4. Linux Distributions

4.1. Alpine

$ docker pull alpine

Advantage: stability, very strict rules about free software licenses, no proprietary licences
Size: 124 MB
Release: every 2 years
Support: for 10 years (extended)
Latest: Sid (unstable)
Docker image
Debian version names are from Toy Story
Release table
Release timeline

$ docker pull debian

Table 4.8. Debian Versions
Version	Code name	Release date	End of life	Toy Story character
	Sid	unstable		The next door neighbour
11	Bullseye	2021-08-14		Woody's horse
10	Buster	2019-07-06	~2022-08	Andy's pet dog
9	Stretch	2017-06-17	2027-06-30	Rubber octopus from Toy Story 3
8	Jessie	2015-04-26	2025-06-30	Jessie the cowgirl
7	Wheezy	2013-05-04	2020-06-30	Wheezy the penguin
6.0	Squeeze	2011-02-06	2016-02-29	Squeeze toy aliens
5.0	Lenny	2009-02-14	2012-02-06	Lenny, the binoculars
4.0	Etch	2007-04-08	2010-02-15	Etch, the Etch-A-Sketch
3.1	Sarge	2005-06-06	2008-03-31	Sarge from the Bucket O' Soldiers
3.0	Woody	2002-07-19	2006-06-30	Woody the cowboy
2.2	Potato	2000-08-15	2003-06-30	Mr Potato Head
2.1	Slink	1999-03-09	2000-10-30	Slinky Dog
2.0	Hamm	1998-07-24		Hamm (the pig)
1.3	Bo	1997-06-05		Bo Peep
1.2	Rex	1996-12-12		Rex (the T-Rex)
1.1	Buzz	1996-06-17		Buzz Lightyear

Advantage: Based on Debian, lots of up-to-date packages, liberal rules about licenses
Size: 77.8 MB
Release: every 6 months (in April and October), LTS every 2 years (in April)
Support: 10 years (extended)
Ubuntu version numbers are YY.MM for example 22.04 (released in April 2022)
Docker image
Release cycle
Version names

$ docker pull ubuntu:22.04
$ docker pull ubuntu:latest
$ docker pull ubuntu          # will pull latest

Table 4.9. Ubuntu Versions
Version	Code name	Release date	End of support
22.10	Kinetic Kudu	2022-10-20	TBA	N/A
22.04 LTS	Jammy Jellyfish	2022-04-21	2032-04-21
21.10	Impish Indri	2021-10-14	2022-07-14
21.04	Hirsute Hippo	2021-04-22	2022-01-20
20.10	Groovy Gorilla	2020-10-22	2021-07-22
20.04 LTS	Focal Fossa	2020-04-23	2030-04-23
19.10	Eoan Ermine	2019-10-17	2020-07-17
19.04	Disco Dingo	2019-04-18	2020-01-23
18.10	Cosmic Cuttlefish	2018-10-18	2019-07-18
18.04 LTS	Bionic Beaver	2018-04-26	2028-04-26
17.10	Artful Aardvark	2017-10-19	2018-07-19
17.04	Zesty Zapus	2017-04-13	2018-01-13
16.10	Yakkety Yak	2016-10-13	2017-07-20
16.04 LTS	Xenial Xerus	2016-04-21	2026-04-23
15.10	Wily Werewolf	2015-10-22	2016-07-28
15.04	Vivid Vervet	2015-04-23	2016-02-04
14.10	Utopic Unicorn	2014-10-23	2015-07-23
14.04 LTS	Trusty Tahr	2014-04-17	2024-04-25
13.10	Saucy Salamander	2013-10-17	2014-07-17
13.04	Raring Ringtail	2013-04-25	2014-01-27
12.10	Quantal Quetzal	2012-10-18	2014-05-16
12.04 LTS	Precise Pangolin	2012-04-26	2019-04-26
11.10	Oneiric Ocelot	2011-10-13	2013-05-09
11.04	Natty Narwhal	2011-04-28	2012-10-28
10.10	Maverick Meerkat	2010-10-10	2012-04-10
10.04 LTS	Lucid Lynx	2010-04-29	2015-04-30
9.10	Karmic Koala	2009-10-29	2011-04-30
9.04	Jaunty Jackalope	2009-04-23	2010-10-23
8.10	Intrepid Ibex	2008-10-30	2010-04-30
8.04 LTS	Hardy Heron	2008-04-24	2013-05-09
7.10	Gutsy Gibbon	2007-10-18	2009-04-18
7.04	Feisty Fawn	2007-04-19	2008-10-19
6.10	Edgy Eft	2006-10-26	2008-04-25
6.06 LTS	Dapper Drake	2006-06-01	2011-06-01
5.10	Breezy Badger	2005-10-13	2007-04-13
5.04	Hoary Hedgehog	2005-04-08	2006-10-31
4.10	Warty Warthog	2004-10-20	2006-04-30