Goobuntu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Goobuntu was a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu LTS (long-term support). It was used by almost 10,000 Google employees.[1] It added a number of packages for in-house use, including security features and disabled the installation of some applications, but was otherwise similar. Thomas Bushnell, a Google technical leader for the company's Linux desktops, displayed Goobuntu at LinuxCon 2012. Bushnell explained that "Goobuntu is simply a light skin over standard Ubuntu."[2]

Some suggested Google might plan to market the distribution more widely, but Goobuntu was never officially released.[3][4][5] While both Google and Mark Shuttleworth, who spearheaded the development of Ubuntu, confirmed the existence of Goobuntu,[6] both denied that Google had any plans to market the operating system.[7]

Mark Shuttleworth confirmed that Google has contributed patches to Ubuntu.[6]

Google used Puppet to manage its installed base of Goobuntu machines.[2]

In 2018, Google replaced Goobuntu with gLinux, a Linux distribution based on Debian Testing.[8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Vance, Ashlee (2009-01-11). "A Software Populist Who Doesn't Do Windows". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  2. ^ a b Vaughan-Nichols, Steven J. (2012-08-29). "The truth about Goobuntu: Google's in-house desktop Ubuntu Linux". ZDNet. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  3. ^ King, Ben (2006-01-31). "Google at work on Linux". The Register. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  4. ^ "GoogleOS Scenarios". Slashdot. 2006-11-22. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  5. ^ "Google Working on Desktop Linux". Slashdot. 2006-01-31. Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  6. ^ a b Shuttleworth, Mark (2006-02-13). "Absolutely no truth to the rumour". Retrieved 2015-02-05.
  7. ^ Bylund, Anders (31 January 2006). "Google denies plans to distribute OS based on Ubuntu". Ars Technica.
  8. ^ Prakash, Abhishek (17 January 2018). "No More Ubuntu! Debian is the New Choice For Google's In-house Linux Distribution". it's FOSS.

External links[edit]