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Debian Linux Distribution Release 1.1 Now Available
Software in the Public Interest Presents *** Debian Linux 1.1 ***Debian is a free-software Linux system. It is entirely free to use andre-distribute, and there is no consortium membership or paymentrequired to participate in its distribution and development. Thedevelopers are 100 unpaid volunteers from all over the world whocollaborate via the Internet. We have formed the organization "Softwarein the Public Interest" to sponsor this development.There are 474 software packages in Debian. You can find a list anddescriptions of them athttp://www.debian.org/debian/FTP . We alsodistribute an additional 50 non-free software packages in the"non-free" directory of our FTP archive.The Debian 1.1 system features the Linux 2.0 kernel and all-ELFexecutables, and can be favorably compared with the very bestcommercial Linux and Unix distributions. A distinguishing feature ofDebian is the most sophisticated package system in the industry. Thepackage tools help you install, upgrade, or delete individual systemcomponents while your system is running. Because Debian providesupgrade-in-place capability, there is never a need to wipe out your oldsystem and start fresh when performing an upgrade.The package system is based on "dependencies". For example, the "gcc" Ccompiler package depends on another package called "binutils" thatincludes the linker and assembler. If you ask to install "gcc", thepackage system will point out that you also need "binutils", and willinstall it if you approve. The package tool can even automaticallyretrieve the programs you've requested via FTP.There is a port of Debian 1.1 to 68k processors in progress at present,and ports to Alpha, Sparc, and MIPS are expected after this.Currently there are two versions of the Debian distribution: "1.1", andthe "development" version. "1.1" is stable software, and will notchange. The development version is updated continuously, and you canretrieve packages from the "development" archive on our FTP sites anduse them to upgrade your system at any time. Approximately three monthsfrom today, the "development" software will have been stabilized andmade into Debian 1.2. Further relases will follow at three-monthintervals.Besides being an excellent full-featured stand-alone Linux system.Debian is also a base upon which value-added Linux distributions can bebuilt. By providing a reliable, full-featured base system, Debianprovides Linux users with increased compatibility, and allows Linuxdistribution creators to eliminate duplication-of-effort and focus onthe things that make their distribution special.Debian was created by Ian Murdock in 1993, and Ian's work was sponsoredfor one year by FSF's GNU project. Debian should be considered a directdescendent of the GNU system. The goals of the Debian developerscorrespond to those of the Free Software movement, however we are aseparate organization from FSF.FTP Sites:You can retrieve Debian 1.1 from these sites: Australia:ftp://ftp.debian.org.au/debian/Debian-1.1/ Germany:ftp://ftp.inf.tu-dresden.de:/pub/os/linux/debian/Debian-1.1/ The Netherlands:ftp://ftp.leidenuniv.nl:/pub/linux/debian/Debian-1.1/ Sweden:ftp://ftp.lh.umu.se/debian/Debian-1.1/ United Kingdom:ftp://ftp.mcc.ac.uk/pub/linux/distributions/Debian/Debian-1.1/ United States:ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/Debian-1.1/ftp://sun10.sep.bnl.gov/pub/Linux/debian/Debian-1.1/ (non-working hours EDT)ftp://llug2.sep.bnl.gov/pub/debian/Debian-1.1/ftp://ftp.caldera.com/pub/mirrors/debian/Debian-1.1/ftp://debian.crosslink.net/pub/debian/Debian-1.1/ftp://debian.med.miami.edu/debian/Debian-1.1/ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/distributions/debian/Debian-1.1/There are about a dozen other mirror sites that have not caught up withour master site yet. I'll announce them when they are ready. You canfind a list of all of our mirrors on our WWW page.The installation floppy disk images and a full installation manual arein the "disks-i386" subdirectory on these sites. The rest of thesoftware packages are in the "binary-i386" subdirectory.Web SiteVisit our web sitehttp://www.debian.org/ for more information aboutDebian.Mailing ListsTo subscribe to the mailing lists, send the word "subscribe" to one ofthese addresses:debian-user-REQUEST@lists.debian.org There are a lot of experienced users on this list who can answer any question you might have. There can be 20 messages a day or more on this list.debian-announce-REQUEST@lists.debian.org Major system announcements. Averages less than one message per week.debian-changes-REQUEST@lists.debian.org This is a list for announcements of new package uploads for the Debian system. It may carry several announcements in a day.Questions and AnswersQ: How should Debian be compared to other Linux systems?A: Debian is at least as good as any other Linux distribution, even themost professional. Debian's most important feature is it's packagesystem, which allows the entire system, or any individual component, tobe up-graded in place without reformatting, without losing customconfiguration files, and (in most cases) without rebooting the system.Red Hat, which we consider to be the best non-Debian system available,is the only other distribution with a similar upgrade mechanism. Onemajor