Ubuntu Looking at Discontinuing Its Source ISOs
Ubuntu’s plan to stop producing massive “source ISOs” — DVD-sized images containing all package source code — is largely seen as the retirement of a legacy distribution channel from the dial‑up era, since the same sources remain available via online repositories and tools like `apt-get source`. A minority of users with niche offline or archival workflows object, but most criticism in the thread centers instead on Canonical’s broader direction, especially its push toward Snap packages and perceived erosion of Ubuntu’s historical desktop advantages over Debian and other distributions.
Historical role of Ubuntu source ISOs
- Originally useful when bandwidth was scarce, dial‑up was common, and CDs/DVDs or magazine discs were practical ways to move large software sets.
- GPLv2’s requirement to provide source “by the same method” as binaries encouraged shipping source on physical media alongside binary CDs.
- Some recall real-world cases where mailing a CD was faster/cheaper than downloading tens or hundreds of MB over slow paid dial‑up.
Current relevance and alternatives
- Many commenters say they never used source ISOs and don’t see a modern use case.
- Sources are still available via standard mechanisms:
apt-get source, and browsing the Ubuntu archive (e.g.,pool/directories). - Several note that source ISOs are a legacy artifact of CD distribution; today, internal mirrors or targeted source downloads are preferred.
- One niche use case: organizations periodically downloading a full source image, archiving it internally, and using it for offline/embedded builds; they see value in a single, versioned bundle.
Confusion between source ISOs and installer ISOs
- Multiple replies correct misunderstandings: this change affects only source ISOs, not the normal installer images used to flash USBs.
- Some commenters initially conflate the two and worry about offline installs; others repeatedly clarify that binary install media are unaffected.
Snaps and Ubuntu’s broader direction
- A key point in the article and comments: source ISOs already omit Snap package sources, so they were incomplete for years.
- Several see snaps as the “real” problem: slower startup, apps being killed for updates, integration issues (e.g., Firefox), Windows‑like update prompts.
- Some argue this ISO decision alone is a weak reason to ditch Ubuntu; if leaving, they recommend doing so over snaps or Canonical’s broader choices.
Comparisons and ecosystem context
- Comparison to Red Hat/CentOS: some see both as removing “convenient bundles”; others argue RHEL sources are harder to obtain than Ubuntu’s, which remain openly archived.
- Multiple comments revisit Ubuntu’s historic strengths (desktop polish, newer packages than Debian stable, better drivers, large user base) and note that competing distros have largely caught up.