What exactly is Debian?

[JF382]

What exactly is Debian and how is it different from Ubuntu? (If it is)

Is it quicker?

Thanks.

[DingusFett]

I'm still new, so can't say on the technical differences, but I believe it uses GNOME-shell as the DE and obviously Ubuntu is based on Debian.

[gnusci]

Debian

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debian

Ubuntu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_%28operating_system%29

[kc1di]

Debian is the largest Linux Distribution and is the base for many other distros including ubuntu. It was created in 1993 and is still going. here is a page that will give you the relationship between many of the distros.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Linux_distributions

[Isaacgallegos]

Debian is pronounced De Bien, meaning "of good" or "of pretty-good". To answer your question, what is "of pretty-good"? Many things. Good comes from what you make of life. Be happy. Love your family and friends.

[lisati]

Debian is pronounced De Bien, meaning "of good" or "of pretty-good".
Nice. I wonder what Deb and Ian (http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-intro.en.html#s1.2), the creators would think. :D

[MadmanRB]

As stated Debian is one of the oldest and still developed Linux flavors, it can be considered Ubuntu's older (and sometimes much wiser) cousin.
Both use the same kind of package management and processes, though Debian is more for advanced users while Ubuntu is desktop oriented.

[craig10x]

ubuntu is debian based with lots of refinements...i think ubuntu makes it a lot better, actually...and in fact. debian's font rendering is rather poor...ubuntu's patching makes it look GREAT...ubuntu does a lot of other stuff too that makes it nicer...

I'd stick with ubuntu based distros if i were you...:wink:

[MadmanRB]

ubuntu is debian based with lots of refinements...i think ubuntu makes it a lot better, actually...and in fact. debian's font rendering is rather poor...ubuntu's patching makes it look GREAT...ubuntu does a lot of other stuff too that makes it nicer...

I'd stick with ubuntu based distros if i were you...:wink:

Nah a lot of pure debian based distros are actually pretty good, Knoppix and Mepis come to mind

[kc1di]

Debian is pronounced De Bien, meaning "of good" or "of pretty-good". To answer your question, what is "of pretty-good"? Many things. Good comes from what you make of life. Be happy. Love your family and friends.
Actually the name Debian came from the combining of Ian's Girlfriend at the time Deb and His name Ian to form Debian.
His girlfriend is now his wife I believe.

[zombifier25]

Actually the name Debian came from the combining of Ian's Girlfriend at the time Deb and His name Ian to form Debian.
His girlfriend is now his wife I believe.

The link above from debian.org stated that they're married :popcorn:

[kc1di]

If you want the real history behind Debian you can go here.
Cheers!
http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-detailed.en.html