Debian facts for kids
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_GNOME_43.9%E2%80%94English.png)
Debian 12 (Bookworm) running its default desktop environment, GNOME Version 43.9
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| Company / developer | The Debian Project |
|---|---|
| OS family | Linux (Unix-like) |
| Working state | Current |
| Source model | Open source |
| Initial release | September 15, 1993 |
| Latest stable release | 12.7 / August 31, 2024 |
| Available language(s) | 78 languages |
| Update method | Long-term support in Stable edition, rolling release in Testing and Unstable (Sid) editions |
| Package manager | dpkg |
| Supported platforms | x86-64, arm64, armel, armhf, i386, mips64el, ppc64el, s390x mips, mipsel (deprecated) riscv64 (in progress) |
| Kernel type | Monolithic (Linux kernel) |
| Userland | GNU |
| Default user interface | |
| License | DFSG-compatible licenses, plus proprietary firmware files |
Debian (/ˈdɛbiən/), also known as Debian GNU/Linux, is a popular computer operating system. It's like the main program that makes your computer run. A person named Ian Murdock started the Debian Project in August 1993. Many other computer systems, like Ubuntu and Linux Mint, are built using Debian as their base.
Debian is one of the oldest computer systems that uses the Linux kernel. It's still being worked on by many volunteers around the world. These volunteers follow special rules and ideas, like the Debian Social Contract. New versions of Debian are released regularly after a "freeze" period. During this time, no new features are added, only bugs are fixed.
Debian is special because it's free and open-source software. This means anyone can use it, share it, and even change it. The project created a group called Software in the Public Interest. This group helps support Debian financially.
Contents
History of Debian
How Debian Got Its Name
Debian's special names for its versions come from characters in the Toy Story movies. For example, the "unstable" version is named after Sid. He was the character who often broke his toys.
The Beginning (1993–1998)
Ian Murdock first announced Debian on August 16, 1993. He called it "the Debian Linux Release." The name "Debian" is a mix of his then-girlfriend's name, Debra Lynn, and his own first name, Ian. Before Debian, a system called Softlanding Linux System (SLS) was popular. But it had many problems. This made Murdock want to create a better system.
Debian 0.01 came out on September 15, 1993. This was one of its first test versions. Version 0.90 was the first one released to the public. It offered support through email lists. This release also included the Debian Linux Manifesto. This paper shared Murdock's ideas for the new system. He wanted it to be built "openly" like Linux and GNU.
Debian released versions 0.9x in 1994 and 1995. During this time, the Free Software Foundation supported it for one year. Ian Murdock let Bruce Perens take charge of the main parts of Debian. Murdock then focused on managing the growing project. Debian started working on different computer types in 1995. Debian 1.1 was released in 1996. By then, the dpkg package manager was a key part of Debian.
In 1996, Bruce Perens became the project leader. He wrote the Debian Social Contract and the Debian Free Software Guidelines. These rules helped guide the project. Perens also helped create Software in the Public Interest. This group helps Debian with money. By the time Debian 1.2 came out, nearly 200 volunteers were helping. Perens left the project in 1998.
Ian Jackson became the leader in 1998. Debian 2.0 added support for the Motorola 68000 family. During this time, work began on Debian GNU/Hurd. This was a version using a different core system than Linux. On December 2, the first Debian Constitution was approved.
Electing Leaders (1999–2005)
From 1999, the project leader was chosen yearly. APT was added with Debian 2.1. Many people wanted to join the project. So, a new process was set up for new members. The first systems based on Debian, like Libranet, started in 1999. The 2.2 release in 2000 was dedicated to Joel Klecker. He was a developer who passed away.
In late 2000, the project changed how it stored packages. It also created the Testing version. This version has stable packages. This helped make releases faster. That same year, developers started an annual meeting called DebConf. This meeting has talks and workshops. In May 2001, Hewlett-Packard said it would use Debian for its Linux work.
In July 2002, version 3.0, called Woody, was released. It was the first to include special software for security. It also had a free KDE desktop and many languages. People criticized the project for taking too long between releases.
