In the nightly builds of Ubuntu Desktop 21.10, testing of a new installer has begun. This installer is implemented as an extension of the low-level curtin installer, which is already used in the Subiquity installer, the default installer for Ubuntu Server. The new installer for Ubuntu Desktop is written in Dart and uses the Flutter framework to build the user interface.
The design of the new installer is conceived with a modern style of the Ubuntu desktop in mind and aims to provide a unified installation process for the entire range of Ubuntu products. Three modes are proposed: 'Repair Installation' for reinstalling all available packages without changing settings, 'Try Ubuntu' for exploring the distribution in Live mode, and 'Install Ubuntu' for installing the distribution on disk.
Among the new features is the ability to choose between dark and light themes, support for disabling Intel RST (Rapid Storage Technology) during installation alongside Windows, and a new disk partitioning interface. The available installation options so far are limited to choosing between a standard and a minimal set of packages to be installed. Notable unimplemented features include disk encryption and timezone selection.
The previously offered Ubiquity installer was developed in 2006 and has not been updated in recent years. Since the release of 18.04, Ubuntu Server has shipped with the Subiquity installer, which also utilizes the curtin component for disk partitioning, package loading, and system installation based on a specified configuration. Both Ubiquity and Subiquity are written in Python.
The main reason for developing the new installer is the desire to simplify maintenance by using a common low-level foundation and to unify the installation interface for server and desktop systems. Currently, having two different installers leads to additional labor costs and creates confusion among users.
Source: opennet.ru
