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| author | Daniel Baumann <daniel@debian.org> | 2007-09-23 10:04:46 +0200 |
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| committer | Daniel Baumann <daniel@debian.org> | 2011-03-09 18:14:51 +0100 |
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| download | live-build-fe6eb1c593e2df135c8807bf94df614984b4d6ec.zip live-build-fe6eb1c593e2df135c8807bf94df614984b4d6ec.tar.gz | |
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diff --git a/includes/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-basic_defs.en.html b/includes/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-basic_defs.en.html new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7425706 --- /dev/null +++ b/includes/common/doc/FAQ/html/ch-basic_defs.en.html @@ -0,0 +1,431 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0//EN"> + +<html> + +<head> + +<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<title>The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ - Definitions and overview</title> + +</head> + +<body> + +<p><a name="ch-basic_defs"></a></p> +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="index.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ 1 ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">3</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">5</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">6</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">7</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">8</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">11</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">12</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<h1> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +<br>Chapter 1 - Definitions and overview +</h1> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-whatisfaq"></a>1.1 What is this FAQ?</h2> + +<p> +This document gives frequently asked questions (with their answers!) about the +Debian distribution (Debian GNU/Linux and others) and about the Debian project. +If applicable, pointers to other documentation will be given: we won't quote +large parts of external documentation in this document. You'll find out that +some answers assume some knowledge of Unix-like operating systems. We'll try +to assume as little prior knowledge as possible: answers to general beginners +questions will be kept simple. +</p> + +<p> +If you can't find what you're looking for in this FAQ, be sure to check out <a +href="ch-support.en.html#s-debiandocs">What other documentation exists on and +for a Debian system?, Section 11.1</a>. If even that doesn't help, refer to <a +href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-feedback">Feedback, Section 15.2</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-whatisdebian"></a>1.2 What is Debian GNU/Linux?</h2> + +<p> +Debian GNU/Linux is a particular <em>distribution</em> of the Linux operating +system, and numerous packages that run on it. +</p> + +<p> +In principle, users could obtain the Linux kernel via the Internet or from +elsewhere, and compile it themselves. They could then obtain source code for +many applications in the same way, compile the programs, then install them into +their systems. For complicated programs, this process can be not only +time-consuming but error-prone. To avoid it, users often choose to obtain the +operating system and the application packages from one of the Linux +distributors. What distinguishes the various Linux distributors are the +software, protocols, and practices they use for packaging, installing, and +tracking applications packages on users' systems, combined with installation +and maintenance tools, documentation, and other services. +</p> + +<p> +Debian GNU/Linux is the result of a volunteer effort to create a free, +high-quality Unix-compatible operating system, complete with a suite of +applications. The idea of a free Unix-like system originates from the GNU +project, and many of the applications that make Debian GNU/Linux so useful were +developed by the GNU project. +</p> + +<p> +For Debian, free has the GNUish meaning (see the <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines">Debian Free Software +Guidelines</a></code>). When we speak of free software, we are referring to +freedom, not price. Free software means that you have the freedom to +distribute copies of free software, that you receive source code or can get it +if you want it, that you can change the software or use pieces of it in new +free programs; and that you know you can do these things. +</p> + +<p> +The Debian Project was created by Ian Murdock in 1993, initially under the +sponsorship of the Free Software Foundation's GNU project. Today, Debian's +developers think of it as a direct descendent of the GNU project. +</p> + +<p> +Debian GNU/Linux is: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<strong>full featured</strong>: Debian includes more than 15400 software +packages at present. Users can select which packages to install; Debian +provides a tool for this purpose. You can find a list and descriptions of the +packages currently available in Debian at any of the Debian <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/distrib/ftplist">mirror sites</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<strong>free to use and redistribute</strong>: There is no consortium +membership or payment required to participate in its distribution and +development. All packages that are formally part of Debian GNU/Linux are free +to redistribute, usually under terms specified by the GNU General Public +License. +</p> + +<p> +The Debian FTP archives also carry approximately 450 software packages (in the +<samp>non-free</samp> and <samp>contrib</samp> sections), which are +distributable under specific terms included with each package. