Lubuntu Lucid Lynx Alpha 2 Has Been Released!

The second alpha of Lubuntu Lucid Lynx has been released. Based on Ubuntu Lucid alpha, it is of course not stable, but everyone willing to test it can download the new Lubuntu Alpha 2 .iso (download link at the end of the post):

Pre-releases of Lucid are *not* encouraged for anyone needing a stable system or anyone who is not comfortable running into occasional, even frequent breakage. They are, however, recommended for Ubuntu developers and those who want to help in testing, reporting, and fixing bugs.

In case you don't know, Lubuntu uses LXDE, a very lightweight and minimal desktop environment using the openbox window manager, the PcManFM file manager, and a very select list of default applications. It is compatible with basic freedesktop standards and all needed parts are already packaged in Ubuntu today.

The Lubuntu project started in March 2009, with the purpose of creating a lighter and less resource demanding alternative to the Xubuntu operating system, using the LXDE desktop environment. As we noticed some time ago, Lubuntu is the fastest Ubuntu yet!


Lubuntu Lucid Lynx Alpha 2 does not include many changes, those should come with Alpha 3 which will be released after the feature freeze. Still, Alpha 2 comes with a few nice additions:

• LXDE packages up-to-date
• LXDM
• The new pcmanfm for testing (type "pcmanfm2" in a terminal)
• Many wallpapers and start icons from lxde forum, gnome-look or Leszek
• Lesner, to be able to switch easily and to test the result
• First customization with a splash screen from Leszek Lesner
• Installable with ubiquity (but upgrade from this Alpha 2 to next
• release is not guaranteed).

And a note: during the Lubuntu installation, OpenOffice.org will be downloaded and installed if you have a working internet connection. You can of course abort this if you don't want to install OOo.

A few screenshots with some of the changes in Lubuntu Lucid Alpha 2

- The new pcmanfm:

- Wallpapers:

-Menu icons:

-Login screen (I guess this needs some more work - but themes should be released pretty soon):

Once thing I would REALLY like to see in Lubuntu Lucid is the New Wave theme, which has been ported to LXDE and looks simply amazing:

(The Lubuntu New Wave theme can be downloaded from Lubuntu Artwork wiki (New Wave image taken from the wiki also)).


Coming next: Lubuntu Lucid Lynx Alpha 3, which should bring lots of changes, like I have mentioned above. For more info, see the Lubuntu wiki.


Download Lubuntu Lucid Lynx Alpha 2 (or direct download link, HERE).