Debian
Debian is a computer operating
system composed of software packages
released as free and open source software especially under the GNU
General Public License and other free software licenses. The primary
form, Debian GNU/Linux, which uses the Linux kernel and GNU OS tools,
is a popular and influential Linux distribution. It is distributed with
access to repositories containing thousands of software packages ready
for installation and use. Debian is known for strict adherence to the
Unix and free software philosophies as well as using collaborative
software development and testing processes. Debian can be used as a
desktop as well as server operating system.
Project Organization
The Debian Project is a volunteer organization with three foundational documents:
* The Debian Social Contract defines a set of basic principles by which the project and its developers conduct affairs.
* The Debian Free Software Guidelines define the criteria for "free software" and thus what software is permissible in the distribution, as referenced in the Social Contract. These guidelines have also been adopted as the basis of the Open Source Definition. Although it can be considered a separate document for all practical purposes, it formally is part of the Social Contract.
* The Debian Constitution describes the organizational structure for formal decision-making within the Project, and enumerates the powers and responsibilities of the Debian Project Leader, the Debian Project Secretary, and the Debian Developers generally. Currently, the project includes more than a thousand developers. Each of them sustains some niche in the project, be it package maintenance, software documentation, maintaining the project infrastructure, quality assurance, or release coordination. Package maintainers have jurisdiction over their own packages, although packages are increasingly co-maintained. Other tasks are usually handled by the domain of smaller, more collaborative groups of developers. The project maintains official mailing lists and conferences for communication and coordination between developers. For issues with single packages or domains, a public bug tracking system is used by developers and end-users. Informally, Internet Relay Chat channels (primarily on the OFTC and freenode networks) are used for communication among developers and users as well. Together, the Developers may make binding general decisions by way of a General Resolution or election. All voting is conducted by Cloneproof Schwartz Sequential Dropping, a Condorcet method of voting. A Project Leader is elected once per year by a vote of the Developers; in April 2008, Steve McIntyre was voted into this position, succeeding Sam Hocevar. The Debian Project Leader has several special powers, but this power is far from absolute and is rarely used. Under a General Resolution, the Developers may, among other things, recall the leader, reverse a decision by him or his delegates, and amend the constitution and other foundational documents. The Leader sometimes delegates authority to other developers in order for them to perform specialized tasks. Generally this means that a leader delegates someone to start a new group for a new task, and gradually a team gets formed that carries on doing the work and regularly expands or reduces their ranks as they think is best and as the circumstances allow. A role in Debian with a similar importance to the Project Leader's is that of a Release Manager. Release Managers set goals for the next release, supervise the processes, and make the final decision as to when to release.
Distributions
The Debian Project offers 3 distributions to choose from, each with different characteristics. The distributions include packages which comply with the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG), which are included inside the main repositories.
* stable, currently aliased lenny, is the current release that has stable and well tested software. Stable is made by freezing testing for a few months where bugs are fixed in order to make the distribution as stable as possible; then the resulting system is released as stable. It is updated only if major security or usability fixes are incorporated. After Debian 6.0, new releases will be made every two years. Stable's CDs and DVDs can be found in the Debian web site.
* testing, currently aliased squeeze, is what the next major release will be and is currently being tested. The packages included in this distribution have had some testing in unstable but they may not be completely fit for release yet. It contains more modern packages than stable but older than unstable. This distribution is updated continuously until it enters the "frozen" state. Security updates for testing distribution are provided by Debian testing security team. Testing's CDs and DVDs can be found on the Debian web site.
* unstable, permanently aliased sid, repository contains packages currently under development; it is updated continuously. This repository is designed for Debian developers who participate in a project and need the latest libraries available, therefore it will not be as stable as the other distributions. There are no official CDs/DVDs because it is rapidly changing and the project does not support it, although CD and DVD images of sid are built quarterly by sidux. Additionally, the other two distributions can be upgraded to unstable.
Installation of software packages
dpkg, installing local deb. packages
dpkg is the base of the Debian package management system. dpkg is a command-line utility to install, remove, and provide information about local .deb packages. Gdebi is a tool that expands the functionality of dpkg by not only installing local .deb packages but also fetching and installing dependencies from online repositories. Gdebi can be used both in a graphical interface and by command-line.
APT, Installing packages from online repositories
APT expands the functionality of dpkg by searching, fetching and installing packages from online repositories along with their dependencies, either from binary files or by compiling source code. It can also upgrade packages and upgrade the whole distribution to a new release.
Graphical Front-ends
* Add/Remove Applications is a GNOME program to install applications.
* Synaptic is a GTK+ front-end for APT.
* KPackage is KDE's front-end for APT.
* Adept is a discontinued KDE front-end for APT.
Command-line Front-ends
* aptitude is the preferred front-end for APT.
* apt-get is another front-end for APT with fewer features and worse dependency management than aptitude.
* dselect is an old front-end for APT, largely superseded by other front-ends.
* wajig is a simplified front end, providing the functionality of APT, dpkg, dpkg-deb, apt-cache, and other tools.
Desktop Envirouments
Debian offers stable and testing CD images specifically built for GNOME (the default), KDE, Xfce and LXDE. Less common window managers such as Enlightenment, Fluxbox, GNUstep, IceWM, Window Maker and others can also be installed.
LiveCD
A Debian Live system is a bootable instance of the Debian operating system which boots Debian instantly, without any installation or configuration. Booting is possible from either a CD, DVD, or a LiveUSB USB flash drive. The user is usually required to choose the boot media (i.e.: CD, DVD or USB flash drive), and in most cases the hardware is automatically detected. If there is a DHCP server on the network, it will allow automatic configuration of the networking parameters. Debian Live allows a very thorough user-orientated personalization of your system, including customising installed packages, the type of graphical user interface, the desktop wallpaper, the computer's idling screensaver as well as the available languages. The user may additionally add their own compatible programs.
