this version was discontinued with release of v18 Sarah. Users now have the option whether or not to install multimedia codecs during the installation; additionally, multimedia codecs can also be installed via a link on the Mint Welcome Screen any time after installation.

LMDE

The Linux Mint Debian Edition uses Debian Stable as the software source base rather than Ubuntu. LMDE was originally based directly on Debian's Testing branch, but is designed to provide the same functionality and look and feel as the Ubuntu-based editions. LMDE has its own package repositories.
LMDE claims certain advantages and disadvantages compared to 'Mint Main' :
The original LMDE had a semi-rolling release development model, which periodically introduced 'Update Packs'. Installing an Update Pack allowed the user to keep LMDE 1 current, without having to reinstall the system every six months as with Mint Main. As of May 17, 2015, it has an upgrade path to LMDE 2.

LMDE 2

LMDE 2 was released on April 10, 2015, becoming the current version of LMDE. LMDE 2 is based on Debian Stable, but receives automatic updates to the latest versions of MintTools and the installed desktop environment before they are released into the Mint Main edition. LMDE 2 is available with both the MATE and Cinnamon desktop environments. Both image versions received an update in January 2017. As of the start of 2019, this version is no longer supported.
LMDE 2 remains based on sysvinit but with a 'functional logind' from systemd.

LMDE 3

LMDE 3 is 'very likely' to complete the switch to systemd from sysvinit. It is based on Debian Stretch, and was released on August 31, 2018, shipping as a single edition with Cinnamon.

LMDE 4

LMDE 4 is based on Debian Buster, and was released on March 20, 2020, again shipping as a single edition using Cinnamon.

Development

Individual users and companies using the operating system act as donors, sponsors and partners of the distribution. Linux Mint relies on user feedback to make decisions and orient its development. The official blog often features discussions where users are asked to voice their opinion about the latest features or decisions implemented for upcoming releases. Ideas can be submitted, commented upon and rated by users via the Linux Mint Community Website.
The community of Linux Mint users use Launchpad to participate in the translation of the operating system and in reporting bugs.
Most development is done in Python and organized online using GitHub, making it easy for developers to provide patches, implement additional features, and also fork Linux Mint sub-projects. With each release, features are added that are developed by the community. In Linux Mint 9, for instance, the ability to edit menu items is a feature that was contributed by a Linux Mint user.

Reception

In May 2013, David Hayward of TechRadar praised Linux Mint for focusing on desktop users.
In a 2012 online poll at Lifehacker, Linux Mint was voted the second best Linux distribution, after Ubuntu, with almost 16% of the votes. In October 2012, Linux Format named Linux Mint the best distro for 2012. In July 2013, Linux User & Developer gave Linux Mint 15 'Olivia' a score of 5/5, stating 'We haven't found a single problem with the distro ... we're more than satisfied with the smooth, user-friendly experience that Linux Mint 15, and Cinnamon 1.8, provides for it to be our main distro for at least another 6 months'.
ZDNet Contributing Editor Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols reviewing Linux Mint 19 and LM 19.1 in articles 'The Linux Mint desktop continues to lead the rest' on in July 2018 and 'The better-than-ever Linux desktop' in December 2018 noted quality, stability, security and user-friendliness of Linux Mint comparing to other popular distributions. In ZDNet review of Linux Mint 19.2 it was noted '... after looking at many Linux desktops year in and out, Linux Mint is the best of the breed. It's easy to learn, powerful, and with its traditional windows, icons, menus, and pointers interface, it's simple to use'.

Minimum hardware requirements

For desktop:
  • 2 GHz dual core processor
  • 1 GB RAM
  • 15 GB of hard-drive space
  • Screen of 1024×768 resolution
  • Either a CD/DVD drive or a USB port for the installation media
  • Internet access is helpful
For laptop:
  • Intel Atom processor @ 1.6 GHz
  • 386 MB of system memory
  • 4 GB of disk space
  • Screen of 1024×600 resolution
  • Graphics chipset with support for visual effects
Linux Mint allows booting from only i386 and amd64 architectures.