What Is Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix and How Does It Differ from Linux Mint?

Overview

Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix is a community‑maintained Linux distribution that combines the Cinnamon desktop environment (originating from Linux Mint) with the Ubuntu 19.10 “Eoan Ermine” base. The first stable release (19.10) ships Cinnamon 4.0.10, the Nemo file manager, LightDM display manager, and uses the Calamares installer taken from Lubuntu.

Key Technical Characteristics

Base system: Ubuntu 19.10 packages, regular Ubuntu release cycle, 64‑bit only, EFI/UEFI boot support.

Desktop environment: Cinnamon 4.0.10 with Nemo, default theme and panel layout as in Mint.

Installer: Calamares (Lubuntu), provides live session and guided installation.

Display manager: LightDM.

Core applications: LibreOffice, Firefox, a selection of GNOME applications and games from the Ubuntu repositories.

Package management: Standard Ubuntu apt system, Ubuntu Software Center, and automatic updates via the same mechanism as Ubuntu.

Differences from Linux Mint

Both distributions use Cinnamon, but Mint builds its own suite of Mint‑specific applications, a custom software manager, and follows Ubuntu LTS releases. Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix follows the regular Ubuntu six‑month release cadence, giving access to newer kernels and libraries, and relies on the upstream Ubuntu software centre and update system. Consequently, users who prefer Cinnamon but want the latest Ubuntu packages and faster updates may prefer Ubuntu Cinnamon Remix.

Installation Procedure

Download the ISO from the SourceForge project page: https://sourceforge.net/projects/ubuntu-cinnamon-remix/

Create a bootable USB (e.g., using dd or Etcher).

Boot the media; the Calamares installer will start a live session where you can test the environment.

Proceed with the guided installation, selecting language, keyboard layout, partitioning (default or manual), and user credentials.

After reboot, the system boots into Cinnamon with LightDM login.

Because this is the first release, it is recommended to install it on a non‑primary system or in a virtual machine until stability improves.

Post‑Installation Usage

Standard Ubuntu repositories are enabled, so additional software can be installed with sudo apt install <package>. The distribution includes the Nemo file manager, LibreOffice, Firefox, and a selection of GNOME applications and games. Users can also add PPAs or install Mint‑style Cinnamon extensions as needed.

Future Development

The developers plan to base the next release on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, adding further refinements and broader hardware support. As a community project, occasional instability should be expected, and users are encouraged to report bugs to the project’s issue tracker.