Debian
Debian GNU/Linux

    /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.

   <http://debian.org/>.

   <Debian Linux archives>.

   (1999-02-23)