Some problems happened while working on Sarge. Debian servers were attacked by fire and hackers. A plan was announced to support fewer computer types. This was to make future releases faster. But many people were upset. They felt it went against Debian's goal to be a "universal operating system."
The first version of Ubuntu, called "4.10 Warty Warthog," came out on October 20, 2004. It became very popular. Canonical Ltd. said it had over "40 million users." But Ian Murdock was concerned about differences between Ubuntu and Debian. He said it could cause problems.
Sarge and Newer Releases (2005–Present)
The 3.1 Sarge release came out in June 2005. This version updated 73% of its software. It also added over 9,000 new packages. A new installer, Debian-Installer, made installations easier. It could work with different storage setups. It also found hardware better. The installer was translated into almost 40 languages.
In 2006, there was a disagreement with Mozilla. Firefox was renamed Iceweasel in Debian. Thunderbird was renamed Icedove. Mozilla did not want software with changes to use its trademarks. Debian changed Firefox to remove non-free artwork and add security fixes. In 2016, Mozilla and Debian agreed. Iceweasel went back to being Firefox.
Debian 4.0 (Etch) was released in April 2007. It added support for x86-64 computers. It also had a graphical installer. Debian 5.0 (Lenny) came out in February 2009. It supported netbooks like the Asus Eee PC. This release was dedicated to Thiemo Seufer. He was a developer who died in a car crash.
In July 2009, Debian announced a new plan. They would try to release new versions every two years. This was to make releases more predictable. In September 2010, the backports service became official. It offers newer versions of some software for the stable release.
Debian 6.0 (Squeeze) was released in February 2011. It included Debian GNU/kFreeBSD as a preview. It also added a new system for starting up. Debian 7 (Wheezy) came out in May 2013. It added support for "multiarch." This lets you run software for different computer types.
Debian 8 (Jessie) was released in April 2015. It started using systemd as its new startup system. Debian 9 (Stretch) came out in June 2017. It added new tools for firewalls and support for Flatpak apps. Debian 10 (Buster) was released in July 2019. It added support for Secure Boot.
Debian 11 (Bullseye) was released in August 2021. It added support for driverless scanning. It also included support for exFAT filesystems. Debian 12 (Bookworm) was released on June 10, 2023. It brought many improvements and features. It also updated the Linux Kernel to version 6.1.
Debian is still being developed. New software packages are added every day. Debian used to come on many CDs. But now, you can download most of it.
Debian has won many awards over the years. These include "Server Distribution of the Year" in 2011. On December 2, 2015, Microsoft announced it would offer Debian on its Azure cloud platform. Microsoft also added a Debian part to Windows 10. This is called Windows Subsystem for Linux.
What Debian Offers
Debian has access to online software stores. These stores contain over 51,000 software packages. Debian officially only includes free software. But you can download other software from its stores. Debian includes popular free programs. These are like LibreOffice, Firefox, Evolution mail, and VLC media player. Debian is a good choice for servers.
Kernels
Different versions of the Linux kernel are available. For example, there are versions for different types of PCs. The Linux kernel does not officially include some software. This is because it lacks source code. But you can find this software in other packages.
Desktop Environments
Debian offers special CDs and DVDs. These are built for different desktop environments. Some popular ones are Xfce, GNOME, KDE, MATE, and Cinnamon. Less common ones are also available.
The default desktop for version 7 Wheezy was Xfce. This was because GNOME 3 was too big for the first CD. For version 8 Jessie, the default changed back to GNOME.
Languages
Many parts of Debian are translated into different languages. This includes software descriptions and messages. The website is also translated. Some languages, like German and French, are very well supported. Others, like Creek and Samoan, have fewer translations. The Debian 10 installer is available in 76 languages.
Multimedia Support
Multimedia support in Debian has been tricky. This is because of codecs that might have patent issues. Or they might not have source code. Even though some problematic software can be included, some, like libdvdcss, are not.
