Dictionary.net

/deb'ee`n/, *not* /deeb'ee`n/ Thenon-profit volunteer organisation responsible for DebianGNU/Linux and Debian GNU/Hurd. Debian's Linuxdistribution is dedicated to free and open source software;the main goal of the distribution is to ensure that one candownload and install a fully-functional operating systemthat is completely adherent to the Debian Free SoftwareGuidelines (DFSG).Debian was begun in August 1993 by Ian Murdock, and wassponsored by the Free Software Foundation from November 1994to November 1995. The name Debian is a contraction of DEB(ra)and IAN Murdock.Debian's packaging system (dpkg) is similar to other popularpackaging systems like RPM. There are over 2200 packages ofprecompiled software available in the main (free) section ofthe Debian 2.1 distribution alone -- this is what sets Debianapart from many other Linux distributions. The high qualityand huge number of official packages (most Debian systems'/usr/local/ remains empty -- almost everything most Linuxusers want is officially packaged) are what draw many peopleto use Debian.Another unique aspect to the Debian project is the opendevelopment; pre-releases are made available from Day 1 and ifanyone wishes to become a Debian developer, all that is neededis 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 mostdevelopment talks take place on the many mailing lists andthe IRC network. (http://debian.org/).Debian Linux archives (ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian).