The Debian GNU/Linux operating system adheres to strict quality control procedures, making it highly stable and secure. This excerpt from The Debian System examines how this stability is achieved.
According to Martin Krafft, author of The Debian System, Debian is typically described as being both 'hopelessly outdated' and 'stable as a rock.' But the two qualities go hand in hand, and being outdated isn't necessarily a bad thing. In this sample chapter, 'Debian releases and archives,' Krafft says:
Already at the time of release of a new Debian version, the software it contains is usually not current. In the world of free software, where improvements, fixes, and new features are added to projects on a daily basis, this may have negative consequences. However, in productive environments, new features and improvements can often backfire. Thus, the Debian stable release focuses on software stability, rather than trying to surf the cutting edge with possibly buggy and untested software. Only securityrelated bug fixes are allowed in.
Title: The Debian System: Concepts and Techniques
ISBN: 1593270690
Published: September 19, 2005; No Starch Press
Author: Martin Krafft
Chapter:Debian releases and archives
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