Debian

1 definition found

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  Debian
       
           /deb'ee`n/, *not* /deeb'ee`n/ The
          non-profit volunteer organisation responsible for Debian
          {GNU}/{Linux} and Debian {GNU}/{Hurd}.  Debian's {Linux}
          distribution is dedicated to free and {open source} software;


          the main goal of the distribution is to ensure that one can
          download and install a fully-functional {operating system}
          that is completely adherent to the Debian Free Software
          Guidelines (DFSG).
       
          Debian was begun in August 1993 by Ian Murdock, and was
          sponsored by the {Free Software Foundation} from November 1994
          to November 1995.  The name Debian is a contraction of DEB(ra)
          and IAN Murdock.
       
          Debian's packaging system (dpkg) is similar to other popular
          packaging systems like {RPM}.  There are over 2200 packages of
          precompiled software available in the main (free) section of
          the Debian 2.1 distribution alone -- this is what sets Debian
          apart from many other Linux distributions.  The high quality
          and huge number of official packages (most Debian systems'
          /usr/local/ remains empty -- almost everything most Linux
          users want is officially packaged) are what draw many people
          to use Debian.
       
          Another unique aspect to the Debian project is the open
          development; pre-releases are made available from Day 1 and if
          anyone wishes to become a Debian developer, all that is needed
          is proof of identification and a signed {PGP} or {GPG} key.
          There are over 400 Debian developers all around the world --
          many developers have never met face-to-face, and most
          development talks take place on the many {mailing lists} and
          the {IRC} network.
       
          {Home (http://www.debian.org/)}.
       
          {Debian Linux archives (ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian)}.
       
          (1999-02-23)