Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth confirms the company meets financial requirements for an IPO but won't pursue one until operationally ready, citing market volatility. The Ubuntu maker has grown to nearly 1,400 employees with two-thirds in R&D roles, maintaining profitability through Shuttleworth's self-funding rather than VC rounds. He discusses Canonical's strategy of providing diverse open source solutions across IoT, desktop, and cloud, addresses digital sovereignty concerns, and expresses cautious optimism about Linux desktop adoption, particularly as Windows 11 dissatisfaction creates opportunities. Ubuntu 26.04 will continue with GNOME 48 on Wayland.
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A sit-down with Ubuntu founder Mark 'SABDFL' ShuttleworthUbuntu turns 20: 'Oracular Oriole' shows this old bird's still got plenty of flightLinux is about to lose a feature – over a personality clashSort: