Raspbian

Raspbian is a Debian-based Linux distribution optimized for Raspberry Pi single-board computers. It combines Debian with Raspberry Pi-specific patches and a lightweight desktop environment called PIXEL, and is distributed as desktop and Lite variants to suit different use cases.

History and naming: It was released in 2012 as an officially supported distribution for Raspberry Pi. The name blends Raspberry Pi and Debian. In 2020 the project was rebranded as Raspberry Pi OS; the Raspbian name remains in common use to refer to the old releases and to the family of images.

Features and usage: The desktop edition ships with the PIXEL interface and a suite of educational and development tools, including Python, Scratch, and Sonic Pi, along with common productivity applications. It uses the APT package system for software updates and includes the raspi-config tool for configuring hardware and settings such as enabling SSH or the camera interface. It supports Raspberry Pi models 1 through 4 and is designed to run efficiently on limited hardware. The OS is widely used in education, hobbyist projects, and as a general-purpose desktop.

Distribution and development: Raspbian is maintained by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in collaboration with the community and is released under open-source licenses. It relies on Debian packaging and repositories, and receives regular updates for security and features.