Debian

Last reviewed on 2026-05-13 Reference

Quick facts

Type: Community-run, general-purpose Linux distribution.
Maintainer: The Debian Project, a volunteer community.
Package manager: apt on top of .deb packages.
Default desktop: Choice during install (GNOME by default; KDE Plasma, Xfce, MATE, LXQt and Cinnamon are all official options).
Release cycle: Stable releases roughly every two years; concurrent testing and unstable branches.

Who Debian is for

Debian suits people and projects that value predictability and longevity over fresh software. Typical good fits include:

Servers that should run for years without reinstallation.
Technically-comfortable desktop users who don't mind older package versions.
Users who prefer a distribution with no company behind it and a long-published social contract.
Specialised use cases (embedded, scientific computing, infrastructure) where the breadth of the Debian archive is the deciding factor.

If you specifically want a relatively recent kernel and desktop with familiar conveniences out of the box, Ubuntu LTS or Fedora are usually easier starting points. Debian rewards patience.

Branches in practice

Most users run Debian stable — whichever release is current. Testing is a popular choice for users who want newer packages but mostly-supported software; it becomes the next stable when the freeze process completes. Unstable (codename "sid") is where new package versions land first; it tends to be very current but is not aimed at end users.

The full project-level explanation of the release model is on the Debian project overview page.

Choosing a release at install time

Debian's installer asks which desktop environment to install. Any of the major options is a fine choice; GNOME is the default. After install, you can also have multiple desktops installed and pick at the login screen.

Debian's official installer media historically separated free-only and "non-free firmware" images. As of Debian 12 (Bookworm), the standard installer image includes non-free firmware where the alternative would be a system that doesn't have working hardware (Wi-Fi, in particular). This is configurable.

Day-to-day reference

Updating

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt full-upgrade

Reboot if a new kernel was installed.

Finding the codename

lsb_release -c

Useful when configuring /etc/apt/sources.list. Pinning to the codename rather than to stable avoids a surprise upgrade when the next stable comes out.

Backports

Debian offers an opt-in backports archive, where some packages from testing are recompiled against the current stable. Useful when you specifically need a newer version of a single package without abandoning stable; less useful as a system-wide pattern.

Going deeper

For project-level context — the Debian Social Contract, the DFSG, how releases happen, the long list of derivatives — see the Debian project overview.

For broader Linux context:

Comparing Linux distributions — how Debian compares to Ubuntu, Fedora and Arch.
Essential Linux commands — reference for the day-to-day command-line tools.
Linux security overview — how Debian Security Advisories fit in.
The Linux kernel — including how Debian chooses its kernel.

Official Debian resources

debian.org — downloads, documentation, news.
Debian Documentation — including the Debian Administrator's Handbook.
Debian Wiki — community-maintained reference.
Debian Security — security advisories and tracker.
Debian mailing lists — the main forum for project discussion.

"Debian" is a registered trademark of Software in the Public Interest, Inc. This page is not affiliated with the Debian Project.