In Ubuntu, once a release is out the software one has installed receives security updates only. In Windows, I can get new versions of programs with new features. How can Windows do this and why can't Ubuntu?
Updates – Why Can’t Applications Be Updated Without Upgrading the OS?
package-managementsoftware-centerupdates
Related Solutions
Please, open-up update-manager or Software Sources depending on your distro then add/tick universe repository from the software sources.
Read https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Repositories/Ubuntu "Adding Repositories in Ubuntu"
GUI-based repository management is normally accomplished via "Software Sources". This interface can be accessed via several methods. For the latest versions of Ubuntu, the easiest way is to go through the "Ubuntu Software Center". Open the software center, then from the Edit menu select "Software Sources". You will have to enter your password to change settings in this window.
For older versions of ubuntu, there are several options:
Main Menu: System > Administration > Software Sources. Synaptic : System > Administration > Synaptic Package Manager : >> Settings >> Repositories. Main Menu: Ubuntu Software Center : >> Edit, Software Sources.
They do for some select applications, such as Firefox. But otherwise it is by design.
There is nothing stopping you to install new "stable" releases of other packages in an LTS version of Ubuntu, if you have the knowledge to do so. But they will not be published in the official repositories for your version.
You either have to:
- Add a dedicated software repository for the desired software (often maintained by the software developer)
- Use snaps/appimage/flatpack
- Download and compile the software yourself
All of these methods require some skill and could compromise your system or change the look and usage of the software.
If you want it the way you propose, you should consider using a rolling release distribution, like Arch or Manjaro
Best Answer
This is a problem that the Ubuntu Software Center team is in the progress of solving.
The problem is that Ubuntu traditionally draws most of its applications from the in-development branch of Debian GNU/Linux—another free operating system—and then "freezes" a snapshot of it for inclusion in a release. This body of community-maintained software—called "the universe"—consists of 80,000 software packages; Ubuntu developers couldn't possibly provide major updates for all this software, on every supported release, while still maintaining the same level of quality.
In order to resolve this issue, Ubuntu has created the MyApps developer portal. Now that Ubuntu is a large platform with over twenty million users, it is hoped that developers will be interested in submitting apps directly to Ubuntu, and release periodic updates to their software across Ubuntu releases.
For "the universe"—which the Software Center team hopes to eventually be a small fraction of available software—the "backports" system of optional software upgrades (which already exists at a half-functional level) will be scaled up.
The Software Center interface for major software updates has been designed by a Canonical UI employee, but is not yet implemented:
If you are interested in the future of application delivery in Ubuntu, I recommend watching Ubuntu Software Center and the Future of the Universe.