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Canonical Names Ubuntu Linux 17.04 'Zesty Zapus' (betanews.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the leapin'-lemurs! dept.

"Linux distributions and silly names go together like peanut butter and jelly," notes BetaNews. BrianFagioli writes: One of the most well-known Linux distributions to use funny names is Ubuntu. It famously uses the convention of an adjective and a lesser-known animal, each starting with the same letter... For example, Ubuntu 16.10 uses the letter "Y" -- "Yakkety Yak". The next version of the operating system will use the letter "Z" [and] Canonical has chosen "Zesty Zapus"... It is apparently a type of jumping mouse...

"As we come to the end of the alphabet, I want to thank everyone who makes this fun. Your passion and focus and intellect, and occasionally your sharp differences, all make it a privilege to be part of this body incorporate. Right now, Ubuntu is moving even faster to the centre of the cloud and edge operations. From AWS to the zaniest new devices, Ubuntu helps people get things done faster, cleaner, and more efficiently, thanks to you...", says Mark Shuttleworth, CEO, Canonical... "we are a tiny band in a market of giants, but our focus on delivering free software freely together with enterprise support, services and solutions appears to be opening doors, and minds, everywhere. So, in honour of the valiantly tiny leaping long-tailed over the obstacles of life, our next release which will be Ubuntu 17.04, is hereby code named the Zesty Zapus".
My favorite was Xenial Xerus.

67 comments

  1. News that matters. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The naming conventions sense of fun can be found throughout the distro, and not in a good way.

    1. Re:News that matters. by Hognoxious · · Score: 0, Troll

      systemd is fucking hilarious, which is ironic since its creator is genetically incapable of humour.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    2. Re:News that matters. by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 1

      Make your own distro with upstarts...

      --
      Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
    3. Re:News that matters. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The naming conventions sense of fun can be found throughout the distro, and not in a good way.

      Agreed. 15 minutes in the code revealed:

      • Reticulating Retard
      • Taphephobic Trump
      • Palpitating Penis
      • Cacaesthesitic Clinton
      • Vacillating Vulva
      • Pedicular Podesta
      • Assoting Assange
      • Limivorous Linus
      • Stultifying Stallman
      • Self-Pollinating Shuttlesworth
    4. Re: News that matters. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's easier just to use FreeBSD.

    5. Re: News that matters. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      FreeBSD. I wanted to love thee. But your distaste for my Intel graphics board means I must show you the door.

      I could not get X to start with a 3 year old Intel on chip graphics. Nada. Zip. Documentation was sparse with "just works" painted on it. I followed it and it didn't just work.

      Forum posts were met with "it should just work" responses. Nobody seemed willing or able to help me find the next step to make it work. I would have updated documentation, submitted patches, whatever, if I had figured it out.

      So I'm back on Windows 8 because at least it will never try to force *any* of shoddyering's crapware on me.

  2. No more letters in the alphabet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess this is the final upgrade.

    1. Re:No more letters in the alphabet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Sure there are. The next release must be Åbdominal Åwl, the next after that Äigenvalued Äsp, and finally the Örgent wÖrm.

    2. Re: No more letters in the alphabet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let's turn it into proper words instead of pretending the umlauts doesn't matter.

      Ãngslig Ãlg
      Ã...ldrad Ã...l
      Ã-vervakande Ã-rn

    3. Re: No more letters in the alphabet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Trying to find phonetically close English animal names is surprisingly difficult for a non-English speaking non-zoologist like me.

    4. Re:No more letters in the alphabet by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 2

      No, after Z you move to AA. Clearly they have to go to Aardvark, the only question is what aa adjective to pair it with. It's when they get to bb that they run into real trouble.

    5. Re:No more letters in the alphabet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bb can only be a short of the legendary Big Brother reality television series. Adjectives in the contextually proper form would be b..baloney and b..bullshit, for example.

  3. It was cute, but I am glad we're at Z by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Naming the Ubuntu releases this way was fun for a while, but I'll be glad to see it end. I hope they make the sensible choice and choose a new naming theme (even if they do continue the scheme and end up wrapping around the alphabat back to A). The animal names are clumsy. That's why everyone uses the adjective (such as "precise," "trusty" or "zesty").

    1. Re:It was cute, but I am glad we're at Z by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yes, I agree, they should also make the default theme black&white, and run a DRM module which allows the sound card to play only funeral marches and requiems

    2. Re:It was cute, but I am glad we're at Z by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I intended to convey quite the opposite. I think it's boring to continue with the same theme forever. I think the animal names had a fine run, but I look forward to a new theme. I would say change is the opposite of boring in most cases.

    3. Re: It was cute, but I am glad we're at Z by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yep time for 18.04 Anal Angels

  4. Finally! by wjcofkc · · Score: 2

    The non-Linux world will now take Linux seriously.

    --
    Brought to you by Carl's Junior.
    1. Re:Finally! by thegarbz · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The non-Linux world will now take Linux seriously.