There is a popular third-party software store. It used to be called Debian-multimedia.org. It offers software not found in Debian. This includes Windows codecs and Adobe Flash Player. This store is not part of the official Debian project. It is maintained by a Debian developer. The store was so popular that Debian's official blog announced its name change. It is now called deb-multimedia.org.
How to Get Debian
Debian offers DVD and CD images for installation. You can download these using BitTorrent. You can also buy physical discs. The full sets have many discs. But you only need the first disc to install. The installer can get other software from online stores.
Debian also offers different ways to install over a network. A small version of Debian can be installed using the netinst CD. This installs a basic system. Then, you can download more software from the internet. You can also start the installer from the network.
The main startup program is GNU GRUB version 2. You can choose your desktop environment from the DVD menu. Options include GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, and LXDE.
Debian also has "live install" images. These are for CDs, DVDs, and USB drives. They let you run Debian without installing it on your computer. You can try it out first. You can also start a full installation from the live image. You can even create your own custom live images.
Software Packages
Managing software packages in Debian can be done with different tools. These range from the basic dpkg command to graphical tools like Synaptic. The best way to manage packages is using the apt tools.
dpkg is the basic tool for managing packages. It keeps a list of installed software. The dpkg command does not know about online software stores. It works with local .deb files.
APT Tools
An Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) helps Debian get software. It also solves problems with software dependencies. APT tools share information about software.
- The apt command is for everyday users. It has options that are good for interactive use.
- apt-get and apt-cache are standard apt tools. apt-get installs and removes software. apt-cache helps you search for software.
- Aptitude is a command-line tool. It also has a text-based interface. It offers better ways to search for software.
GDebi and Other Tools
GDebi is an APT tool. You can use it from the command line or with a graphical interface. GDebi can install a local .deb file. It also uses online stores to get needed software. Other graphical tools for APT include Software Center and Synaptic.
GNOME Software is a graphical tool for PackageKit. PackageKit can work with different software systems.
Software Stores (Repositories)
The Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) explain what "free" software means. Software that follows these rules goes into the main area. This software is usually under licenses like the GNU General Public License. Other software goes into the non-free and contrib areas. These are not part of the official installation. But you can add them manually.
Non-free includes software that doesn't follow the DFSG. This can be software with no source code. Contrib includes software that follows DFSG. But it might need software from the non-free area to work.
Richard Stallman and the Free Software Foundation have criticized Debian. They don't like that Debian hosts the non-free store. Some people within Debian also agree. But in 2004, most people voted to keep it.
Cross-Distribution Package Managers
There are other popular ways to get software on Linux. These are graphical package managers. They are in the official Debian store. But they are not installed by default. They are popular with users and developers. They help install the newest software versions. They also offer a "sandbox" environment. This keeps your system safe.
Here are four popular cross-distribution package managers:
- AppImage: This lets you run software on any Linux system.
- Flatpak: This software is managed by the Flatpak Team. It's open source.
- Homebrew: This software is managed by its creator, Max Howell. It's open source.
- Snap: This software is managed by Canonical Group Limited. It's open source.
Debian Versions
Debian has three main versions, also called branches:
- Stable is the current official release. It's for people who need very reliable software. Stable is made by freezing Testing for a few months. During this time, bugs are fixed. Then, it becomes stable. It only gets updates for major security or important problems. This version has an optional backports service. This provides newer software versions. The current Stable version is called bookworm.
- Testing is the preview version. It will become the next major release. Software in this version has been tested in unstable. But it might not be ready yet. It has newer software than stable but older than unstable. This version is updated all the time until it's frozen. The current Testing version is called trixie.
- Unstable, always called sid, is the main development version. New software is added here without full checks. Developers often use this version. They need the newest software. Debian does not offer full Sid installation discs. You can install it over a network. Or you can upgrade from stable or testing.
Other versions of Debian:
- Oldstable is the previous stable release. It gets security support for about a year. Since Debian 6, it gets two more years of support. This is through the Long Term Support project. Debian 11 is the current Oldstable release.
- Oldoldstable is the version before oldstable. It is supported by the Long Term Support community. Debian 10 is the current Oldoldstable release.
