will ubuntu touch ever be upgraded past ubuntu 16.10

Amy

that ubuntu version is very old and outdated so it would be great to move past it

Emphrath

@amy The core team is working on moving to 20.04 since quite a long time. This is heavy work, but yes, my friend, that's the plan.

Lakotaubp

@amy Yes that is very much the plan and has been discussed here on the Forum and during many of the last Q&As. You can find links to the Q&A blogs in the News section of the Forum https://forums.ubports.com/category/41/news the latest of which should be published tomorrow wherev the subject is again mentioned. The process is not quick or easy bu t20.04 it is on the way.

Amy

@lakotaubp great! can't wait to see the future of ubuntu touch

suoko

@lakotaubp I'd go for 22.04 now...

Moem

@suoko said in will ubuntu touch ever be upgraded past ubuntu 16.10:

I'd go for 22.04 now...

Personally I feel quite comfortable leaving such decision with the core devs.

Keneda

@suoko
If you can take 20.04 work and use it 100% for 22.04 and then you have exactly same time and effort to finish 22.04 then you go for 22.
If not, then...

I have not any info on this but let's say 20.04'd have come this year if finished but hey, let's go 22.04, then 22 is for 2024....

AppLee

@suoko
This topic was discussed in a previous Q&A, I don't remember exactly what was then said.

But the move to 20.04 seems the best choice and IIRC the work done from 16.04 to 20.04 will help moving from 20.04 to either 22.04 or 24.04.
Both options are on the table but it was clear that the move to 20.04 is a first necessary step.

The sum it up, jumping to 22.04 is a higher effort than the jump to 20.04.
So better finish 20.04 and then strategize the choice of the next jump.

nero355

@applee
I have also understood that 20.04 LTS is the first step to a nice base that will allow them to switch to 22.04 LTS a lot easier because all of the huge changes that are involved for the 16.04 LTS to 20.04 LTS upgrade

Pulsar33

but it's a dead end for the BQ E5
BR
Pulsar33

AppLee

@pulsar33
The real answer is : "we do not know"
But sure it starts on the wrong foot for the BQ family.

nero355

@pulsar33 said in will ubuntu touch ever be upgraded past ubuntu 16.10:

but it's a dead end for the BQ E5

Considering it's old slow SoC and low RAM amount and age of most batteries by now I can't really blame the developers for deciding to do so!

RVan

The update planned for 20.04 is described as a 'line in the sand' for Ubuntu Touch Edition phones in when you look at the webpage for all devices rather than simply the promoted devices.

I'll copy the paragraph I need help to understand:
Ubuntu Touch Edition*(Support will drop at 20.04 upgrade)*

If you have one of the older devices, they are solid for now. Many in our community use them but technical difficulties in updating and closed source elements which we can’t access mean that those devices are not a good choice for anyone just starting with UT. They are also getting aged now and experience hardware faults.

The general language used above to know if a given device will be impacted by this transition. Will there be an announcement indicating which phones will be involved as the 20.04 update approaches? Are the promoted devices free from this concern despite their age?

Moem

@rvan said in will ubuntu touch ever be upgraded past ubuntu 16.10:

Are the promoted devices free from this concern despite their age?

No, you cannot count on that. I think the designation 'promoted' is outdated, and should be mostly ignored.

AppLee

@rvan said in will ubuntu touch ever be upgraded past ubuntu 16.10:

Will there be an announcement indicating which phones will be involved as the 20.04 update approaches?

Yes, things will be clarified.
From what I can foresee, the list of devices tested and supported on 20.04 will be announced.
Maintainers interested to keep an older device up-to-date can contact the core team from the foundation and get involve in 20.04 development so there is no discontinuity for their device.
But after facts one can still decide to help and bring back an old device to 20.04.

When released the core team will give the community more details on what difficulties to expect when attempting to port a device to 20.04 so one will have the better chance of success.

RVan

@AppLee - Thank you for qualifying this issue for me. I do not mind needing to purchase another phone but I would hope I have the opportunity to do so before my current devices lose support. One of these is currently listed as 'inactive' so I want to refrain from residing in this category if possible.

AppLee

@rvan
Inactive means that the maintainer is not active anymore on the port.
They won't fix device specific bug nor add features.

Your current device won't stop working when 20.04 is released.
It just won't be able to upgrade and some app won't get updates if incompatible with previous version.
Bascically you'll loose any update capability, so no bug fix, no security patch, ...

So it is recommended to upgrade if possible to keep having support.
But service will not stop abruptly one day.

mardy

@rvan said in will ubuntu touch ever be upgraded past ubuntu 16.10:

One of these is currently listed as 'inactive' so I want to refrain from residing in this category if possible.

In addition to what @AppLee wrote, another thing to keep in mind is that most device maintainers are volunteers and might stop contributing all of a sudden (for example, if they break or sell their device) or, on the contrary, a new maintainer might pick up an abandoned port. So, unless you pick a device officially supported by the Foundation, the situation will always be volatile.

In general, if you have a device in your hands that is no longer supported, one option is to find a volunteer and buy them a used device to work on

RVan

@AppLee, @mardy - Okay. Truth be told I am very interested in volunteering myself. I like writing software and UBports is really doing some excellent work. The currently difficulty I need to solve is employment and then evaluate the pressures this brings with my ability to do volunteer work in addition to all the other adult responsibilities life brings. I need a Belgian ale...

cliffcoggin

@applee said in will ubuntu touch ever be upgraded past ubuntu 16.10:

But service will not stop abruptly one day.

That's good to know because it gives me some time to find an alternative phone or OS when my phone loses support.