      I don't know what you mean. I've never seen a silly name on Ubuntu. Not when I boot the system, not on the GUI, not on www.ubuntu.com, not when I click on Desktop, and not when I click on download which gives me the option of 16.04.1 LTS or 16.10.

      The non-Linux world didn't even know we gave Ubuntu silly names, so if this was what was holding everyone back, then we've failed big time.

    2. Re:Finally! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      >I've never seen a silly name on Ubuntu.

      It's telepathic, you insensitive clod!

    3. Re:Finally! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Open TTY1 and chech what's on top.

  5. Meanwhile... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On a real OS, like FreeBSD, we just increment the number up one.

    1. Re:Meanwhile... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so that makes chrome and firefox's versioning scheme ok then?

    2. Re: Meanwhile... by Entrope · · Score: 1

      For OSes with frequent releases, calendar-based numbering makes more sense than major numbers. What qualifies as a major change in an OS is very subjective, and it means nobody needs to remember how old FooBSD 7.5 or 8.3 or whatever is.

      I won't argue that the silly names are a good idea, though.

  6. I thought it was by Billly+Gates · · Score: 0

    Don't talk back?

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
  7. Prefered Pronoun? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What is this distro's preferred pronoun for when we don't want to say Ubuntu Linux 17.04 'Zesty Zapus'?

    1. Re: Prefered Pronoun? by Entrope · · Score: 1

      "Zit", because obviously it's neither zim nor zer.

    2. Re: Prefered Pronoun? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You say Ubuntu 17.04, was that really so hard?

  8. So unprofessional by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can't imagine my CTO's response if I said I wanted to install 'Zesty Zapus' on a server.

    Fortunately, we stick with Debian.

    1. Re: So unprofessional by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Wow, disqualifying something because of a name. I would hate to have you as an employee

    2. Re: So unprofessional by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, disqualifying something because of a name. I would hate to have you as an employee

      Not the same AC here, but re-read the previous post...fuck it, here it is with the relevant part in bold.

      I can't imagine my CTO's response if I said I wanted to install 'Zesty Zapus' on a server.

      Fortunately, we stick with Debian.

      Some people are weird when it comes to inane shit like this, my CEO still thinks there's something suspect about the fact I've got Gimp installed on a number of machines..

    3. Re:So unprofessional by Svenne · · Score: 1

      Can't tell if you're joking, but yeah, Squeeze, Potato, Wheezy and Woody are so much better...

      --

      Slagborr
  9. 17 going on 26 by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 0

    For example, Ubuntu 16.10 uses the letter "Y" -- "Yakkety Yak". The next version of the operating system will use the letter "Z" [and] Canonical has chosen "Zesty Zapus"...

    Version 17 will use the letter "Z" and yet there are 26 letters in the alphabet. Hmm... Did I miss a Sesame Street episode somewhere?

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:17 going on 26 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      17 = 2017....

    2. Re:17 going on 26 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      For example, Ubuntu 16.10 uses the letter "Y" -- "Yakkety Yak". The next version of the operating system will use the letter "Z" [and] Canonical has chosen "Zesty Zapus"...

      Version 17 will use the letter "Z" and yet there are 26 letters in the alphabet. Hmm... Did I miss a Sesame Street episode somewhere?

      FWIW, it's not version 17 - it's the version being targeted for the 4th month of 2017 (hence 17.04).

      They played fast & loose with the codenames in the early days, but then got back on track ... so that Zesty Zapus is indeed the 26th release.

      Big Bird would be proud!

  10. 28, depending on numbering... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They have been doing double releases per major for a while, so either 26 since starting the current naming scheme, or more, unless they started a few letters in. (I didn't pay attention to Ubuntu until years in, since it didn't offer much over debian until launchpad launched, and most of my installs were either slakware, redhat/fedora, sorcerer, or gentoo prior to that.)

  11. Can they get 16.04 to work first? by mea2214 · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Still waiting for whatever bugs are causing my installation of 16.04 to randomly freeze after 12 hours of runtime. Can they work on getting that more reliable so I can ditch Windows 10?

    1. Re:Can they get 16.04 to work first? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I get a lot of random freezes and crashes with 16.04.1, Gnome, Gnome classic, lxde, xfce.. fresh install or configured and 3 weeks later.. makes no difference. I just gave up. They have one more shot at an LTS before Win7 is retired.. at least I have a couple $20 Win8 (clearance sale) upgrades I can fall back on to give them two more chances. but fuck, I WILL NOT USE WINDOWS 10.. UGH NO FUCKING WAY. I'd rather sell my kidney and buy a Mac... and I only have ONE of those.

    2. Re:Can they get 16.04 to work first? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you try asking on Ubuntu forums? I had a freeze up with Intel Bay Trail, a quick search and bios setting fixed it. Don't bother asking on Ask Ubuntu, that shithole is like playing Jeopardy.

