Editing Debian (section)

{{short description|Linux distribution based on free and open-source software}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = {{wikidata|label}}
| logo = Debian-OpenLogo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| logo size = 100px
| logo_alt = 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 = Screenshot of Debian 12 (Bookworm) GNOME 43.9—English.png
| screenshot_alt = Screenshot of Debian 12 (Bookworm) with the [[GNOME]] desktop environment version 43.9
| caption = Debian 12 (Bookworm) running its default [[desktop environment]], [[GNOME]] Version 43.9
| developer = The Debian Project
| family = [[Linux]] ([[Unix-like]])
| working_state = Current
| source_model = [[Open-source software|Open source]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1993|08}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter 4. A Detailed History |url=https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/detailed.en.html#rel-0 |access-date=November 10, 2024}}</ref>
| latest release version = {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q7715973|P348|P548=Q2804309}}
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|{{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q7715973|P348|P548=Q2804309|P577}}}}
| latest preview version = {{#if: {{wikidata|property|preferred|Q7715973|P348|P548=Q1072356}}
  | {{wikidata|property|preferred|references|edit|Q7715973|P348|P548=Q1072356}} ({{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q7715973|P348|P548=Q1072356|P1476}})
}}
| latest preview date = {{wikidata|qualifier|preferred|single|Q7715973|P348|P548=Q1072356|P577}}
| repo = [https://salsa.debian.org salsa.debian.org]
| language = 78 languages
| updatemodel = {{Indented plainlist|
* [[Command-line interface|Command line]] via package manager
* Optional graphical [[app store]]s
}}
| package_manager = [[APT (software)|APT]], [[dpkg]]
| supported_platforms = {{Unbulleted indent list
  | [[ARM architecture family|ARM]]: {{nowrap|64-bit ([[arm64]])}}, {{nowrap|32-bit ([[armhf]])}}, {{nowrap|32-bit [[Application_binary_interface#Embedded ABI|embedded]] (armel)}}
  | [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]]: {{nowrap|64-bit ([[mips64el]])}}
  | [[PowerPC]]: {{nowrap|64-bit ([[ppc64el]])}}
  | [[RISC-V]]: {{nowrap|64-bit (riscv64)}}
  | [[x86]]: {{nowrap|64-bit (amd64)}}, {{nowrap|32-bit ([[i386]])}}
  | [[z/Architecture]]: {{nowrap|64-bit ([[s390x]])}}
  }}
| kernel_type = [[Monolithic kernel|Monolithic]] ([[Linux kernel]])
| userland = [[GNU Core Utilities|GNU]]
| ui = [[GNOME]] (others available){{efn|[[GNOME]] is the default desktop environment. However, [[Cinnamon (desktop environment)|Cinnamon]], [[KDE Plasma 5|KDE Plasma]], [[LXDE]], [[LXQt]], [[MATE (software)|MATE]] and [[Xfce]] are also available.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DebianDesktopHowTo: Select a Desktop Environment   |url=https://wiki.debian.org/DebianDesktopHowTo#Select_a_Desktop_Environment |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Debian Wiki}}</ref>}}
| license = [[Debian Free Software Guidelines|DFSG]]-compatible licenses, plus proprietary firmware files
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}

'''Debian''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɛ|b|i|ə|n}})<ref name="debianorg-about">{{Cite web |title=Debian -- About |url=https://www.debian.org/intro/about |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990117033720/https://www.debian.org/intro/about |archive-date=January 17, 1999 |access-date=12 June 2017 |website=Debian}}</ref>  is a [[free and open-source software|free and open source]]{{efn|Optionally allows the installation of [[Proprietary firmware|non-free firmware]] or [[Proprietary software|software]]<ref name="Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems">{{Cite web |title=Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems |url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102171742/https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |publisher=[[GNU]]}}</ref><ref name="General Resolution: non-free firmware: results">{{Cite web |title=General Resolution: non-free firmware: results |url=https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2022/10/msg00001.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102171923/https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2022/10/msg00001.html |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-02}}</ref>}} [[Linux distribution]], developed by the Debian Project, which was established by [[Ian Murdock]] in August 1993. Debian is one of the oldest operating systems based on the [[Linux kernel]], and is the basis of [[List of Linux distributions#Debian-based|many other Linux distributions]].

As of September 2023, Debian is the second-oldest Linux distribution still in active development: only [[Slackware]] is older. The project is coordinated over the [[Internet]] by a team of volunteers guided by the [[List of Debian project leaders|Debian Project Leader]] and three foundational documents: the [[Debian Social Contract]], the Debian Constitution, and the [[Debian Free Software Guidelines]].

In general, Debian has been developed openly and distributed freely according to some of the principles of the [[GNU Project]] and Free Software.<ref name="Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=1 October 2022 |title=Debian Social Contract |url=https://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines |access-date=15 February 2024 |website=Debian}}</ref> Because of this, the [[Free Software Foundation]] sponsored the project from November 1994 to November 1995.<ref name="A Brief History of Debian">{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of Debian |url=https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/project-history.en.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103150337/https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/project-history.en.txt |archive-date=November 3, 2023}}</ref> However, Debian is no longer endorsed by GNU and the FSF because of 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.<ref name="Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems" /><ref name="General Resolution: non-free firmware: results" /> On June 16, 1997, the Debian Project founded the [[nonprofit organization]] [[Software in the Public Interest]] to continue financing its development.