Debian

Debian
The official logo (also known as open use logo) contains the well-known Debian swirl and best represents the visual identity of the Debian Project
Screenshot of Debian 12 (Bookworm) with the GNOME desktop environment version 43.9
Debian 12 (Bookworm) running its default desktop environment, GNOME Version 43.9
DeveloperThe Debian Project
OS familyLinux (Unix-like)
Working stateCurrent
Source modelOpen source
Initial releaseSeptember 15, 1993; 31 years ago (1993-09-15)
Latest release12.7 / August 31, 2024; 31 days ago (2024-08-31)
Repositorydeb.debian.org
Available in78 languages
Update methodLong-term support in Stable edition, rolling release in Testing and Unstable (Sid) editions
Package managerdpkg
Platformsx86-64, arm64, armel, armhf, i386, mips64el, ppc64el, s390x[1]
mips, mipsel (deprecated)[2][3]
riscv64 (in progress)[4]
Kernel typeMonolithic (Linux kernel)
UserlandGNU
Default
user interface
LicenseDFSG-compatible licenses, plus proprietary firmware files
Official websitewww.debian.org Edit this at Wikidata

Debian (/ˈdɛbiən/),[5][6] also known as Debian GNU/Linux, is a free and open source[a] Linux distribution, developed by the Debian Project, which was established by Ian Murdock in August 1993. Debian is the basis for many other distributions, such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Tails, Proxmox, Kali Linux, Pardus, TrueNAS SCALE, and Astra Linux.

Debian is one of the oldest operating systems based on the Linux kernel and, as of September 2023, the second oldest Linux distribution still in active development, only behind Slackware. The project is coordinated over the Internet by a team of volunteers guided by the Debian Project Leader and three foundational documents: the Debian Social Contract, the Debian Constitution, and the Debian Free Software Guidelines. New distributions are updated continually, and the next candidate is released after a time-based freeze.

In general, Debian has been developed openly and distributed freely according to some of the principles of the GNU Project and Free Software.[7][9] Because of this, the Free Software Foundation sponsored the project from November 1994 to November 1995.[10] However, it is no longer endorsed by GNU and the FSF due to the distribution's long-term practice of hosting non-free software repositories and, since 2022, its inclusion of non-free firmware in its installation media by default.[7][8] On June 16, 1997, the Debian Project founded the nonprofit organization Software in the Public Interest to continue financially supporting development.

  1. ^ "Debian -- Ports". Archived from the original on November 22, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2014.
  2. ^ "Dropping mips architecture for bullseye and sid". August 20, 2019.
  3. ^ "mipsel removed from unstable/experimental". September 2, 2023.
  4. ^ "RISC-V - Debian Wiki". Archived from the original on March 20, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  5. ^ "How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?". The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ -- Chapter 1 – Definitions and overview. Debian. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  6. ^ "Debian -- About". Debian. Archived from the original on January 17, 1999. Retrieved June 12, 2017.
  7. ^ a b c "Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems". GNU. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023.
  8. ^ a b "General Resolution: non-free firmware: results". Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  9. ^ "Debian Social Contract". Debian. October 1, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  10. ^ "A Brief History of Debian". Archived from the original on November 3, 2023.


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