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +<strong>dynamic</strong>: With about 1649 volunteers constantly contributing +new and improved code, Debian is evolving rapidly. New releases are planned to +be made every several months, and the FTP archives are updated daily. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +Although Debian GNU/Linux itself is free software, it is a base upon which +value-added Linux distributions can be built. By providing a reliable, +full-featured base system, Debian provides Linux users with increased +compatibility, and allows Linux distribution creators to eliminate duplication +of effort and focus on the things that make their distribution special. See <a +href="ch-redistrib.en.html#s-childistro">I am making a special Linux +distribution for a "vertical market". Can I use Debian GNU/Linux for +the guts of a Linux system and add my own applications on top of it?, Section +13.3</a> for more information. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-linux"></a>1.3 OK, now I know what Debian is... what is Linux?!</h2> + +<p> +In short, Linux is the kernel of a Unix-like operating system. It was +originally designed for 386 (and better) PCs; today Linux also runs on a dozen +of other systems. Linux is written by Linus Torvalds and many computer +scientists around the world. +</p> + +<p> +Besides its kernel, a "Linux" system usually has: +</p> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +a file system that follows the Linux Filesystem Hierarchy Standard <code><a +href="http://www.pathname.com/fhs/">http://www.pathname.com/fhs/</a></code>. +</p> +</li> +</ul> +<ul> +<li> +<p> +a wide range of Unix utilities, many of which have been developed by the GNU +project and the Free Software Foundation. +</p> +</li> +</ul> + +<p> +The combination of the Linux kernel, the file system, the GNU and FSF +utilities, and the other utilities are designed to achieve compliance with the +POSIX (IEEE 1003.1) standard; see <a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-otherunices">How +source code compatible is Debian with other Unix systems?, Section 3.3</a>. +</p> + +<p> +For more information about Linux, see Michael K. Johnson's <code><a +href="ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/INFO-SHEET">Linux Information +Sheet</a></code> and <code><a +href="ftp://ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/META-FAQ">Meta-FAQ</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-non-linux"></a>1.4 Does Debian just do GNU/Linux?</h2> + +<p> +Currently, Debian is only available for Linux, but with Debian GNU/Hurd and +Debian on BSD kernels, we have started to offer non-Linux-based OSes as a +development, server and desktop platform, too. However, these non-linux ports +are not officially released yet. +</p> + +<p> +The oldest porting effort is Debian GNU/Hurd. +</p> + +<p> +The Hurd is a set of servers running on top of the GNU Mach microkernel. +Together they build the base for the GNU operating system. +</p> + +<p> +Please see <code><a +href="http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/">http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/</a></code> +for more information about the GNU/Hurd in general, and <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/">http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/</a></code> +for more information about Debian GNU/Hurd. +</p> + +<p> +A second effort is the port to a BSD kernel. People are working with both the +NetBSD and the FreeBSD kernels. +</p> + +<p> +See <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/ports/#nonlinux">http://www.debian.org/ports/#nonlinux</a></code> +for more information about these non-linux ports. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-difference"></a>1.5 What is the difference between Debian GNU/Linux and other Linux distributions? Why should I choose Debian over some other distribution?</h2> + +<p> +These key features distinguish Debian from other Linux distributions: +</p> +<dl> +<dt>Freedom:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +As stated in the <code><a href="http://www.debian.org/social_contract">Debian +Social Contract</a></code>, Debian will remain 100% free. Debian is very +strict about shipping truly free software. The guidelines used to determine if +a work is "free" are provided in <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines">The Debian Free +Software</a></code>. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt>The Debian package maintenance system:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +The entire system, or any individual component of it, can be upgraded in place +without reformatting, without losing custom configuration files, and (in most +cases) without rebooting the system. Most Linux distributions available today +have some kind of package maintenance system; the Debian package maintenance +system is unique and particularly robust (see <a +href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">Basics of the Debian package management system, +Chapter 6</a>). +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt>Open development:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +Whereas other Linux distributions are developed by individuals, small, closed +groups, or commercial vendors, Debian is the only major Linux distribution that +is being developed cooperatively by many individuals through the Internet, in +the same spirit as Linux and other free software. +</p> + +<p> +More than 1649 volunteer package maintainers are working on over 15400 packages +and improving Debian GNU/Linux. The Debian developers contribute to the +project not by writing new applications (in most cases), but by packaging +existing software according to the standards of the project, by communicating +bug reports to upstream developers, and by providing user support. See also +additional information on how to become a contributor in <a +href="ch-contributing.en.html#s-contrib">How can I become a Debian software +developer?, Section 12.1</a>. