For the forthcoming Ubuntu 24.04 release, Canonical’s engineers are dedicating their efforts towards enhancing the Ubuntu installer, with “provisioning” as a major focus.
“Provisioning?”
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Indeed, Canonical aims to incorporate features predominantly used in server deployments to desktop, now that the Ubuntu desktop installer employs the same backend tech as that in Ubuntu Server.
Talking to OEMs highlighted an overemphasis on install processes, leading to a shift from installation to provisioning within Ubuntu desktop.
This change aims to simplify the development process and assist those utilizing Ubuntu in managed environments.
Although the needs of personal users may not be as multifaceted as those of OEMs, the goal is to create a single adaptable installation or provisioner that meets everyone’s requirements.
So, should we now look at our laptops and consider “I’m going to provision Ubuntu on that”?
Anyway, most of the interesting “provisioning” features, like setting up a user account after installing, won’t make it in to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS release, but we will see a visual revamp, a brand new options, and a rejig to the order some steps appear in.
Let’s take a look at what’s landed so far!
Ubuntu 24.04 Installer Refresh
Note: the following screenshots are heavily compressed (so any fuzzy icons or pixelated text are on me). Also, the installer designs below do not reflect the final, finished product so are subject to change.
As in the existing installer, the first page of gets to straight to business: pick a language:
Language selection remains first
The second side is brand new, giving up-front access to accessibility options. As per the new “provisioning” ethos, this slide allows users to setup accessibility options before they install Ubuntu and have those settings carry over.
Each of the 5 sections can be unfurled to reveal the options within. This all happens on the same page, so there are no pop-ups, modals, or dialogs to wrestle with. This conscientious improvement (looks to) greatly improve Ubuntu’s approach to out-of-the-box accessibility:
Keyboard layout section is now the third slide, and while there are no new options the page (as most others) adheres to the new design architecture. The image for this slide shows a grey laptop and compass because, er compass = travel = language, I guess?
The ‘Connect to a network’ slide picks up a couple of (much needed buffs) that mean this page no longer looks quite as lost/empty as it did.
The header now reads, “Connect to the internet?”, explaining the gist of the page more effectively to users. A wi-fi icon encapsulated in a speech bubble, complete with an arrow towards it, portrays the thought.
The caption underneath: This slide no longer appears as an afterthought
The revamp has significantly improved another slide, the install options page. Turning “what apps would you like to install to start with?” into a header rather than ordinary text reinforces that this is an essential page.
The options remain unchanged: default install (minimal) and full installation, with the “other options” mentioning automatic retrieval of third-party drivers and media codecs.
While the “type of installation” slide — which I still feel is a slightly understated explanation of this rather vital step — doesn’t get an eye-catching glyph but it does make better used of available space by being centred.
Similarly, the (dynamic) text explaining the current install situation and posing the question is more prominent and eye-catching and, for novices, is likely to be noticed far more readily than the tiny paragraph text the incumbent design opted for:
The rest of the slides that follow pretty much look like they do in the 23.10 installer, but the “set up your account” slide now appears before the timezone selection screen:
This page has been moved earlier
Beyond that, it’s as it was — for the moment at least.
But is there…
More to come?
As mentioned at the start, the plan is to bring new features to the Ubuntu installer front-end (leveraging ones already available in the backend). This will mean moving (where relevant) options currently configured before installation to the stage during the first boot after installation.
But those sort of changes (sadly) are not going to land in time this cycle.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS will continue with the current process, although the personalization slide has been replaced with an accessibility one. The user creation stage is set to occur after the first boot-up during essentially the second half of the installer process in the 24.10 version.
The same process of user creation after the first boot is expected in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS OEM images, but since this blog doesn’t particularly cater to OEMs…*makes indeterminate hand gesture*.
While it’s still early days for this initiative, the developers at Canonical are optimistic about the potential benefits of their tentative new provisioning method. Improvements to the installation experience will definitely be a plus.
The hope is that it will lead to a reduction in the number of these… 😅