DistributionWatch Review: Debian GNU/Linux 2.1
Introducing Debian GNU/Linux
Ed Petron
Wednesday, December 22, 1999 08:59:34 AM
The Debian distribution holds a unique
place among Linux distributions. Most Linux distributions are based primarily
on software packages developed by volunteer organizations open to anyone,
although the distributions themselves are usually closed commercial ventures.
Debian, on the other hand, is developed entirely by volunteers. It is also
formally referred to as Debian GNU/Linux.
The Debian organization does not directly manufacture or sell CDs or other
media containing the software that it develops (a shrink-wrap version of Debian
GNU/Linux is "sponsored" by O'Reilly, SGI and VA Linux Systems).
Instead, it provides the software free of charge to both end-users and any vendor
interested in selling and/or supporting the distribution. (For those readers
who may be wondering about the name, it's derived from the names of its
creator Ian Murdock and his wife Debra.) The Debian project is actually part of
the Software in the Public Interest (SPI),
a non-profit organization also dedicated to promoting hardware/software
interoperability through the Open
Hardware Certification Program.
Editor's note: in the interest of full disclosure, we should point out that Ed Petron has done some unpaid volunteer package maintenance on Debian GNU/Linux in the past. Next: Obtaining Debian GNU/Linux »
