# What is &debian; GNU/Linux?

The combination of &debian;'s philosophy and methodology and the GNU tools, the Linux kernel, and other important free software, form a unique software distribution called &debian; GNU/Linux. This distribution is made up of a large number of software packages. Each package in the distribution contains executables, scripts, documentation, and configuration information, and has a maintainer who is primarily responsible for keeping the package up-to-date, tracking bug reports, and communicating with the upstream author(s) of the packaged software. Our extremely large user base, combined with our bug tracking system ensures that problems are found and fixed quickly.

&debian;'s attention to detail allows us to produce a high-quality, stable, and scalable distribution. Installations can be easily configured to serve many roles, from stripped-down firewalls to desktop scientific workstations to high-end network servers.

&debian; is especially popular among advanced users because of its technical excellence and its deep commitment to the needs and expectations of the Linux community. &debian; also introduced many features to Linux that are now commonplace.

For example, &debian; was the first Linux distribution to include a package management system for easy installation and removal of software. It was also the first Linux distribution that could be upgraded without requiring reinstallation.

&debian; continues to be a leader in Linux development. Its development process is an example of just how well the Open Source development model can work — even for very complex tasks such as building and maintaining a complete operating system.

The feature that most distinguishes &debian; from other Linux distributions is its package management system. These tools give the administrator of a &debian; system complete control over the packages installed on that system, including the ability to install a single package or automatically update the entire operating system. Individual packages can also be protected from being updated. You can even tell the package management system about software you have compiled yourself and what dependencies it fulfills.

To protect your system against Trojan horses and other malevolent software, &debian;'s servers verify that uploaded packages come from their registered &debian; maintainers. &debian; packagers also take great care to configure their packages in a secure manner. When security problems in shipped packages do appear, fixes are usually available very quickly. With &debian;'s simple update options, security fixes can be downloaded and installed automatically across the Internet.

The primary, and best, method of getting support for your &debian; GNU/Linux system and communicating with &debian; Developers is through the many mailing lists maintained by the &debian; Project (there are more than &num-of-debian-maillists; at this writing). The easiest way to subscribe to one or more of these lists is visit Debian's mailing list subscription page and fill out the form you'll find there.