Canonical Ltd., founded by Mark Shuttleworth in South Africa in 2004, is a UK-based, privately held computer software company. It is best known for its Ubuntu operating system, which is one of the most popular distributions of Linux worldwide. The company’s name, “Canonical”, signifies its aim to provide a standardized, definitive system that ensures consistency and reliability in the software development environment.
Canonical’s core product, Ubuntu, is designed to be user-friendly and accessible to both beginners and experienced computer users. Ubuntu is released in regular intervals and is supported by Canonical with updates for up to five years for the long-term support (LTS) versions. This makes it an attractive choice for enterprise environments where stability and long-term support are critical. Ubuntu’s popularity can largely be attributed to its ease of use, robust community support, and its free availability.
Beyond just an operating system, Canonical also offers a range of services around Ubuntu. These include professional support, Ubuntu Advantage, which is a comprehensive service package that provides support and system management tools for Ubuntu deployments in enterprises. It also provides Landscape, a proprietary web-based service that allows for management and monitoring of Ubuntu installations on multiple clients, simplifying the management of large-scale deployments.
Canonical has been a pioneer in promoting open-source software. It supports the wider open-source community by packaging thousands of free and open-source applications for easier installation and integration into Ubuntu. This commitment helps drive innovation and security in software development, as open-source projects often benefit from broad collaboration and peer review.
One of Canonical’s significant contributions to the open-source community is Snapcraft, or Snaps, a universal Linux package management system. Snaps are containerized software packages that are simple to create and install. They isolate applications from the underlying system and from each other, which enhances security and allows for seamless updates. Snaps can run across a variety of Linux distributions, which underscores Canonical’s commitment to universal Linux development.
In the realm of cloud computing, Canonical has also made strides with its Ubuntu Cloud Infrastructure. It offers an easy way to deploy and manage cloud services, providing tools to handle the orchestration of virtual machines, containers, and other cloud resources. Canonical’s partnerships with major cloud providers demonstrate its significant influence in cloud environments.
Furthermore, Canonical delves into the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Ubuntu Core, a minimal, containerized version of Ubuntu designed for IoT devices and large-scale cloud container deployments. Ubuntu Core uses the same Snap technology, providing secure and updatable software while operating on a range of hardware, from high-end servers to low-power IoT devices.
Canonical also engages in collaborations and partnerships across various sectors to expand its reach and adaptability. It has collaborated with major hardware manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Lenovo to ensure Ubuntu is pre-installed on a wide range of devices. Such partnerships enhance the accessibility of Ubuntu and contribute to its widespread adoption.
Overall, Canonical Ltd. not only contributes significant advancements in software development but also plays a crucial role in shaping the landscape of modern technology through its innovations in system software, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things. Its commitment to open-source principles and community-driven development continues to have a lasting impact on the technology industry worldwide.