Ubuntu and all its official flavors are available in two options: the normal or "interim" (provisional) are the normal cycle, which are supported for 9 months and are updated every 6; Then we have the LTS, which comes out on even-numbered years, is updated every two years, and is supported for 5-3 years, depending on the flavor. Something different happens with Kubuntu, that the different combinations allow us to have up to 4 options.
I would like to explain something before continuing: although in this article we are going to talk about Kubuntu, what is explained here is fine mostly also for Ubuntu Studio and Lubuntu. Ubuntu Studio uses Plasma for some versions, and Lubuntu has recently created your own backports repository. To those who are more interested in one of these editions, from here on they could almost replace the word Kubuntu with Lubuntu/Ubuntu Studio. Explained this, there is a Kubuntu for each type of user.
Another thing I would like to say is that at the time of writing this article KDE releases about 3 versions of Plasma a year, but will soon release 2, around the same time as GNOME and just before the new versions of Ubuntu and Fedora.
Kubuntu LTS
The first of the four options is Kubuntu LTS. is the more conservative option, the option for those who prefer more tested software that will receive more maintenance updates. They come out every two years, and they usually use an LTS version of Plasma. It won't include the latest features, or the latest versions of some apps, but everything it does, it does reliably.
LTS + Backports
This option is a bit of a unicorn, or well, not so much, but it is it is not usual. There are times when KDE adds a special backports repository for a particular Kubuntu LTS version, and can upload Plasma, Frameworks and Gear. Saving the distances, that they can be many, this would be similar to what offers Kde neon: LTS base and latest KDE software. But, I insist, it is not normal for them to offer this possibility since it is logical to think that the one who stays in an LTS version is because they are not looking for the latest of the latest.
Kubuntu Interim (normal cycle)
Canonical refers to its normal cycle releases as "interim", which translates into Spanish as "provisional". There is one every six months, in April and October, and its support is those six months plus 3 courtesy, so that we have time to go up to the next one. In total, nine months of support.
The normal cycle releases arrive with the KDE software that is available at the time of the function freeze, and typically uses, for example, the December apps plus the three corrective updates in the April release. The Plasma and Frameworks that they include is the one that has arrived in time of the freeze, and it is not updated even if a point update of the same series has been released. If you want newer software, you have to wait for the next version of the operating system.
Here I would like to explain something about the release cycle change that will come as soon as Plasma 6 stabilizes. KDE will release those two versions of Plasma a year, so Kubuntu will always will have the latest version of the KDE graphical environment, but it will continue without receiving point updates, unless Canonical changes its philosophy. It is an important fact because until then it was common to have a "past" version of Plasma.
Interim + Backports
The last option is to use the latest version of Kubuntu and add the backports repository to it. It's something that has been possible since forever? But those two Plasma releases per year will change things quite a bit. If we add the backports ppa to an interim release of Kubuntu while KDE releases three versions of Plasma a year and they release a new one, Plasma will version skip, and this may not always give the best results. However, if we are already in the same series, the only thing that will be applied to the graphical environment will be corrections, so it is difficult to experience failures.
On the other hand, and as before those 2/year, Frameworks and Gear (apps) will be updated once a month. This option will be the most updated of all, beating the “K team” own KDE neon, since it will use the newest KDE software and the latest Ubuntu base, and we will still have Canonical behind us, for better or for worse. The latter, the newer software, might not always be true.
What is your preferred option? Do you prefer the stability of Kubuntu/Lubuntu/Ubuntu Studio LTS, the latest version with everything new, or somewhere in between?