Debian is undoubtedly a familiar name to Linux enthusiasts; For the majority of users; Due to the efficiency and effectiveness of various free and open-source Linux distributions; This operating system is chosen for office and home activities; Familiarity with Linux distributions can help users choose the appropriate distribution for their business purposes. Linux is essentially an operating system kernel and is designed based on the Unix operating system and in each of the distributions; A variety of applications and software are added to the Linux kernel source code.
Debian operating system, also known as Debian GNU / Linux, is one of the most stable Linux distributions available for free. Debian was first introduced on August 16, 1993, by Ian Murdock; This distribution has been published by many programmers to produce a non-commercial version. In the following, we will talk Completely about this powerful Linux distribution and introduce you to the features, evolution, types of Debian versions, and what Debian is.
Introducing Debian
Debian is one of the oldest Linux distributions in the world of open-source software, which is voluntarily developed and supported by a large community of programmers. Like RHEL, this product is a parent distribution, and many operating systems such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Kali Linux, Tanglu, Knoppix, and SolydXK have been developed based on it, which changing the source code and applying changes to it, more than 120 new distributions have been published so far; This indicates the high power of this operating system.
in fact Debian, which is a distribution of the Linux operating system; It also has many sub-categories and distributions; also Distributions based on this operating system are called Debian-Based Linux Distributions.
Debian distributions are also widely used in servers and desktops; This distribution emphasizes stability, and the largest and most comprehensive software source belongs to this family. Debian is one of the oldest Linux systems, which has been named one of the best choices of 2018 due to its high stability.
This Linux distribution is licensed under the GNU / GPL and is a Unix-like operating system with a repository of thousands of free software; One of the best features of Debian is the package management system, which provides the system administrator with excellent facilities in the field of updating, package management, and installation; The Debian project also commits itself to publish detailed updates on operating system security issues in addition to publishing security updates.
Debian is offered in three main channels, test(developing), stable and unstable; Stable channels have the highest security and lowest bugs possible and have regular updates.
Debian is a user-friendly distribution that, although more advanced than other distributions such as Ubuntu, ChaletOS, and Manjaro, is easier to work with than a distribution such as Gentoo.
Let us also mention a subtle point that the Debian 10 update is popularly known as Debian Buster; Note, however, that Debian 10.5 is not a new version of Debian Buster and is only a Buster update to which the latest software updates and applications have been added, as well as security fixes; This has the advantage that if you use the Buster system, you do not need to get rid of it; You can upgrade the system using APT Package Manager.
Debian is offered in three main channels, test(developing), stable and unstable; Stable channels have the highest security and lowest bugs possible and have regular updates.
Debian is a user-friendly distribution that, although more advanced than other distributions such as Ubuntu, ChaletOS, and Manjaro, is easier to work with than a distribution such as Gentoo.
Let us also mention a subtle point that the Debian 10 update is popularly known as Debian Buster; Note, however, that Debian 10.5 is not a new version of Debian Buster and is only a Buster update to which the latest software updates and applications have been added, as well as security fixes; This has the advantage that if you use the Buster system, you do not need to get rid of it; You can upgrade the system using APT Package Manager, Advanced Package Tool or APT, which are introduced as software packages for Debian operating system and are provided using DEB packages.
Of course now Version 11, codenamed bullseye, is the most recent Debian release that can be considered stable. The first version 11.0 was published on August 14, 2021, and the most latest upgrade, version 11.3, was released on March 26, 2022.
Debian history
In 1993, on August 16, debian Linux was first introduced to the public by Ian Murdock; Linux distribution was a new concept at the time, and the goal of developing a Debian distribution was to be non-commercial, free, and in line with the principles of the GNU and Linux projects; As a result, the project was financially supported for one year (November 1994 to 1995) by the Free Software Foundation; At first, many people thought that the Debian project that was presented by several programmers; It has no destiny but to disintegrate and it fails.
It is interesting to know that the Debian developer group created this distribution without any financial idea and it was voluntarily, and in their spare time, they developed this distribution and did not receive any money for it; So many people expected the project to fail, but contrary to popular belief, it turned out differently; In addition, Debian survived, it developed , and in less than 10 years, this distribution became known as the most unique Linux distribution in the world, and so far more than 120 distributions based on it have been released, and there are more than 50,000 software packages for debian. It is even designed for 8-processor architectures and supports a variety of system and PC architectures.
Under these circumstances, the founder of the free software movement named Richard Stallman, due to disagreeing with some of Debian’s explanations, designed software called Virtual Richard M. Stallman. This software was responsible for reviewing the packages installed in the Debian distribution and reporting software that is not free.
You may be interested to know where the name of this operating system comes from and why it was chosen for it? the name of this operating system is a combination of the first name of the founder and his ex-wife (Debra Lynn) (Debra Lynn + Ian Murdock). Ian Murdock died on December 28, 2015, in San Francisco, and his cause of death was declared a suicide.
Reasons for Linux Debian Success
- Debian operating system has a high degree of flexibility, and also its open-source has made it possible to change its source code, so 120 different models were created based on Debian.
- Another reason for its success is the existence of a large community of experts and programmers to support Debian, who volunteers to error testing and develop it.
- another thing; There are clear and precise instructions for quality control, trial and error, and troubleshooting for a more user-friendly Debian operating system environment.
Debian applications
One of the applications of Debian is that it can be installed and run on most processors with different architectures of 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Intel, AMD, ARM, and mainframe eServer computers from the IBM z series.
