Ubuntu MATE seeking maintainers as the creator looks to move on

By Liam Dawe - 30 Mar 2026 at 4:07 pm UTC

Developer Martin Wimpress has announced their intention to move on from Ubuntu MATE, and so the distribution is looking for fresh faces.

What is Ubuntu MATE? It's an official flavour of the Ubuntu family. Using Ubuntu as the base of the packages but it comes with the retro MATE desktop environment which is the continuation of the old GNOME 2.

In a post on the official Ubuntu Discourse forum, Wimpress said:

Hey

I created Ubuntu MATE back in 2014, and my involvement in the project is coming to a close. Perhaps you can help?

As another development cycle passes, I find myself lacking the time I once had to work on Ubuntu MATE. And, to be frank, I don’t have the passion for the project that I once had. When I have time to tinker, my interests are elsewhere.

With that in mind, I’m interested in handing over the reins to contributors who do have the time and energy to work on Ubuntu MATE.

If you are an Ubuntu contributor with experience maintaining packages in the Ubuntu archive and are interested in working on Ubuntu MATE, let me know. I’ve posted a similar message in the Ubuntu Flavours channel on Matrix.

Looking forward to hearing from passionate Ubuntu contributors

Hopefully some other developers will step forwards to continue it on. If not, there's always Linux Mint that has a MATE edition if the old desktop style is really what you're after.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.

Tags: Distro News, Misc, Open Source, Ubuntu

10 Likes

About the author - Liam Dawe

I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me

Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:

Opera GX is now available for Linux

Minecraft Dungeons II announced for release in 2026

Wine 11.5 released with support for Syscall User Dispatch on Linux

Monster battler EvoCreo 2 arrives on Steam in April

All posts need to follow our rules. Please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Readers can also email us for any issues or concerns.

9 comments

MiZoG 20 hours ago

Flag

View PC info

Ubuntu Mate, "Wimpress Mate" to be precise, has been my favourite take on this DE.
True labour of love, the only distro that has tempted me to switch away from Mint.
This man is not a simple "maintainer" and cannot be replaced at least not easily.

5 Likes

tmtvl 17 hours ago

Flag

View PC info

Let's hope the new maintainer will finally do what we're all waiting for and rename it to Mubuntu.

2 Likes

wytrabbit 17 hours ago

Flag

Mega Supporter

View PC info

Quoting: tmtvlLet's hope the new maintainer will finally do what we're all waiting for and rename it to Mubuntu.

M'buntu tips hat

6 Likes

Persephone the Sheep 10 hours ago

Flag

View PC info

I used Ubuntu MATE as my main distro on my laptop in 2019 when I was still learning linux I really like the "familiar" layout and still use the layout in KDE. Wish the layout that they had could be easily be put on other ditros never could get the layouts out side of ubuntu mate. Hope they can get someone to step up.

0 Likes

Linux_Rocks 9 hours ago

Flag

You can also always use GhostBSD if you really like the MATE desktop. Not Linux, but FreeBSD kicks ass too.

0 Likes

Phlebiac 8 hours ago

Flag

View PC info

What's the attraction of MATE over Cinnamon or current GNOME with classic-look extensions? Serious question, not trying to start any desktop wars.

0 Likes

Adutchman 3 hours ago

Flag

Quoting: wytrabbit
Quoting: tmtvlLet's hope the new maintainer will finally do what we're all waiting for and rename it to Mubuntu.
M'buntu tips hat

Muubuntu

Quoting: wytrabbit
Quoting: tmtvlLet's hope the new maintainer will finally do what we're all waiting for and rename it to Mubuntu.
M'buntu tips hat

Muubuntu

0 Likes

Xpander 3 hours ago

Flag

View PC info

Quoting: PhlebiacWhat's the attraction of MATE over Cinnamon or current GNOME with classic-look extensions? Serious question, not trying to start any desktop wars.

I'm using MATE on arch. The attraction for me is that the thing just works without breakages or problems. I know exactly how it behaves from years of using it and it does exactly what i need it to do without any problems.

2 Likes

Ehvis 2 hours ago

Flag

Supporter Plus

I ran it for some time a good while back. Too many issues with compositor with only good old "compiz" really doing everything I needed it to do. But that too degraded over time until I just had to leave it. It always felt like they did not just stick to traditional desktop paradigms, but stuck with old tech as well. How is it doing with Wayland?

0 Likes

While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations:

PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!