debian

Debian is a free and open-source Linux-based operating system developed by the Debian Project. Founded in 1993 by Ian Murdock, it aims to provide a universal, stable, and free-software–first platform for computers of all kinds. Debian is known for its commitment to the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) and the Debian Social Contract, which prioritize software freedom, security updates, and a comprehensive package archive.

Package management in Debian centers on the dpkg low-level tool and the APT family of front-ends for installing, upgrading, and removing software from its repositories. Packages are distributed in .deb format across multiple repositories. Debian maintains four release states: Stable, Testing, Unstable, and Oldstable. Stable is designed for production use and receives security updates; Unstable (sid) contains active development; Testing holds packages that have passed acceptance tests and is typically prepared to become the next Stable release. The release cadence is variable but tends toward roughly every one to two years. Security updates are handled by the Debian Security Team, with additional long-term support through various community-driven efforts.

Debian supports a broad range of hardware architectures, including amd64, i386, armhf, arm64, ppc64el, s390x, riscv64, and others, making it suitable for servers, desktops, and embedded devices. Installation can be performed via comprehensive installers, with both graphical and text-based interfaces.

Governance is carried out by the Debian Project, whose members elect a Project Leader annually. Policy coordination is performed by a Technical Committee and various teams, guided by community input and transparent processes. Debian emphasizes collaboration, open development, and public communication, with a strong focus on free software fundamentals.

Impact and derivatives: Debian serves as a major base for other distributions, most notably Ubuntu, and remains widely used for servers and desktops due to its stability, large package repository, and long-term support options.