Ubuntu To Become A Rolling Release Distribution?

If rumors to be believed, Ubuntu could become a rolling release distribution in near future. Rolling release is a software development model in which the software system is continuously under development and instead of providing upgraded releases at a regular interval, it is updated continuously. Ubuntu plans to release the LTS version every two years. Which means instead of seeing a new Ubuntu version every six month, you will get continuous upgrades. And the new version will be released every two years.

As reported by Webupd8, Leann Ogasawara, Canonical Kernel Team Manager, said the following in a Google hangout video:

The plan was by 14.04 to target what we’re calling a rolling release and go from a LTS to LTS only model and eliminate these intermediate releases. That was being discussed earlier, we didn’t set anything in stone but that’s still in the cards as a possibility of happening when we hit the next 14.04 release so it could go from 14.04 to 16.04 and everything in between is what they consider a rolling release [...], following the latest package releases, not only for the Kernel but for the entire distribution [...].

What could it mean to you as a regular Ubuntu user?

Honestly, nothing much. You’ll be getting all the upgrades and updates regularly. Earlier you had to do an upgrade to a newer Ubuntu version every six month. Which was not liked by few (if not many). In rolling release, you will have the latest operating system without taking the pain to install a newer version.

Possible drawbacks? Well, yes. As you know Ubuntu has large following of enthusiastic fans who eagerly wait for a newer release. There is always so much of hype surrounded with the a newer version. This all will be seen after an interval of two years, if rolling release is accepted.