- Experimental is a temporary area for very new software. This software might break your system. It's not a full version of Debian.
The snapshot archive has older versions of these branches. You can use them to install a specific older version of software.
Version Numbers
Stable and oldstable get small updates. These are called point releases. For example, the stable release is version 11.7. It was released on April 29, 2023. The oldstable release is version 10.10.
The way point releases were numbered changed over time. From Debian 5.0, they followed a standard. For example, the first update for Debian 5.0 was 5.0.1.
Debian Logo
Debian has two logos. The official logo: https://www.debian.org/logos/#open-use has the famous Debian "swirl." This swirl shows what the Debian Project looks like. There's also a restricted-use logo. Only the Debian Project and its members can use it.
Raul Silva designed the Debian "swirl" logo in 1999. It was part of a contest. The winner got a special email address and Debian CDs. The swirl was first part of a genie in a bottle. But it was later simplified to just the red swirl. People thought the swirl looked like "magic smoke." This smoke was what made computers work.
One idea about the logo's origin is Buzz Lightyear. He was the character for the first named Debian release. Buzz Lightyear has a swirl on his chin. Stefano Zacchiroli suggested this might be the Debian swirl. This idea makes sense because Debian's names come from Toy Story characters. The former Debian project leader, Bruce Perens, used to work for Pixar. He helped with Toy Story 2.
Computer Needs
Debian needs certain computer parts to run. These are the basic needs for the core system. Debian's recommended computer needs depend on how much you install. More installed parts mean more needs.
| Type | Minimum RAM size | Recommended RAM size | Minimum processor clock speed (IA-32) | Hard-drive capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-desktop | 256 MB | 512 MB | 2 GB | |
| Desktop | 1 GB | 2 GB | 1 GHz | 10 GB |
The actual minimum memory can be much less. For example, you can install Debian with 170 MB of RAM on some computers. The installer will run in a low memory mode. It's a good idea to create a swap partition. This helps with memory.
You can run graphical interfaces on older computers. But it's better to use simpler window managers. Desktop environments use more computer power. The needs for each software program can be different.
Computer Types (Architectures)
As of August 2023, Debian officially supports these computer types:
- amd64: For 64-bit computers. It also supports 32-bit software.
- arm64: For ARMv8-A computers.
- armel: For older ARM computers. Support ended after Buster.
- armhf: For ARM computers with a special math unit.
- i386: For 32-bit computers. It works with 64-bit machines too.
- mips64el: For 64-bit MIPS computers.
- mipsel: For 32-bit MIPS computers.
- ppc64el: For PowerPC computers.
- riscv64: For 64-bit RISC-V computers.
- s390x: For z/Architecture computers.
Unofficial versions are also available. These are part of the unstable version. They include types like DEC Alpha and Intel Itanium.
Debian supports many ARM-based devices. This includes NAS devices. The NSLU2 was supported by the installer. Other supported NAS devices include Buffalo Kurobox Pro.
Devices based on the Kirkwood system are also supported. These include the SheevaPlug computer. There are efforts to run Debian on mobile devices. But this is not an official goal yet. Still, there are packages for small systems.
Work is ongoing to support the AM335x processor. This is used in electronic point of service solutions. Debian can also be set up to run on cash machines.
BeagleBoard, a small open-source computer, now comes with Debian Linux. Roqos Core, a firewall router, also runs Debian Linux.
How Debian is Organized
| General Resolution | |||||||||||||||
| elect↓ | override↓ | ||||||||||||||
| Leader | |||||||||||||||
| ↓appoint | |||||||||||||||
| Delegate | |||||||||||||||
| ↓decide | |||||||||||||||
| Developer | propose↑ | ||||||||||||||
Debian's teams work together to develop and test software. Because of this, a new major release comes out about every two years. Smaller updates fix security and important problems. The Debian project is run by volunteers. It has three main documents:
- The Debian Social Contract sets basic rules for the project.
- The Debian Free Software Guidelines define "free software." This decides what software can be in Debian. This document is part of the Social Contract.
