Debian is an operating system comprised of free software. This includes kernel and utility components as well as application programs.
Develop by volunteer programmers, it is used by both experienced users and novices on laptops, desktops and servers alike. Ideal for professional use due to its stability and smooth upgrade process.
Stable
Debian is one of the oldest Linux distributions and is an established community-driven system with high security, stability and user friendliness. Perfect for both beginner and experienced techies alike. Debian can be installed on different devices such as server systems and laptops – free to download and install with an extensive support community ready to assist when any problems arise.
Debian releases new stable versions periodically. Each stable release will remain supported for at most three years after release; after which time security upgrades no longer will be offered to it. A new stable release is only created when developers feel comfortable that no further bugs will arise and that everything works harmoniously together – making Debian extremely robust across virtually any device type.
Debian Stable can be an ideal solution for servers that must operate 24/7/365, however desktop users should avoid it due to being behind in terms of software updates and bug fixes that may cause your system to break. Furthermore, installing multiple software packages could create potential conflicts that cannot easily be fixed.
Debian offers two primary development versions, testing and unstable. Unstable updates frequently during development of its next stable release – also known by its code name sid – while packages in testing may not have been tested as extensively as those found in stable or unstable, thus increasing chances of software breaking or malfunction. Both stable and unstable releases of Debian share packages which make updating them simpler, but unstable users can benefit by having packages pinned lower in one than in the other; making security updates which have been released into testing easier to obtain through unstable installation.
Switching Debian releases can be accomplished by editing the source lists in an apt-get configuration file, which allows the user to modify or add or remove repository lists to control which packages are downloaded and installed on their system. Users are cautioned that altering these source lists could result in a broken system because changes could alter how packages are built and may impact how they function.
Testing
Debian provides three versions in active maintenance: stable, testing and unstable. Testing serves as the development distribution for software not yet included in stable releases but on their way there.
Testing changes more frequently than stable but less rapidly than unstable, making it an excellent place to try out systems before becoming part of an official stable release. Furthermore, Testing also serves as the backports service which gives stability releases access to bugfixes they otherwise wouldn’t receive.
Once a package has been in Unstable for an acceptable length of time and demonstrated stability, its automated systems will move it automatically into Testing release where it will become available for installation by anyone running that distribution.
The Testing release offers many new features and serves as the foundation of distributions that customize it, such as Linux Mint Debian Edition, Makulu, Roqos Core (x86-64 IPS firewall router), Roqos Edge and more. Furthermore, some users and developers preferring cutting-edge software can take advantage of its more modern development environment by opting into Testing release.
Debian Linux distribution is one of the world’s most widely used, making it an excellent option if you can accept that it will evolve over time. Open-source, free, and compatible with numerous CPU architectures; Debian makes an ideal choice for desktop, server and home network computers alike.
Switching to Debian Testing will give you access to more recent versions of software than Stable, but can be riskier as regular backups and updates must be conducted. If this risk isn’t something you are willing to take on, it is advisable to stay with Stable instead.