Operating systems / OPEN-SOURCE PROJECT GUIDE
Debian
The foundation under the foundations.
A community-built operating system powering desktops and servers—and serving as the base for other Linux distributions.
Why it matters
A foundational distribution in the Linux ecosystem, with a social contract centered on free software.
The honest heads-up
Stable releases prioritize predictability over the newest application versions. Hardware may need non-free firmware. Server administration and installation require care.
Your first small step
Read the installation guide or explore Debian in a virtual machine.
Getting-started guide ↗Checked September 2026 · Official project source ↗
Capabilities can change. Check the project’s current documentation for your setup.