Lubuntu is a derivative, i.e. a spin-off of the popular Linux distribution Ubuntu. The name Lubuntu stands for “Lightweight Ubuntu” and gives a first indication of what the system is primarily intended for. Even computers with poor performance and old hardware can upgrade to a Lubuntu operating system that offers many possibilities with only low demands. Lubuntu uses LXQt as a desktop environment in order to be able to make as few demands as possible.
The origins of Lubuntu go back to 2009, when Mario Behling started the minimalist system as a community project in March of that year. The first version could be tested from September 2009 as a live CD, but could not be installed. Installations were possible the following year. Initially, however, this option was unofficial, since the status as a genuine LTS version had not yet been granted at that time. This step was taken in 2013 with version 11.10, which was shipped as a 64-bit live CD and counts as the first official member of the Ubuntu family. Ever since, new versions and updates have followed every six months, being released at the same time as Ubuntu.