- Debian for Users
- Debian for Developers
- Debian for Enterprise Environments
There are a lot of reasons to choose Debian as your operating system –as a user, as a developer, and even in enterprise environments. Mostusers appreciate the stability, and the smooth upgrade processesof both packages and the entire distribution. Debian is also widelyused by software and hardware developers because it runs on numerousarchitectures and devices, offers a public bug tracker and other toolsfor developers. If you plan to use Debian in a professional environment,there are additional benefits like LTS versions and cloud images.
- Debian is Free Software.
- Debian is made of free and open source software and will always be 100% free. Free for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. This is our main promise to our users. It's also free of cost.
- Debian is stable and secure.
- Debian is a Linux-based operating system for a wide range of devices including laptops, desktops and servers. We provide a reasonable default configuration for every package as well as regular security updates during the packages' lifetimes.
- Debian has extensive Hardware Support.
- Most hardware is supported by the Linux kernel which means that Debian will support it as well. Proprietary drivers for hardware are available if necessary.
- Debian offers a flexible Installer.
- Our Live CD is for everyone who wants to give Debian a try before installing it. It also includes the Calamares installer which makes it easy to install Debian from the live system. More experienced users can use the Debian installer with more options for fine-tuning, including the possibility to use an automated network installation tool.
- Debian provides smooth Upgrades.
- It's easy to keep our operating system up-to-date, whether you want to upgrade to a completely new release or just update a single package.
- Debian is the Base for many other Distributions.
- Many popular Linux distributions, like Ubuntu, Knoppix, PureOS or Tails, are based on Debian. We provide all the tools so that everyone can extend the software packages from the Debian archive with their own packages if needed.
- The Debian Project is a Community.
- Everyone can be a part of our community; you don't have to be a developer or sysadmin. Debian has a democratic governance structure. Since all members of the Debian project have equal rights, Debian cannot be controlled by a single company. Our developers are from more than 60 different countries, and Debian itself is translated into more than 80 languages.
- Multiple Hardware Architectures
- Debian supports a long list of CPU architectures, including amd64, i386, multiple versions of ARM and MIPS, POWER7, POWER8, IBM System z and RISC-V. Debian is also available for niche architectures.
- IoT and Embedded Devices
- Debian runs on a wide range of devices, like the Raspberry Pi, variants of QNAP, mobile devices, home routers and a lot of Single Board Computers (SBC).
- Huge Number of Software Packages
- Debian has a large number of packages (currently in stable: 59000 packages) which use the deb format.
- Different Releases
- Besides our stable release, you can install newer software versions by using the testing or unstable releases.
- Public Bug Tracker
- Our Debian bug tracking system (BTS) is publicly available for everybody via a web browser. We do not hide our software bugs, and you can easily submit new bug reports or join the discussion.
- Debian Policy and Developer Tools
- Debian offers high-quality software. To learn more about our standards, read the policy which defines technical requirements for every package included in the distribution. Our Continuous Integration strategy involves Autopkgtest (runs tests on packages), Piuparts (tests installation, upgrade and removal), and Lintian (checks packages for inconsistencies and errors).
- Debian is reliable.
- Debian proves its reliability every day in thousands of real world scenarios, ranging from single user laptops to super-colliders, stock exchanges and the automotive industry. It's also popular in the academic world, in science and in the public sector.
- Debian has many Experts.
- Our package maintainers do not only take care of the Debian packaging and incorporating new upstream versions. Often they're experts on the application itself and therefore contribute to upstream development directly.
- Debian is secure.
- Debian offers security support for its stable releases. Many other distributions and security researchers rely on Debian's security tracker.
- Long Term Support
- Debian's free of charge Long Term Support (LTS) version extends the lifetime of all Debian stable releases to at least 5 years. Additionally, the commercial Extended LTS initiative supports a limited set of packages for more than 5 years.
- Cloud Images
- Official cloud images are available for all major cloud platforms. We also provide the tools and configuration so you can build your own customized cloud images. You can also use Debian in virtual machines on the desktop or in a container.
FAQs
Most users appreciate the stability, and the smooth upgrade processes of both packages and the entire distribution. Debian is also widely used by software and hardware developers because it runs on numerous architectures and devices, offers a public bug tracker and other tools for developers.
