The release schedule for the upcoming Ubuntu 12.04 LTS operating system has been published on the Ubuntu wiki. The distribution will be released at the end of April 2012.

Even if the codename for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS has not been chosen yet, we already have the release schedule on our hands. Ubuntu 12.04 will be an LTS (Long Term Support) release, therefore we expect a strong, powerful and very stable operating system.

For Ubuntu 12.04, the Ubuntu developers decided to modify the release schedule to two Alpha versions, two Beta releases and a Release Candidate. Without further introduction, here is the official release schedule for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS:

December 1st, 2011 - Alpha 1 release
February 2nd, 2012 - Alpha 2 release
March 1st, 2012 - Beta 1 release
March 22nd, 2012 - Beta 2 release
April 19th, 2012 - Release Candidate release
April 26th, 2012 - Final release of Ubuntu 12.04

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS will be the 16th release of the Ubuntu operating system. Until then, we have another version that should catch our attention and invade our computers, Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot), which will be released on October 13th, 2011.

Being an LTS release, Ubuntu 12.04 will have at least three regular maintenance releases. The first one, Ubuntu 12.04.1, will be released in August 16th, 2012; the second one, Ubuntu 12.04.2, will be released on February 7th, 2013; and the third one, Ubuntu 12.04.3, will see the light of day somewhere in mid summer 2013.

Until the first Alpha version of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS will be made available for testing, on December 1st, we will have the second Ubuntu Developer Summit (UDS) event for 2011, between October 31st and November 4th. The event will take place in Orlando, Florida, USA.

Don't forget to visit our Linux section this Thursday, July 21st, for an in-depth article about the third maintenance release of the current LTS version, Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS (Lucid Lynx).