On the DVD
On the DVD

Debian 10.5 and Devuan 3.0
Debian "Buster"10.5
Founded in 1993 by Linux pioneer Ian Murdock, Debian is one of the oldest active Linux distributions. Today, with almost 1,300 developers and 60,000 packages, Debian is also one of the largest. It is the basis of dozens of other distributions, including Ubuntu and Linux Mint, which have become distro powerhouses in their own right.
One of Debian's strengths is its installer. While Debian can be installed in 15 minutes, the installer also offers the option of step-by-step customization. This option makes the Debian Installer ideal for troubleshooting. Sometimes, it can install Linux when other installers cannot.
Another reason to use Debian is that users can choose the amount of software freedom they have. The main section of its repository contains only free software, but users can also choose to use the contrib (free software that depends on proprietary software) or non-free (proprietary software) sections.
Although Debian is not the most cutting-edge distribution, Debian's rigorous testing and fast updates make it the distribution of choice for those concerned with security and privacy. Ordinary users can choose their balance of stability and up-to-dateness by the package repositories they enable: Stable, which contains the current release; Testing, which contains the packages for the next release; or Unstable, which carries new and sometimes buggy packages.
Debian has a reputation for being an expert's distribution, but that reputation is obsolete. More accurately, Debian is a distro for those who like to customize everything according to their preferences.

Devuan "Beowolf" 3.0
Devuan is a Debian fork that was first released in 2018. The reason for the fork was Debian 8's adoption of systemd as an init system. An init system is the first process that begins on Linux. It runs until the machine is closed down and starts other processes. Devuan partly objected to how the decision was made to use systemd, on the grounds that the final decision was made by Debian's Technical Committee. It also objected to systemd itself, on the grounds that it goes far beyond the traditional purpose of an init system to be a manager of the entire operating system.
As a reaction to the Debian decision, Devuan advocates support of multiple init systems. It calls this position Init Freedom, echoing the four software freedoms that are the basis of free software as defined by the Free Software Foundation. During installation, Devuan currently supports the older System V init, as well as OpenRC. Other init systems are also being considered for support. From this preliminary position, Devuan has branched out to advocacy of other free software positions. Its installer, for instance, makes a point of asking if only free software should be supported. In addition, it modifies Debian packages to create its own repositories that are in keeping with its principles.
Devuan will interest those who want to explore alternatives to systemd or are interested in the issues of free software.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
Kubuntu Focus Announces XE Gen 2 Linux Laptop
Another Kubuntu-based laptop has arrived to be your next ultra-portable powerhouse with a Linux heart.
-
MNT Seeks Financial Backing for New Seven-Inch Linux Laptop
MNT Pocket Reform is a tiny laptop that is modular, upgradable, recyclable, reusable, and ships with Debian Linux.
-
Ubuntu Flatpak Remix Adds Flatpak Support Preinstalled
If you're looking for a version of Ubuntu that includes Flatpak support out of the box, there's one clear option.
-
Gnome 44 Release Candidate Now Available
The Gnome 44 release candidate has officially arrived and adds a few changes into the mix.
-
Flathub Vying to Become the Standard Linux App Store
If the Flathub team has any say in the matter, their product will become the default tool for installing Linux apps in 2023.
-
Debian 12 to Ship with KDE Plasma 5.27
The Debian development team has shifted to the latest version of KDE for their testing branch.
-
Planet Computers Launches ARM-based Linux Desktop PCs
The firm that originally released a line of mobile keyboards has taken a different direction and has developed a new line of out-of-the-box mini Linux desktop computers.
-
Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak
In a move that probably won’t come as a shock to many, Ubuntu and all of its official spins will no longer ship with Flatpak installed.
-
openSUSE Leap 15.5 Beta Now Available
The final version of the Leap 15 series of openSUSE is available for beta testing and offers only new software versions.
-
Linux Kernel 6.2 Released with New Hardware Support
Find out what's new in the most recent release from Linus Torvalds and the Linux kernel team.