What is Debian?

Debian is a free and open-source operating system built primarily around the Linux kernel and maintained by the Debian Project, a worldwide community of volunteer developers and contributors. The distribution provides a stable computing foundation for desktop workstations, laptops, enterprise servers, cloud environments, development systems, and embedded devices. Its software repositories contain more than 70,000 precompiled packages covering programming languages, development frameworks, productivity software, databases, web servers, networking applications, and multimedia tools. Debian uses the Advanced Package Tool (APT) and the dpkg package management system to simplify application installation, software updates, dependency resolution, and system maintenance. Users can install desktop environments such as GNOME, KDE Plasma, Xfce, Cinnamon, MATE, and LXQt or configure command-line-only installations for servers and specialized applications. The distribution maintains Stable, Testing, and Unstable branches to accommodate users who prioritize production reliability or access to newer software releases. Debian Stable undergoes extensive package testing and receives regular security updates, with long-term support extending the maintenance lifecycle of eligible versions. Its security capabilities include package signature verification, configurable firewalls, access controls, encrypted storage options, and integration with Linux security frameworks. Debian supports multiple processor architectures, including x86-64, ARM64, ARM hard-float, POWER, RISC-V, and IBM System z, enabling deployment across a wide variety of computing systems. System administrators can use Debian to host websites, manage databases, deploy containers, operate virtual machines, configure network services, and run development or production infrastructure.

Pricing

Price Starts At:
Free
Free Version:
Free Version available.

Screenshots and Video

Debian Screenshot 1

Company Facts

Company Name:
Debian
Company Location:
United States
Company Website:
www.debian.org

Product Details

Deployment
Linux
Training Options
Documentation Hub
Support
Web-Based Support

Product Details

Target Company Sizes
Individual
1-10
11-50
51-200
201-500
501-1000
1001-5000
5001-10000
10001+
Target Organization Types
Mid Size Business
Small Business
Enterprise
Freelance
Nonprofit
Government
Startup
Supported Languages
English

Debian Categories and Features

Debian Customer Reviews

Write a Review
  • Reviewer Name: A Verified Reviewer
    Position: Retired
    Has used product for: 2+ Years
    Uses the product: Daily
    Org Size (# of Employees): 1 - 25
    Feature Set 5 out of 5 stars
    Layout 5 out of 5 stars
    Ease Of Use 4 out of 5 stars
    Cost 5 out of 5 stars
    Customer Service 5 out of 5 stars
    Would you Recommend to Others? 10 out of 10

    Stability and Reliability

    5 out of 5 stars Date: Dec 07 2024
    Summary

    Debian Linux 12 excels in stability, reliability, and versatility, making it a strong choice for professionals, organizations, and hobbyists alike. However, its conservative approach to updates and reliance on user initiative for configurations might not suit everyone, particularly those seeking bleeding-edge software or absolute ease of use.

    Positive

    Debian is one of the most stable Linux distributions, making it ideal for production environments and long-term use.
    Extensive testing ensures minimal bugs and high uptime.
    Over 59,000 packages are available, covering almost every use case.
    Includes both stable and backports repositories for additional flexibility.
    Supports a wide range of hardware, including older systems and the latest devices.
    Kernel 6.1 brings better hardware support for modern peripherals.
    Debian allows deep customization, from lightweight server configurations to full-fledged desktop environments.
    Multiple desktop environments are officially supported, including GNOME, KDE, XFCE, and more.

    Negative

    Debian prioritizes stability over cutting-edge software, which means it may lag behind in offering the latest versions of applications.
    Users who need bleeding-edge software might need to use backports or compile from source.
    Debian adheres strictly to free software principles, which may require additional setup for proprietary drivers (e.g., NVIDIA GPU drivers) or non-free codecs.
    Configuring advanced features, especially for servers or networking, may require deeper Linux knowledge.

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  • Reviewer Name: A Verified Reviewer
    Position: User
    Has used product for: Less than 6 months
    Uses the product: Daily
    Org Size (# of Employees): 1 - 25
    Feature Set 2 out of 5 stars
    Layout 2 out of 5 stars
    Ease Of Use 1 out of 5 stars
    Cost 5 out of 5 stars
    Customer Service 1 out of 5 stars
    Would you Recommend to Others? 1 out of 10

    Don't use this garbage.

    1 out of 5 stars Date: Jan 29 2023
    Summary

    Absolutely terrible, crashed constantly and again, didn't work on lots of computers. Genuinely awful experience.

    Positive

    Nothing at all. Just stay clear of this distribution. Crashes constantly and also doesn't boot on some computers.

    Negative

    The constant crashing takes it away for me. Just use a different OS.

    Read More...
  • Reviewer Name: A Verified Reviewer
    Position: Student
    Has used product for: Less than 6 months
    Uses the product: Daily
    Org Size (# of Employees): 1 - 25
    Feature Set 5 out of 5 stars
    Layout 5 out of 5 stars
    Ease Of Use 4 out of 5 stars
    Would you Recommend to Others? 9 out of 10

    Great distro with focus on stability

    4 out of 5 stars Date: Feb 25 2022
    Summary

    Debian is the distro where Ubuntu was based on. If you're an intermediate user of Linux, try Debian.

    Positive

    Installing: While installing, you have multiple advanced choices, you can choose a GUI installer or a text-based one.
    DEs: Debian supports a lot of DEs, including, but not limited to: KDE Plasma, GNOME, Xfce...

    Negative

    I haven't found any issues that affect me in any way.

    Read More...
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