This is one of the most heated discussions in internet forums, and each GNU/Linux distribution (“distro”) has its advantages. However, in compliance with our software recommendations guidelines, we recommend Debian GNU/Linux. Here are some of the reasons why we like Debian (after you start using Debian, you will see that are many more that could be included here!):
- Debian GNU/Linux is very stable and once you configure it appropriately, it will work smoothly. Trust me, when trying to learn a new operating system, constant crashes is not something you want to deal with.
- Debian aims to be an universal operating system, which can be used from personal computers to advanced data servers. It comes with a large number of packages that will help you fulfill most of your software needs, and which can be installed directly from Debian repositories via apt.
- Differently from other distros, Debian is 100% developed by the free-software community and has no profit-oriented company behind it (which is not the case with Ubuntu, which is developed by Canonical, or with Fedora, which is developed by Red Hat).
Debian’s Social Contract states the goal of making Debian entirely free software, giving back to the free software community, and not hiding problems. - Debian conscientiously keeps non-free software out of the official Debian system.
Debian GNU/Linux is not endorsed by the Free Software Foundation (“FSF”), as Debian hosts in the project’s server non-free packages that are not part of the Debian system. If you want a distro endorsed by the FSF, try Trisquel GNU/Linux.
Using Debian, we recommend that you avoid enabling the non-free repository unless you REALLY need it to make your computer work. There are really good free software alternatives out there, and if you are putting the effort to learn GNU/Linux, why not learn them since the beginning? Here are some good reasons to use free software / open source software.
One might say that Debian is a difficult distro to start with. This used to be true, but the installation package has shown significant improvements over the years. Also, Debian has the option to run from a Live CD, which allows you to test the system before installing it in your computer. This is particularly useful to test hardware compatibility in your equipment.
The main problem people find when installing Debian is how to handle proprietary firmware. As Debian ships with only free software, the standard installation CD/DVD does not come with proprietary drivers, which might prevent some of your hardware from working if there is no free alternative available. Here we explain how to install firmware that does not come with your Live CD.
Another constant complain is that Debian does not provide the most “up-to-date” version of software. This is partially true; the stable release does not contain the most current packages. However, experience shows that one does not significantly suffer with this issue, as the packages are updated, in average, every two years (as you remember, Microsoft Windows is released every three to five years, just to put things into perspective). A small delay from obtaining the most recent version can be considered a small price to pay for stable software. However, if you must have the latest version of every software, you can always switch Debian’s repositories to the non-stable release or, if you are courageous enough, to sid. If you only need an specific software update, it is easier to just install that software’s specific package.
If by no means you can get Debian to work, even after watching our Debian GNU/Linux installation tutorial, you might consider installing Trisquel GNU/Linux or Linux Mint instead, or, as a last resource, Ubuntu (see FSF’s comments on other distros before doing so). These distributions are recommended as they are all Debian-based, and, therefore, it is likely that most of the articles from this website will work with them as well.
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