Debian runs the GNOME desktop environment and includes applications such as OpenOffice.org, the Evolution email system, applications such as Iceweasel, which is a modified version of Firefox, and music and video players, photo viewers, text editors, and PDF viewers.
The last thing that can be mentioned; is Debian’s powerful graphical environment is a convenient command line terminal and an attractive environment for the user.
Advantages of Debian OS
Very high stability: Debian operating system is known as a very stable operating system; Because you may encounter errors when running very heavy programs; otherwise, it is rarely possible to encounter errors, and Debian usually Uses old versions of the program that have high stability and reliability.
Server compatibility: The possibility of using this operating system on the server has made the Debian operating system more popular because you will no longer need a special version or edit of this operating system to use on the server, and you can easily use the original version on Use the server; As a result, if you have any doubts after buying Linux VPS between the operating systems that work well for you; Debian can be introduced as the most popular distributions for the server.
Open source: being open source is an advantage that users can apply any changes to the operating system.
Strong support: Debian is not just a Linux operating system; This software is produced by hundreds of volunteers worldwide. You can still be part of the Debian community even if you are not a programmer.
Debian is based on community and consensus. Due to the wide range of Ubuntu users, Debian has become a common practice in Linux software. Of course, we did not mean that Debian files run only on Ubuntu, but also they run on Debian, and they are compatible with both systems; You can find all kinds of software you need in Debian.
Durable: As we mentioned, the release of new versions of Debian takes 2 to 3 years, which means that there is enough time to check and fix all possible bugs and security problems, and if necessary, it publishes security updates for the stable version. Of course, no new features and capabilities will be added to the operating system and will only be upgraded in terms of security; As a result, you can use the latest version of this operating system for a long time, which is important in the field of servers because server administrators no longer need to take steps to upgrade the operating system in a short time.
Disadvantages of Debian OS
Debian despite its advantages and features, The complex and time-consuming process of its development and testing created problems; These problems were due to delays in updating Stable versions, which are usually Debian Stable versions provided every 1 to 3 years. This caused users to use test versions until the bug-free version was released, and the same was true for software packages. Also until a new version is released, The software version belongs to 6-7 months ago. Another disadvantage of Debian is that it does not support Delta updates such as Delta RPM.
Types of Debian versions
Debian has been introduced in 3 versions, which we will explain in the following.
Stable version
The stable version is the latest official version of this system, which in addition to high security, has high stability and is very useful in operating spaces. Still, this version has the disadvantage that it is not compatible with new software because the release process of the new version is 1 to 3 It takes years if you are looking for a version that constantly offers the latest and greatest software packages; The stable version will disappoint you in this regard.
Testing version
This version is expanding its software packages and is waiting in line for stability; The Testing version is for error testing, which provides the latest software enhancements for testing. Also, the Testing version has more updates compared to the stable version, but its disadvantage is that it can not receive security packages at the right time; The latest beta version of Debian is the bullseye.
Unstable version
Unstable or Sid version that most people know by this name; The Debian OS development process is complete in this version, and this is an experimental version that has been developing; The difference between this version and the testing version is that users give feedback in the testing version. The unstable version of Debian allows developers to actively submit code and influence the success of this testing version, so we recommend this version for developers, and using it will not be suitable for all users.
Debian operating system features
as you get to know with Debian operating system, it is better to know its important features.
- Quality Control
- Very high software diversity
- Support for different architectures and processors
- High stability and security
- Having different versions in terms of an operating system, such as live versions or installable versions
- Utilizing the GNU core
- including more than 29,000 applications
- being Free
- Being graphic and having an attractive environment for the user
FAQ
What are the main reasons for using Debian?
Debian is a secure and stable Linux-based operating system that Debian developers provide security updates for all packages whenever possible, and it is an entirely free and open-source operating system; Use, change, and distribution of Debian is free for everyone.
Debian is known for its easy and smooth upgrades in the release cycle and is the foundation of other distributions like Ubuntu; It also supports most hardware.
Debian has a large community that volunteers worldwide to develop and solve its problems. Debian can also be installed live and can be installed using a CD-ROM, USB, or even an automatic network installation tool. Debian performs well in professional environments with its reliability, high security, and long-term support through specialists.
What are the different distributions based on Debian?
Many of the most popular Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu, Knoppix, PureOS, SteamOS, Tails, Openbox, SolydXK, and Tanglu choose Debian as the basis for their software.
Can we use Debian OS for server?
Yes, Debian OS is one of the most popular operating systems used on the server; Of course, note that the server version and the desktop version are different, and you must use the Debian Linux server version.
Conclusion
Debian is one of the oldest and most widely used free Linux distributions, from which many other Linux distributions are derived; This operating system can be viewed on servers and PCs, Specially the most used of this distribution is the Linux VPS. Many people choose Linux VPS for their important operational activities due to the excellent performance of this operating system and Linux VPS use cases. Debian has allowed programmers to make changes to the source of a Linux distribution and play a role in providing a new version. The Important features of this version of Linux that We can mention are stability, excellent quality control, Including more than 20,000 software packages, and architecture support for more processors than other Linux distributions. Debian is a perfect choice for novice to professional Linux users.
In this article, we talked in detail about the Debian Linux operating system, and our goal was to make you more familiar with the Debian operating system; If you have any questions regarding the Debian operating system, let us know in the comments section.
Thank you for being so supportive.