'''Debian''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɛ|b|i|ə|n}}),<ref name="debfaq-def">{{cite web |url = https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-faq/ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation |work = The Debian GNU/Linux FAQ -- Chapter 1 – Definitions and overview |title = How does one pronounce Debian and what does this word mean? |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2019-03-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190402174759/https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/debian-faq/ch-basic_defs.en.html#s-pronunciation |archive-date = April 2, 2019 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="debianorg-about">{{cite web |title = Debian -- About |url = https://www.debian.org/intro/about |website = Debian |access-date = 12 June 2017 |archive-date = January 17, 1999 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19990117033720/https://www.debian.org/intro/about |url-status = live }}</ref> also known as '''Debian GNU/Linux''', is a [[Linux distribution]] composed of [[free and open-source software|free and open source]]{{efn|Optionally andallows optionallythe installation of [[Proprietary firmware|non-free firmware]] or [[Proprietary software|software]]<ref name="Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems">{{cite web |title=Explaining Why We Don't Endorse Other Systems |url=https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102171742/https://www.gnu.org/distros/common-distros.html |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |publisher=[[GNU]]}}</ref><ref name="General Resolution: non-free firmware: results">{{cite web |title=General Resolution: non-free firmware: results |url=https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2022/10/msg00001.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102171923/https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2022/10/msg00001.html |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=2023-11-02}}</ref>}} [[Linux distribution]], developed by the community-supported Debian Project, which was established by [[Ian Murdock]] on August 16, 1993. The first version of Debian (0.01) was released on September 15, 1993,<ref name="ChangeLog">{{cite web |url = http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/debian-0.91/ChangeLog |title = ChangeLog |publisher = [[ibiblio]] |access-date = 2016-08-18 |archive-date = January 6, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170106042725/http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/debian-0.91/ChangeLog |url-status = live }}</ref> and its first stable version (1.1) was released on June 17, 1996.<ref>{{cite web |title = Chapter 3 – Debian Releases |url = https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-releases.en.html |website = A Brief History of Debian |publisher = Debian Documentation Team |access-date = 10 February 2016 |archive-date = August 17, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110817004510/http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-releases.en.html |url-status = live }}</ref> The Debian Stable [[#Branches|branch]] is the most popular edition for [[personal computer]]s and [[Server (computing)|servers]].
Debian is also the basis for [[List of Linux distributions#Debian-based|many other distributions]] that have different purposes, like [[Proxmox Virtual Environment |Proxmox]] for servers, [[Ubuntu]] or [[Linux Mint]] for desktops, [[Kali linux |Kali]] for penetration testing, and [[Pardus (operating system)|Pardus]] and [[Astra Linux |Astra]] for government use.