difference between us and Red Hat is that Red Hat is a for-profitbusiness, and Debian is a non-profit organization. Both distributionsshare a dedication to free software. We like the people at Red Hat, weadmire the work they've done, and we see no reason to put down theirsystem in order to promote our own.Debian's aim is to work together with other Linux developers ratherthan compete with them. For example, we encourage all creators of Linuxdistributions to take components from Debian. We are aware of theparallel work that Red Hat has done on packaging systems, and wouldlike to come to some sort of package merge with them.Q: Is Debian able to run my old a.out programs?A: We provide packages containing the a.out shared libraries and ana.out development system, so that you can run and _maintain_ a.outprograms as well as ELF. However, if you have a commercial applicationin the a.out format, now would be a good time to ask them to send youan ELF upgrade.Q: How compatible is Debian?A: We communicate with other Linux distribution creators in an effortto maintain binary compatibility across Linux distributions. Mostcommercial Linux products run as well under Debian as they do on thesystem upon which they were built.Q: What about the Free Software Foundation's GNU Project?A: FSF is still planning a GNU operating system which is based onHURD. We think they considered Debian as a first step toward thissystem. We still encourage them to derive from Debian. We had a moreformal relationship with FSF some time ago, in that they employed IanMurdock for a year while he was project leader, and we then called thesystem "Debian GNU/Linux". We still support the goals of FSF and liketo think of Debian as "Son of GNU". However, we've separated ourorganization from FSF so that we can have exclusive control over ourtechnical direction. We are still talking with FSF, and may soon cometo some sort of resolution with them.Q: Can I make and sell Debian CDs?A: Go ahead. You don't need permission to distribute anything we've_released_, so that you can master your CD as soon as the beta-testends. You don't have to pay us anything. We will, however, publish alist of CD manufacturers who donate money, software, and time to theDebian project, and we'll encourage users to buy from manufacturers whodonate, so it's good advertising to make donations. Of course all CDmanufacturers must honor the licenses of the programs in Debian. Forexample, many of the programs are licensed under the GPL, whichrequires you to distribute their source code.Q: Can Debian be packaged with non-free software?A: Yes. While all the main components of Debian are free software, weprovide a non-free directory for programs that aren't freelyredistributable. CD manufacturers _may_ be able to distribute theprograms we've placed in that directory, depending on the license termsor their private arrangements with the authors of those softwarepackages. CD manufacturers can also distribute the non-free softwarethey get from other sources on the same CD. This is nothing new: freeand commercial software are distributed on the same CD by manymanufacturers now. Of course we still encourage software authors torelease the programs they write as free software.Q: Is source code included with the system?A: Source code is included for everything. Most of the license terms ofprograms in the system require that source code be distributed alongwith the programs. Thus, it's not OK to make a CD of executableprograms without the source code.Q: I'm making a special Linux distribution for a "vertical market". CanI use Debian 1.1 for the guts of a Linux system and add my ownapplications on top of it?A: Yes. For example, one person is building a "Linux for Hams"distribution, with specialized programs for Radio Amateurs. He'sstarting with Debian 1.1 as the "base system", and adding programs tocontrol the transmitter, track satellites, etc. All of the programs headds are packaged with the Debian package system so that his users willbe able to upgrade easily when he releases subsequent CDs.Q: How do I become a Debian Developer?A: First, download the Distribution and install it on your system.Then, find a program you'd like to package that is not presently partof Debian. Then, write to Bruce@Pixar.com requesting to be added tothe Developers list. Developers documentation can be found on our WWWsitehttp://www.debian.org/.Q: Can I put my commercial program in a Debian "package" so that itinstalls effortlessly on any Debian system?A: Go right ahead. The package tool is free software.Q: What is "Software in the Public Interest"A: It's a non-profit organization we formed when FSF withdrew theirsponsorship of Debian. We are currently incorporating as an IRS501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The purpose of the organization isto develop and distribute free software. Our goals are very much likethose of FSF, and we encourage programmers to use the GNU GeneralPublic License on their programs. However, we have a slightly differentfocus in that we are building and distributing a Linux system thatdiverges in many technical details from the GNU system planned by FSF.We still communicate with FSF, and we cooperate in sending them changesto GNU software and in asking our users to donate to FSF and the GNUproject.
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