For more inforation check the Official Website
Project Organization
The Debian Project is a volunteer organization with three foundational documents:
* The Debian Social Contract defines a set of basic principles by which the project and its developers conduct affairs.
* The Debian Free Software Guidelines define the criteria for "free software" and thus what software is permissible in the distribution, as referenced in the Social Contract. These guidelines have also been adopted as the basis of the Open Source Definition. Although it can be considered a separate document for all practical purposes, it formally is part of the Social Contract.
* The Debian Constitution describes the organizational structure for formal decision-making within the Project, and enumerates the powers and responsibilities of the Debian Project Leader, the Debian Project Secretary, and the Debian Developers generally. Currently, the project includes more than a thousand developers. Each of them sustains some niche in the project, be it package maintenance, software documentation, maintaining the project infrastructure, quality assurance, or release coordination. Package maintainers have jurisdiction over their own packages, although packages are increasingly co-maintained. Other tasks are usually handled by the domain of smaller, more collaborative groups of developers. The project maintains official mailing lists and conferences for communication and coordination between developers. For issues with single packages or domains, a public bug tracking system is used by developers and end-users. Informally, Internet Relay Chat channels (primarily on the OFTC and freenode networks) are used for communication among developers and users as well. Together, the Developers may make binding general decisions by way of a General Resolution or election. All voting is conducted by Cloneproof Schwartz Sequential Dropping, a Condorcet method of voting. A Project Leader is elected once per year by a vote of the Developers; in April 2008, Steve McIntyre was voted into this position, succeeding Sam Hocevar. The Debian Project Leader has several special powers, but this power is far from absolute and is rarely used. Under a General Resolution, the Developers may, among other things, recall the leader, reverse a decision by him or his delegates, and amend the constitution and other foundational documents. The Leader sometimes delegates authority to other developers in order for them to perform specialized tasks. Generally this means that a leader delegates someone to start a new group for a new task, and gradually a team gets formed that carries on doing the work and regularly expands or reduces their ranks as they think is best and as the circumstances allow. A role in Debian with a similar importance to the Project Leader's is that of a Release Manager. Release Managers set goals for the next release, supervise the processes, and make the final decision as to when to release.
Distributions
The Debian Project offers 3 distributions to choose from, each with different characteristics. The distributions include packages which comply with the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG), which are included inside the main repositories.
* stable, currently aliased lenny, is the current release that has stable and well tested software. Stable is made by freezing testing for a few months where bugs are fixed in order to make the distribution as stable as possible; then the resulting system is released as stable. It is updated only if major security or usability fixes are incorporated. After Debian 6.0, new releases will be made every two years. Stable's CDs and DVDs can be found in the Debian web site.
* testing, currently aliased squeeze, is what the next major release will be and is currently being tested. The packages included in this distribution have had some testing in unstable but they may not be completely fit for release yet. It contains more modern packages than stable but older than unstable. This distribution is updated continuously until it enters the "frozen" state. Security updates for testing distribution are provided by Debian testing security team. Testing's CDs and DVDs can be found on the Debian web site.
* unstable, permanently aliased sid, repository contains packages currently under development; it is updated continuously. This repository is designed for Debian developers who participate in a project and need the latest libraries available, therefore it will not be as stable as the other distributions. There are no official CDs/DVDs because it is rapidly changing and the project does not support it, although CD and DVD images of sid are built quarterly by sidux. Additionally, the other two distributions can be upgraded to unstable.
Installation of software packages
dpkg, installing local deb. packages
dpkg is the base of the Debian package management system. dpkg is a command-line utility to install, remove, and provide information about local .deb packages. Gdebi is a tool that expands the functionality of dpkg by not only installing local .deb packages but also fetching and installing dependencies from online repositories. Gdebi can be used both in a graphical interface and by command-line.
APT, Installing packages from online repositories
APT expands the functionality of dpkg by searching, fetching and installing packages from online repositories along with their dependencies, either from binary files or by compiling source code. It can also upgrade packages and upgrade the whole distribution to a new release.
Graphical Front-ends
* Add/Remove Applications is a GNOME program to install applications.
* Synaptic is a GTK+ front-end for APT.
* KPackage is KDE's front-end for APT.
* Adept is a discontinued KDE front-end for APT.
Command-line Front-ends
* aptitude is the preferred front-end for APT.
* apt-get is another front-end for APT with fewer features and worse dependency management than aptitude.
* dselect is an old front-end for APT, largely superseded by other front-ends.
* wajig is a simplified front end, providing the functionality of APT, dpkg, dpkg-deb, apt-cache, and other tools.
Desktop Envirouments
Debian offers stable and testing CD images specifically built for GNOME (the default), KDE, Xfce and LXDE. Less common window managers such as Enlightenment, Fluxbox, GNUstep, IceWM, Window Maker and others can also be installed.
LiveCD
A Debian Live system is a bootable instance of the Debian operating system which boots Debian instantly, without any installation or configuration. Booting is possible from either a CD, DVD, or a LiveUSB USB flash drive. The user is usually required to choose the boot media (i.e.: CD, DVD or USB flash drive), and in most cases the hardware is automatically detected. If there is a DHCP server on the network, it will allow automatic configuration of the networking parameters. Debian Live allows a very thorough user-orientated personalization of your system, including customising installed packages, the type of graphical user interface, the desktop wallpaper, the computer's idling screensaver as well as the available languages. The user may additionally add their own compatible programs.
For more inforation check the Official Website
Here is a sample video :
