From what we know so far, the upcoming Ubuntu 20.04 LTS has been given the code name “Focal Fossa,” and is expected to be available to the general public starting from April 23rd of the coming year.
The code names of major Ubuntu updates are chosen in alphabetical order. Since ‘Eoan Ermine’ was suggested to be the code name of Ubuntu 19.10, we already knew that Ubuntu 20.04 would be codenamed after the letter ‘F.’ And, this is just what happened as the news broke out that this LTS version of Ubuntu will be called Focal Fossa.
Now that we know what it’s called, it only makes sense to dig deeper and find out the real inspiration behind its code name.
When it comes to Ubuntu code names, the first word is an adjective, whereas the second is an animal species. Here, Focal means necessary, and Fossa is a carnivorous mammal that looks similar to a cat and could be seen in Madagascar.
The minds behind Ubuntu cannot come up with a better code name as Focal Fossa highlights all the qualities that should be present in the upcoming LTS release of Ubuntu. Not only will Ubuntu 20.04 prove to be a significant release (all thanks to its long-term support), but it also shows characteristics such as being dominant, which are found in the Fossa species.
Now coming to the release date of Ubuntu 20.04, there hasn’t been any official announcement by Canonical as of yet. With that being said, Ubuntu Wiki provides some details about the release schedule, usually followed by the company. But more importantly, it also suggests that Ubuntu ‘Focal Fossa’ could be released as early as April 23rd, 2020, while the release candidate may become available from April 16th.
Conclusion
Since Ubuntu 20.04 is an LTS release, its primary focus will be on providing stability and reliability to its users. Accordingly, it is expected to accompany a plethora of improvements and bug-fixes rather than being all about new features. If you want to know more about the development cycle of Ubuntu 20.04, we suggest you visit this link.