- The Debian Constitution explains how decisions are made. It lists the jobs of the Project Leader and others.
| Debian developer population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | DD | ±% |
| 1999 | 347 | — |
| 2000 | 347 | +0.0% |
| 2001 | ? | — |
| 2002 | 939 | — |
| 2003 | 831 | −11.5% |
| 2004 | 911 | +9.6% |
| 2005 | 965 | +5.9% |
| 2006 | 972 | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 1,036 | +6.6% |
| 2008 | 1,075 | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 1,013 | −5.8% |
| 2010 | 886 | −12.5% |
| 2011 | 911 | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 948 | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 988 | +4.2% |
| 2014 | 1,003 | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 1,033 | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 1,023 | −1.0% |
| 2017 | 1,062 | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 1,001 | −5.7% |
| 2019 | 1,003 | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 1,011 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 1,018 | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 1,023 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | 996 | −2.6% |
| Source: Debian Voting Information | ||
Debian developers are connected in a "web of trust." About 1,000 active Debian developers exist. But you can help the project without being an official developer.
The project uses email lists and conferences to talk. For problems with software, they use a public bug tracking system. This is for developers and users. Internet Relay Chat is also used for quick talks and help.
Debian gets money from donations. These donations go to groups approved by the leader. The biggest supporter is Software in the Public Interest. This group owns the Debian trademark. It also manages donations.
Developers elect a Project Leader once a year. The leader has special powers, but not total control. They appoint people to do special tasks. These people make decisions based on what's best. Developers can also vote to remove the leader. They can also change rules.
Sometimes, leadership is shared. Branden Robinson had a team called Project Scud. This team helped the leader. But some worried it would create two types of developers. Anthony Towns created a "Second In Charge" (2IC) role. This person shared some of the leader's powers.
A key role in Debian is the release manager. The release team sets goals for the next version. They watch the process. They decide when to release. The team is led by the next release managers.
Developers
Many people want to become Debian developers. They must go through a process. This checks who they are and why they want to join. It also checks their skills. This process has become harder over the years.
Developers join Debian for many reasons. Some want to promote Debian. Others want to improve support for their favorite technology. Some are involved with other Debian-based systems. Many want to help the free-software community.
Debian developers can leave their roles anytime. They can also be removed if needed. Those who follow the leaving rules get "emeritus" status. They can rejoin more easily later.
How Debian is Developed
| upstream | |||
| ↓ | packaging | ||
| package | |||
| ↓ | upload | ||
| incoming | |||
| ↓ | checks | ||
| unstable | |||
| ↓ | migration | ||
| testing | |||
| ↓ | freeze | ||
| frozen | |||
| ↓ | release | ||
| stable | |||
Each software package has a maintainer. This can be one person or a team. The maintainer keeps track of new versions from the original creators. They make sure the package works well with Debian. They also ensure it meets Debian's quality rules. Packages might have changes from Debian. These changes help them follow Debian Policy.
The maintainer uploads a new version. This goes to the "incoming" system. This system checks the package's safety. If it's good, it's put into the "pool." Then, it's sent to many mirrors around the world. The upload must be signed with special software. All Debian developers have unique digital keys. Developers are responsible for any package they upload.
At first, a package is only in the unstable version. To move to Testing, it must meet certain rules:
- It must have been in unstable for a certain time.
- It must not have "release-critical" bugs. These bugs are serious.
- There should be no old versions in unstable.
- Moving it must not break other packages in Testing.
- Its needs must be met by packages already in Testing.
- The move must not be blocked by a "freeze."
So, a serious bug in a new software version can stop it from moving. This is especially true if many other packages depend on it. The move to Testing happens twice a day. This means Testing is always being updated.
The release team gives guidelines to developers. This helps get a release ready. A new release happens after a "freeze." This is when all important software in Testing is updated. All problems are solved. Then, all packages in Testing become the new stable version. Freeze dates are set by time. But release dates are not. They are announced a few weeks before.
