Introduction

The Ubuntu developers are moving quickly to bring you the absolute latest and greatest software the Open Source community has to offer. The Lucid Lynx Alpha 1 is the first alpha release of Ubuntu 10.04, bringing with it the earliest new features for the next version of Ubuntu.

This is an alpha release. Do not install it on production machines. The final stable version will be released on April 29, 2010.

Upgrading from Ubuntu 9.10 or Ubuntu 8.04 LTS

To upgrade from Ubuntu 9.10 on a desktop system, press Alt+F2 and type in "update-manager -d" (without the quotes) into the command box. Update Manager should open up and tell you: New distribution release '10.04' is available. Click Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions.

To upgrade from Ubuntu 9.10 on a server system: install the update-manager-core package if it is not already installed; edit /etc/update-manager/release-upgrades and set Prompt=normal; launch the upgrade tool with the command sudo do-release-upgrade -d; and follow the on-screen instructions.

New features in Lucid

Feature development for Lucid is happening with full speed. Please see the Lucid blueprint list for details.

Please test and report any bugs you find:

• http://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs

Updated Packages

As with every new release, packages--applications and software of all kinds--are being updated at a rapid pace. Many of these packages come from an automatic sync from Debian's Testing branch. For a list of all packages being accepted for 10.04 Lucid Lynx, please subscribe to lucid-changes:

• https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/lucid-changes

GNOME

Ubuntu Lucid Alpha 1 includes the latest GNOME desktop environment with a number of great new features.

Linux kernel 2.6.32

Alpha 1 includes the 2.6.32-7.10 kernel based on 2.6.32.

KDE SC 4.4 beta 1

Alpha 1 of Kubuntu features the new KDE SC 4.4 beta 1. For more information about new features in Kubuntu, see https://wiki.kubuntu.org/LucidLynx/Alpha1/Kubuntu.

Hal removal

Lucid Alpha 1 sports full removal of the hal package, making Ubuntu faster to boot and faster to resume from suspend.

Major new likewise-open version

The likewise-open package, which provides Active Directory authentication and server support for Linux, has been updated to version 5.4. The package supports upgrades from both the officially supported versions 4.0 (Ubuntu 8.04 LTS) and 4.1 (Ubuntu 9.10), as well as the likewise-open5 packages from universe. Since this upgrade involves a lot of configuration file changes and in-place database upgrades, testing and feedback is appreciated.

Download Alpha 1

Get it while it's hot. ISOs and torrents are available at:

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/lucid/alpha-1/ (Ubuntu Desktop and Server)
  http://uec-images.ubuntu.com/releases/lucid/alpha-1/ (Ubuntu Server for UEC and EC2)
  http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/lucid/alpha-1/ (Ubuntu ARM)
  http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/releases/lucid/alpha-1/ (Kubuntu Desktop and Netbook Remix)
  http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/lucid/alpha-1/ (Xubuntu)
  

Known issues

As is to be expected at this stage of the release process, there are several known bugs that users are likely to run into with Lucid Alpha 1. We have documented them here for your convenience along with any known workarounds, so that you don't need to spend time reporting these bugs again:

• The nv driver used by default for nvidia video chipsets on the LiveCD is reported to lead to X server crashes. Investigation of this issue is ongoing and should be resolved for Lucid Alpha 2. As a workaround, users can boot with safe graphics mode" to use the vesa driver. (494627)

• The wacom-tools driver no longer functions. It is no longer supported for xserver 1.7. It also requires HAL for configuration which is no longer available. A new driver xf86-input-wacom is under development upstream but was not yet available in time for this release.

• The firmware for the bnx2 driver is not available on the alternate and server installer images at install time. This bug will be resolved immediately after alpha 1. As a workaround, users can install using the desktop images; or install using the alternate or server CD and enable the network after installation. (494052)

• Manual partitioning in the graphical installer is reported to cause the installer to crash. Investigation of this issue is ongoing. (494608)

• Clicking on the installer icon on the Kubuntu desktop CD fails to launch ubiquity. As a workaround, the installer can be launched from the commandline by running kdesudo ubiquity. (494997)

• The Kubuntu alpha 1 desktop ISOs are too large to fit on a CD. They can be burned to a DVD or USB stick, or you can install using the alternate ISOs.

• The notify-osdnote notification system has "debug mode" turned on to help people find erroneously urgent notifications. The bubbles appears like this. This is expected behavior.

• Ubuntu Netbook Edition and other derivatives using gdm doesn't handle the default session gracefully. After the first reboot on installation you can either:
  • unlog from your session, choose "Ubuntu Netbook Edition" (or other) on gdm and then log in again.

  • run sudo /usr/lib/gdm/gdm-set-default-session --keep-old une (replacing une by xubuntu or mythbuntu depending on your case)

Reporting bugs

It should come as no surprise that this alpha release of Lucid Lynx contains other bugs. Your comments, bug reports, patches and suggestions will help fix bugs and improve future releases. Please report bugs using the tools provided.

If you want to help out with bugs, the Bug Squad is always looking for help.

Participate in Ubuntu

If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, take a look at the list of ways you can participate at

• http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/

More information

You can find out more about Ubuntu on the Ubuntu website and Ubuntu wiki.

To sign up for future Ubuntu development announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu's development announcement list at:

• http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-announce