History of Linux Debian

Debian (pronounced / dɛbiən /) 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. primary form, Debian GNU / Linux, which uses the Linux kernel and GNU OS tools, is a popular and influential GNU / 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 or server operating system ...

Organization

Linux Debian Project is governed by the Constitution and the Social Contract which set the project governance structure and explicitly stated that the purpose of the project is the development of a free operating system. Debian is developed by over a thousand volunteers from all over the world and supported by donations through several non-profit organizations around the world. Most notable is the software in the Public Interest, the owner of the Debian trademark and umbrella organization for the various community free software projects.

Thus, the Debian Project is an independent decentralized organization; were not supported by other companies such as GNU / Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, openSUSE, Fedora, and Mandriva. Development costs are all included in the package Debian 4.0 Etch (283 million lines of code), using the COCOMO model, has been estimated to be approximately U.S. $ 13 billion. [11] From April 2, 2009, Ohloh estimates that the codebase from the Debian GNU / Linux project (45 million lines of code), using the COCOMO model, would cost about U.S. $ 819 million to develop.

Features

Many distributions based on Debian, including Ubuntu, MEPIS, Dreamlinux, Damn Small Linux, Xandros, Knoppix, BackTrack, Linspire, Sidux, Kanotix, Parsix and LinEx, among others.

Debian is known for an abundance of options. The current stable release includes over twenty five thousand software packages for twelve computer architectures. Architecture ranges from the Intel / AMD 32-bit/64-bit architectures commonly found in personal computers to the ARM architecture commonly found in embedded systems and the IBM eServer zSeries mainframe. The standout feature is the Debian APT package management system, repositories with large numbers of packages, strict policies regarding packages, and the high quality of releases. These practices make it easy upgrades between releases as well as automated installation and removal of packages.

The Debian standard install makes use of the GNOME desktop environment. It includes popular programs such as OpenOffice.org, Iceweasel (a rebranding of Firefox), Evolution mail, CD / DVD writing programs, music and video players, image viewers and editors, and PDF viewers. There are pre-built CD images for KDE, Xfce and LXDE as well. The remaining discs, roomates span five DVDs or over thirty CDs, Contain all packages currently available and are not Necessary for a standard install. Another install method is via a net install CD roomates is much smaller than a normal install CD / DVD. It contains only the bare essentials needed to start the installer and downloads the packages selected during installation via APT. These CD / DVD images can be freely obtained by web download, BitTorrent, jigdo or buying them from online retailers.

History

1993-1998
Debian was first announced on August 16, 1993 by Ian Murdock. Murdock initially called the system "Debian Linux Release". Before the release of Debian, Softlanding Linux System (SLS) was the first GNU / Linux distribution compiled from a variety of software packages, and is a popular base for other distributions in 1993-1994. Perceived poor maintenance and prevalence of bugs in SLS motivated Murdock to begin distribution.

In 1993 Murdock also released the Debian Manifesto, outlining his views on the new operating system. In it he called for the creation of distribution is maintained in the open, in the spirit of Linux and GNU. He formed the name "Debian" as a combination of the first name of his then girlfriend Debra Lynn and his own name.

Debian Project grew slowly at first, and the first released version 0.9x in 1994 and 1995. The first port of another, non-i386 architectures began in 1995, and the first Debian version 1.x was released in 1996.

In 1996, Bruce Perens replaced Ian Murdock as the project leader. In the same year, fellow developer Ean Schuessler suggested that Debian should establish a social contract with its users. He distilled the discussion on Debian mailing lists to the Debian Social Contract and Debian Free Software Guidelines, defining fundamental commitment to the development of the distribution. He also initiated the establishment of the legal umbrella organization, Software in the Public Interest.

Perens left the project in 1998 before the release of the first glibc-based Debian, 2.0.

1999-2004
Projects elected new leaders and made two more 2.x releases, each including more ports and packages. Advanced Packaging Tool is used for the first time and non-port the Linux kernel, Debian GNU / Hurd, begins. The first Linux distribution based on Debian, which Libranet, Corel Linux and Linux Stormix's Storm, which began in 1999. 2.2 release in 2000 dedicated to Joel Klecker, a developer who died of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

In late 2000, the project made major changes to archive and release management, reorganizing software archive processes new "package pools" and creating a testing distribution as an ongoing, relatively stable staging area for the next release. In the same year, debconf developers began holding an annual conference called the talks and workshops for developers and technical users.

In July 2002, the project released version 3.0, codenamed wood, (after a character in the movie Toy Story, a trend that continues today), a stable release that will see relatively few updates until the next release.

Long release cycle employed by the Debian Project during this time attracted a lot of criticism from the free software community, and this triggered the creation of Ubuntu in 2004, until recently one of the most influential Debian forks.

2005-present
Sarge made 3.1 release in June 2005. There are many major changes in the sarge release, mostly because of the time needed to freeze and release the distribution. Not only did this release update over 73% of the software shipped in the previous version, but also includes much more software than previous releases, almost doubling the size to 9,000 new package. New installer replaced the aging boot-floppy installer with a modular design. This allows the installation of advanced (with RAID, XFS and LVM support) including hardware detection, making installations easier for novice users. The installation system also boasted full internationalization support as the software translated into almost forty languages. Installation manual and comprehensive release notes were released in ten and fifteen different languages ​​respectively. This release includes efforts Debian-Edu/Skolelinux, Debian-Med and Debian-Accessibility sub-projects that increase the number of educational packages and those with a medical affiliation as well as packages designed specifically for people with disabilities.

In 2006, as a result of the much publicized dispute, Mozilla software name was again changed in Debian, with Firefox to Iceweasel, Thunderbird to Icedove, along with other Mozilla programs. Mozilla Corporation stated that Debian may not use the Firefox trademark if it distributes Firefox with modifications which have not been approved by the Mozilla Corporation. Two reasons stand out Debian Firefox modifying the software to change the artwork, and to provide security patches. Debian Free Software Guidelines artwork Mozilla considers non-free. Debian provides long-term support for the version of Firefox in the stable release, where Mozilla prefers that old versions are not supported. Mostly software program developed by the Mozilla Corporation were rebranded but the programs' source code remains the same with only minor differences.

Debian 4.0 (etch) was released April 8, 2007 for the same amount as in sarge of architecture. These include AMD64 port but dropped support for m68k. M68k port, however, is still available in the unstable distribution. There are around 18,200 binary packages maintained by more than 1,030 Debian developers.

Debian 5.0 (lenny) was released February 14, 2009 after 22 months of development. It includes over 25,000 software packages. Support has been added for Marvell's Orion platform and for netbooks like the Asus Eee PC. Release is dedicated to Thiemo Seufer, active developers and community members who died in a car accident on December 26, 2008.