What is Debian best for? ›
Debian offers over 59,000 packages that support a wide range of capabilities. For example, Debian provides packages for editing documents, developing software, administering systems, connecting to networks, debugging packages, mixing sound, routing email and playing games.
Why is Debian better than Ubuntu? ›
Q#1 What Is Better Debian Or Ubuntu? Individuals who value convenience and cutting-edge features prefer Ubuntu, while power users who value stability and open-source ideals prefer Debian. Both are versatile and suitable for a variety of applications.
What are the disadvantages of Debian? ›
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Debian?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|
| Open source | More complicated installation and use |
| Excellent stability | Fewer releases and as a result partly outdated software |
| Plenty of software options | No regular updates |
| Engaged community | No support for many commercial programs |
1 more rowAug 2, 2023
Whereas many other Linux distributions are developed by individuals, small, closed groups, or commercial vendors, Debian is a major Linux distribution that is being developed by an association of individuals who have made common cause to create a free operating system, in the same spirit as Linux and other free ...
Should I use Debian instead of Ubuntu? ›
Go with Ubuntu if official support and SLAs are a must for your use case. Debian requires experienced Linux admins comfortable with manual configurations. Go with Ubuntu if you require a more user-friendly experience and easier setup. Debian's lower memory usage is beneficial for resource-constrained servers.
Is Debian good for newbies? ›
The Debian project distinguishes itself among other Linux projects because of its widespread community support, vast package repositories, and free project management approach. Debian Linux also has several useful features that are beneficial to both novice and expert users.
What is special about Debian? ›
Features. Debian has access to online repositories that contain over 51,000 packages. Debian officially contains only free software, but non-free software can be downloaded and installed from the Debian repositories.
Which is faster Debian or Ubuntu? ›
Generally speaking, both distributions perform well on a wide range of hardware, with Ubuntu often having an edge in terms of out-of-the-box compatibility and ease of setup. For performance in terms of raw speed, for most use cases there will be little difference.
Is Debian lighter than Ubuntu? ›
Ubuntu is generally a bit "heavier" than Debian, more things get installed and started by default. I can also imagine, that snap does not help (snap definitely uses more disk space, I don't know about loading time and responsiveness.)
Debian release strategy
Debian Long Term Support (LTS) is a project to extend the lifetime of all Debian stable releases to (at least) 5 years. Debian LTS is not handled by the Debian Security team, but by a separate group of volunteers and companies interested in making it a success.
Is Debian good for old computers? ›
Seeing that my old hardware was more fast, fun and just as useful (even for games) that the recent hardware on a slimed down Windows LTSC was a revelation. I also run Debian on all of my machines, either Stable or Testing. It runs fine on older machines, at least up to Core 2 Duo (64-bit).
Is Debian good for cyber security? ›
Which Linux distro should I use for cybersecurity testing? Experts recommend using the Kali Linux distro for cybersecurity testing. Built on Debian, it is by far the most widely used Linux distro for cybersecurity and security tests.
Which is better, Fedora or Debian? ›
To make an informed decision between Debian and Fedora, you should consider your needs. If you need cutting-edge features and don't mind frequent updates, choose Fedora. If you prioritize rock-solid stability for servers or desktops, choose Debian.
Does Debian have a GUI? ›
For this architecture the debian-installer supports two different user interfaces: a graphical one and a text-based one. The graphical interface is used by default unless you select an “Install” option in the boot menu.
Why are most distros based on Debian? ›
Debian was the standard for stability in 2003. They were getting things right well before other distributions (an effective automated dependency package management system, configuration file management, etc. etc.
What devices use Debian? ›
Debian does not impose hardware requirements beyond the requirements of the Linux or kFreeBSD kernel and the GNU tool-sets. Therefore, any architecture or platform to which the Linux or kFreeBSD kernel, libc, gcc, etc. have been ported, and for which a Debian port exists, can run Debian.
Is gaming on Debian good? ›
If you don't like to mess with stuff or tinker than that is what I woudl recommend. But if you like tinkering then just install Arch and go nuts. I will say that gaming on Debian is alright pretty good. Strikes a bit of a balance but there are some performance tradeoffs but its good enough.
Is Debian still a good distro? ›
Debian has always been stable, widely supported very popular works on any type of processors or devises. Being the base for the development of several of the most popular distributions worldwide is indeed a solid testimony of its quality and design.
