Overview
Launchpad, the collaborative platform for Ubuntu development, has long been a bedrock for contributors, but its user interface had remained largely untouched for nearly a decade. In early 2025, Canonical’s UX designer Enzo Deng announced a significant redesign of the series page—the page that tracks the development, milestones, and release artifacts of a specific Ubuntu version (e.g., Ubuntu 26.04 LTS). This tutorial walks you through the updated series page, highlighting what has changed, how to make the most of the new layout, and how to avoid common pitfalls when using it for your development workflow.
By the end of this guide, you will:
- Understand the structure and purpose of the Launchpad series page.
- Navigate the redesigned interface to find bugs, milestones, package versions, and release notes.
- Know how to provide feedback directly to Canonical to shape future improvements.
Prerequisites
Before diving into the redesigned Launchpad series page, ensure you have:
- A valid Ubuntu One account (required for logging in and contributing).
- Familiarity with basic Launchpad concepts: series, milestone, bug report, package version.
- A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) that supports CSS Grid and modern JavaScript.
- Optional: A test project or a personal package to follow along with examples.
Step-by-Step Guide to the New Series Page
1. Accessing the Series Page
The series page for any Ubuntu release follows a predictable URL pattern. For Ubuntu 26.04 LTS (codename: “Focal Plasma” – placeholder), the address is:
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+series/focal-plasma
If you’re not sure of the exact codename, you can browse the list of all series at https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+series.
2. Understanding the New Layout
The redesign focuses on clarity and hierarchy. The page now uses a card-based layout with distinct sections:
- Header: Displays the series name (e.g., “Ubuntu Focal Plasma 26.04 LTS”), current status (Development, Frozen, etc.), and a prominent “Report a bug” button.
- Metadata cards: Key dates (release, end-of-life), version number, and links to official release notes.
- Milestone timeline: A horizontal timeline showing past, current, and future milestones, each with a quick view of bug count and package status.
- Bug statistics: Aggregated charts showing open vs. resolved bugs for the series.
- Related pages: Direct links to package listings, translation status, and blueprints.
3. Navigating Milestones
Milestones are key checkpoints (e.g., Alpha, Beta, Final). Click on any milestone card to view its details. The new page now includes a progress bar with the percentage of completed tasks. For example, the Beta milestone for 26.04 might show “45% complete – 230 bug fixes remaining”.
To quickly filter bugs assigned to that milestone, use the “View bugs” link on the milestone card. This redirects you to a pre-filtered bug list (URL example: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bugs?milestone=ubuntu-26.04-beta).
4. Checking Package Versions
One critical use case for the series page is verifying which version of a package will ship with the release. The redesign now includes a “Package Sources” section where you can search by package name. Alternatively, navigate to the series page and look for the “Packages” link in the sidebar. Once there, you can view the version, maintainer, and any pending uploads.
Example: To check the version of the Linux kernel for Ubuntu 26.04, you would go to:
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/focal-plasma
5. Submitting Feedback
Canonical encourages users to share their thoughts on the redesign. A “Feedback” button is now pinned to the top-right corner of the series page (only visible when logged in). Click it to open a concise form. You can also file a bug against the Launchpad UI itself using the “Report a bug” link and selecting the “launchpad-web-ui” project.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing the series page with the product page. The series page is version-specific, while the product page (e.g.,
https://launchpad.net/ubuntu) covers all releases. Always ensure you are viewing the correct series. - Overlooking the milestone timeline. The timeline is interactive; you can scroll horizontally. Some users miss milestones that are grouped under “Planned” until they expand the timeline.
- Expecting the old URL structure. The redesign did not change the URL format, but some bookmarks to old series pages (e.g., for Ubuntu 20.04) may redirect to a different page. Update your bookmarks using the canonical
/+series/format. - Assuming all data is immediately visible. The new card-based layout hides some advanced options behind “Show more” buttons. For example, the full list of sponsors or uploaders is collapsed by default.
Summary
The Launchpad series page redesign for Ubuntu 26.04 LTS brings a modern, card-based interface that improves navigation and clarity for developers and contributors. By following this tutorial, you have learned how to locate the page, interpret its new sections (header, metadata, milestones, package sources), and submit feedback to help shape future iterations. The update marks the beginning of Canonical’s commitment to modernizing the entire Launchpad user experience, making it easier than ever to track Ubuntu development.
For more details, refer to the official announcement by Enzo Deng on the Canonical Design blog.