Ubuntu 15.04

Ubuntu 15.04: The Evolution of the "Vivid Vervet"

Released on April 23, 2015, Ubuntu 15.04—codenamed Vivid Vervet—was a significant "under-the-hood" release that marked a major shift in how the operating system functioned. While it looked similar to its predecessors, it introduced a new engine for system management and several refinements to the desktop experience.

The Big Switch: Hello, Systemd

The most controversial and important change in 15.04 was the switch from Ubuntu's homegrown Upstart to the systemd init system.

• The New Engine: Systemd is the software that handles the boot process and manages system services.

• Alignment with Linux: This move brought Ubuntu in line with other major distributions like Debian and Fedora, making it easier for developers to maintain software across different platforms.

• Boot Speed: While many users didn't notice a huge difference, systemd's parallel processing aimed to make the boot process more efficient and reliable.

Refined Desktop: Unity 7.3

The Unity desktop environment received several "common sense" updates that improved usability for everyday users:

• Locally Integrated Menus: By default, application menus (File, Edit, etc.) were moved back into the application's window title bar rather than being stuck at the top of the screen.

• Always Show Menus: For those who hated the "auto-hide" feature, a new setting allowed menus to stay visible at all times, saving users from hunting for them with their mouse.

• Dash Improvements: The search overlay (HUD and Dash) became faster and more intelligent, with improved online search results.

The Arrival of Ubuntu MATE

Ubuntu 15.04 was a historic release for fans of the "classic" Linux look, as Ubuntu MATE became an official Ubuntu flavor for the first time.

• GNOME 2 Spirit: MATE offered a fork of the classic GNOME 2 environment that many long-time Ubuntu users had missed since the switch to Unity.

• Official Support: Joining the official family meant users could get a stable, Canonical-supported version of the classic desktop experience.

Other Key Highlights

• Linux Kernel 3.19: This update brought better support for newer graphics cards and improved power management for laptops.

• Ubuntu Make: A new command-line tool made it incredibly easy for developers to install their entire programming environment (like Android SDK or IDEA) with a single command.

• Snappy Ubuntu Core: 15.04 introduced a "minimal" version of Ubuntu designed specifically for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and cloud deployments.

• App Updates: Users received the latest versions of Firefox 37, LibreOffice 4.4, and a completely redesigned video player.

Whether you remember it for the "Systemd debate" or the birth of Ubuntu MATE, 15.04 was a solid, professional release that refined the Unity era before the move toward GNOME Shell.