Search
Blog
Micronews
Planet
debian`
Our Philosophy: Why we do it and how we do it
aMeseom
creatnj
Free €Eetaiing Svsen
vaues; Howthe Debian Communil Works
Our Mission: Creating a Free Operating System
The Debian Project is an association of individuals, sharing
common
We want
create
free operating system, freely
available for everyone. Now; when we use the word " free"
we re not talking about money; instead, we are referring
software
freedom:
Qur Deiinition of Free_Software
Read the Free_Sofwware Foundation's statement
Maybe you re wondering why s0 many people choose to spend lots of hours of their own time writing software , carefully packaging
and maintaining
just IO give
all away without charging for it? Well, there are plenty of reasons, here are some of them:
Some people simply Iike to help others, and contributing
free software project is
great way
accomplish this_
developers write programs
learn more about computers_
different architectures
and programming languages.
Some developers contribute
say "thank
for all the great free software theyve received from others_
Many people in academia create free software t0 share the results of their research:
Companies also help maintaining free software: to influence how applications develop or to implement new features quickly:
Of course
Most
Debian developers participate
because
think its great fun!
Although we believe in free software , we respect that people sometimes have to install non-free software on their machines
whether
want tO or not We have decided t0 support these users
whenever possible.
There is
growing number of packages
which install non-free software on
Debian system:
Our Values: How the Community works
The Debian project has more than thousand active developers and contributors
We are committed t0 Free Software
spread around the_World:
project of this size needs
carefully OganizedSIIuCIure
and we have formalized that
So, if you wonder how the Debian project works and whether the Debian community
commitmient in
document: our Social
has rules and
lines, have
ook at the following statements:
Contact
The_Debian Consimion:
The Code of Conduct:
This document describes the organizational structure
We have adopted
code of conduct for participants of
and explains how the Debian project makes formal
mailing lists, IRC channels, etc:
decisions_
The_Developer s Reference:
The Social
Contract and the Free Software Guidelines
This document provides an overview of the
The Debian Social
Contract and the Debian Free
recommended procedures and the available resources
Software Guidelines (DFSG) as
part of this contract
for Debian developers and maintainers 
describe our commitment to free software and the free
The_Debian Policy
software community:
A manual describing the policy requirements for the
The_Diersity_Statement:
Debian distribution, e.g_
the Debian archive's structure
The Debian Project welcomes and encourages
and contents
technical requirements which every
everyone
participate , no matter how you identify
package must satisfy
be included, etc .
yourself or how others perceive you:
goal:
Many
you"
they
they
guidel