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt>The Universal Operating System:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +Debian comes with <code><a href="http://packages.debian.org/stable/">more than +15400 packages</a></code> and runs on <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/ports/">11 architectures</a></code>. This is far +more than is available for any other GNU/Linux distribution. See <a +href="ch-software.en.html#s-apps">What types of applications and development +software are available for Debian GNU/Linux?, Section 4.1</a> for an overview +of the provided software and see <a href="ch-compat.en.html#s-arches">On what +hardware architectures/systems does Debian GNU/Linux run?, Section 3.1</a> for +a description of the supported hardware platforms. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt>The Bug Tracking System:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +The geographical dispersion of the Debian developers required sophisticated +tools and quick communication of bugs and bug-fixes to accelerate the +development of the system. Users are encouraged to send bugs in a formal +style, which are quickly accessible by WWW archives or via e-mail. See +additional information in this FAQ on the management of the bug log in <a +href="ch-support.en.html#s-buglogs">Are there logs of known bugs?, Section +11.4</a>. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> +<dl> +<dt>The Debian Policy:</dt> +<dd> +<p> +Debian has an extensive specification of our standards of quality, the Debian +Policy. This document defines the qualities and standards to which we hold +Debian packages. +</p> +</dd> +</dl> + +<p> +For additional information about this, please see our web page about <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/intro/why_debian">reasons to choose +Debian</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-gnu"></a>1.6 How does the Debian project fit in or compare with the Free Software Foundation's GNU project?</h2> + +<p> +The Debian system builds on the ideals of free software first championed by the +<code><a href="http://www.gnu.org/">Free Software Foundation</a></code> and in +particular by <code><a href="http://www.stallman.org/">Richard +Stallman</a></code>. FSF's powerful system development tools, utilities, and +applications are also a key part of the Debian system. +</p> + +<p> +The Debian Project is a separate entity from the FSF, however we communicate +regularly and cooperate on various projects. The FSF explicitly requested that +we call our system "Debian GNU/Linux", and we are happy to comply +with that request. +</p> + +<p> +The FSF's long-standing objective is to develop a new operating system called +GNU, based on <code><a +href="http://www.gnu.org/software/hurd/">Hurd</a></code>. Debian is working +with FSF on this system, called <code><a +href="http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/">Debian GNU/Hurd</a></code>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h2><a name="s-pronunciation"></a>1.7 How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean?</h2> + +<p> +The project name is pronounced Deb'-ee-en, with a short e in Deb, and emphasis +on the first syllable. This word is a contraction of the names of Debra and +Ian Murdock, who founded the project. (Dictionaries seem to offer some +ambiguity in the pronunciation of Ian (!), but Ian prefers ee'-en.) +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +[ <a href="index.en.html">previous</a> ] +[ <a href="index.en.html#contents">Contents</a> ] +[ 1 ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">2</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-compat.en.html">3</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-software.en.html">4</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-ftparchives.en.html">5</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkg_basics.en.html">6</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-pkgtools.en.html">7</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-uptodate.en.html">8</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-kernel.en.html">9</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-customizing.en.html">10</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-support.en.html">11</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-contributing.en.html">12</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-redistrib.en.html">13</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-nexttime.en.html">14</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html">15</a> ] +[ <a href="ch-getting.en.html">next</a> ] +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ +</p> + +<address> +version 3.1.3, 25 April 2006<br> +<br> +Authors are listed at <a href="ch-faqinfo.en.html#s-authors">Debian FAQ Authors</a><br> +<br> +</address> +<hr> + +</body> + +</html> + |