    3. Re:Can they get 16.04 to work first? by orvam · · Score: 3, Informative

      intel_idle.max_cstate=1? That one has been a pain in the ass, but the fix probably will come from upstream and not from Ubuntu.

    4. Re:Can they get 16.04 to work first? by khz6955 · · Score: 1

      @mea2214: "Still waiting for whatever bugs are causing my installation of 16.04 to randomly freeze after 12 hours of runtime. Can they work on getting that more reliable so I can ditch Windows 10?" link

      What was the response when you posted the problem on the Ubuntu Forum?

    5. Re:Can they get 16.04 to work first? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I bought a Dell XPS 13 and its Ubuntu would not update and froze randomly. I switched to Linux Mint 17 and all ist copasetic-not to mention so much better than Ubuntu's cellphone aping UI.

    6. Re:Can they get 16.04 to work first? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hi. I'm looking for a kidney to buy.

    7. Re:Can they get 16.04 to work first? by amalcolm · · Score: 1

      Fava beans and a nice bottle of Chianti?

      --
      Time for bed, said Zebedee - boing
  12. Next up... by Jaegs · · Score: 1

    Aarrghhing Aardvark.

  13. zapus hudsonius: the meadow jumping mouse by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadow_jumping_mouse

    Kawaii desu ne?

  14. Ubuntu is a buggy mess by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Seriously, I try it every other year or so to see if its better and it is terrible. Mint is ok but the lack of in place upgrading kills it for me.

    1. Re:Ubuntu is a buggy mess by i.r.id10t · · Score: 1

      I upgraded 17.1 -> 17.2- > 17.3 -> 18 . Took a few cycles of updating and dist-upgrading but it worked fine.

      --
      Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
    2. Re:Ubuntu is a buggy mess by LVSlushdat · · Score: 2

      Ummm... based on those version numbers, I'm pretty sure you meant Mint not Ubuntu... yeah, I know Mint is based on Ubuntu, but Mint has its own version numbers and clever names.....

      --
      THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
    3. Re:Ubuntu is a buggy mess by khz6955 · · Score: 1

      @Anonymous Troll: "Seriously, I try it every other year or so to see if its better and it is terrible. Mint is ok but the lack of in place upgrading kills it for me." link

      Seriously, I totally believe you're not some anonymous troll ;)

  15. Please explain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why are versions given names? More importantly, why do people refer to the versions as the given names?

    It's very clear what you're talking about when you say version 13.4 or version 15.6. Why would you want to remember whether "drippy phallus" came before or after "anal wart"?

    1. Re:Please explain by Chandon+Seldon · · Score: 1

      These are development codenames. Releases get version numbers.

      --
      -- The act of censorship is always worse than whatever is being censored. Always.
  16. Next? by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 2

    Planets? Constellations? LOTR characters? Or more modern GoT characters?

    --
    Slashdot, fix the reply notifications... You won't get away with it...
  17. Awww Shucks... by LVSlushdat · · Score: 1

    I was hoping for Zippy Zebra...... sigh...

    --
    THANK YOU, Edward Snowden!! Americans owe you a debt of gratitude (whether they know it or not..)
  18. Fuck this distro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I lost all faith in them when they refused to use my "M" submission: Masturbating Monkey

    1. Re:Fuck this distro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait for Wanking Wombat.

    2. Re:Fuck this distro by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fucking fox?

  19. Is it real or humor (Linux Mint) by Trax3001BBS · · Score: 1

    There's just me on my system I refer to as deaf, no other users. I ran journalctl to check my system out and came across this:
    Oct 21 05:24:28 deaf dbus-daemon[1119]: Unknown username "whoopsie" in message bus configuration file

  20. If We go Back to A by JimSadler · · Score: 1

    If we go back to A i think Adorable Ass would be a good name for the next release.

  21. Ubuntu by mister_playboy · · Score: 1

    Ubuntu, with its three long vowel sounds, is actually fairly awkward for English speakers to pronounce correctly.

    --
    Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law ::: Love is the law, love under will
    1. Re:Ubuntu by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's the worst you've heard? For me it's you-bun-two. Cringey...

    2. Re:Ubuntu by vandamme · · Score: 1

      The geeks on the Linux Action Show always butcher names.

  22. Not the end of the alphabet at all... by Mattsson · · Score: 1

    Next should be something akin to "Ångkokt Ål" or "Ångerful Åländare".

    --
    /.Mattsson - My native language is not English, so please don't whine over linguistic errors. (That's lame anyway...)
  23. dumbshits by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    now that you've reached Z, you'll have to invent some other stupid naming scheme

  24. Another name suggestion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I like Zesty Pus.

  25. Seems there was a "zesty" something else by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    some time ago.

  26. Increase the value of the ASCII character by 1 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you look at the Unicode table [ http://web.alfredstate.edu/weimandn/miscellaneous/ascii/ASCII%20Conversion%20Chart.gif ],
    you can clearly see that with every release the value of the first character in ASCII increases by 1.
    Therefore, the name of the next release will start with the letter '['.