A software version can be in more than one branch. For example, it can be in testing and unstable. It's possible for a package to have the same version. It can be in oldstable, stable, testing, and unstable at the same time. Each branch is like a collection of pointers to the software "pool."
One way to fix a serious bug is to use optional package managers. These let developers test software in safe environments. They also keep control of security. Another benefit is that developers can give updates directly to users. They don't have to go through Debian first.
Release Schedule
A new stable version of Debian comes out about every 2 years. It gets official support for about 3 years. This includes updates for major security or usability fixes. Small updates are available every few months.
Debian also has a Long Term Support (LTS) project. This started with Debian 6. Each Debian release gets two extra years of security updates. These are provided by the LTS Team. So, each Debian release gets 5 years of security support in total.
Security
The Debian project handles security by telling everyone about problems. Debian security warnings are like the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures list. They are often shared with other free software groups. They are published the same day a problem becomes public. There used to be a project to check for security bugs.
The stable version is supported by the Debian security team. Oldstable is supported for one year. The testing version is supported by its own security team. But it doesn't get updates as fast as stable. Unstable's security is handled by the software maintainers.
The Debian project offers guides and tools. These help make a Debian installation safer. AppArmor support is available. It is turned on by default since Buster. Debian tries to build as much software as possible with safety features.
In May 2008, a Debian developer found a problem. The OpenSSL software in Debian made some security keys unsafe. This was because only 32,767 different keys were made. A Debian developer had made changes in 2006. Fixing this problem was hard. It meant making all affected keys again.
Value
The cost to develop all the software in Debian 5.0 Lenny was estimated. It had 323 million lines of code. The cost was about 8 billion. This was using a special method. As of May 2024, another group estimated the current code base. It has 74 million lines of code. They estimated it would cost about 1.6 billion to develop.
Other Debian Versions
Many other computer systems have been built from Debian. Some important ones are Ubuntu and Knoppix. Ubuntu was released in 2004. It has become more popular than Debian for desktop users. Knoppix was released in 2000. It was one of the first systems that could run from a USB drive. Devuan was created in 2014. This was because of a disagreement about Debian using systemd.
Different Flavors of Debian
Debian is one of the most popular Linux systems. Many other systems have been made from Debian's code. As of 2021, DistroWatch lists 121 active Debian-based systems. The Debian project gives advice to these other systems. It encourages them to share their work back with Debian.
Debian Pure Blends are parts of Debian. They are set up for users with special interests. For example, Debian Jr. is made for children. Debian Science is for researchers. The full Debian system includes all these Blends. A "Debian Blend" (without "Pure") is a system based on Debian. It tries to become part of the main Debian project.
Debian GNU/Hurd
Debian GNU/Hurd is a version of Debian. It uses the Hurd kernel. This is different from the Linux kernel. Debian GNU/Hurd has been developed since 1998. It had a formal release in May 2013. Most of the software for Debian GNU/Linux works on GNU Hurd. Hurd is not yet an official Debian release. It's maintained as an unofficial version. Debian GNU/Hurd comes as an installer CD. It also comes as a ready-to-run virtual disk. The CD uses the IA-32 computer type. This makes it work with many PCs. The current version of Debian GNU/Hurd is 2023. It was released in June 2023.
Debian GNU/kFreeBSD
Debian GNU/kFreeBSD was a version of Debian that is no longer updated. It used the FreeBSD kernel. Most of its software came from the same sources as Debian. The "k" in "kFreeBSD" means "kernel." This refers to the FreeBSD kernel. Before it stopped, Debian supported i386 and amd64 computer types. The last version was Debian 8 (Jessie) RC3.
Debian GNU/kFreeBSD started in 2002. It was included in Debian 6.0 as a preview. It was an official version in Debian 7. But it was stopped as an officially supported system with Debian 8. Developers were interested in the FreeBSD kernel for things like ZFS. It has not been updated since Debian 8. As of July 2023, its development has officially ended. This is because of a lack of interest and developers.
Images for kids
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Screenshot of Debian 12 (Bookworm) with the GNOME desktop environment version 43.9
See also
In Spanish: Debian GNU/Linux para niños
