Ubuntu

Why do we use childish names like Precise Pangolin?

Asked by Martin Corrick

I've used Ubuntu for years now, and in general I'm happy with it. But why are its names so complicated? Each version is surely identified very well by its number, e.g. Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS. Why add the annoying, childish and geeky Precise Pangolin?

If you were marketing some other piece of high-tech, cutting-edge gear (such as an aircraft or a car) would you call it Precise Pangolin? The hell you would! 'Oh yeah, I saw the President driving by in a smart Precise Pangolin the other day...' No! Let's get rid of the geeky names!

The extra names create extra problems, too, because they makes searching more difficult. For example,12.04 is often called 'Precise', which is further step into confusion. How can newbies be expected to know that kind of thing?

 Let's get rid of the geeky names!

Martin

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Martin Corrick (martin-corrick) said : 		#1

Actually I should have said I was more than satisfied witrh Ubuntu - it's a wonderful, heart-warming example of voluntary collaboration without thought of profit. But it's competing in a tough market, and it shouldn't be handicapping itself with silly names in an age when the brand is everything.

Martin

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#2

Obviously not familiar with the stupid codenames Microsoft have:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Microsoft_codenames

Windows phone codenamed Mango
Visual C++ 4 codenamed Zamboni

People like names, just like websites have names, not numbers. I find the names tiresome and just refer to the releases by number.

When you search the web, add both the number and name.

Look at some of the suggesttions for names (You can suggest your own if you like):
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DevelopmentCodeNames

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Warren Hill (warren-hill) said : 		#3

Lots of products have slightly silly development names. The difference is that because Linux is community developed these names come out into the open.

Ubuntu is based on Debian and it's names are based on characters in the Disney Pixar Toy Story movies.
See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian

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Thomas Krüger (thkrueger) said : 		#4

Why the childish names? Hmm, it's said that the first 40 years of childhood are the hardest for a man.
Mark Shuttlewoth will turn 40 in September. Maybe the names will change then. ;-)

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