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Debian is one of the oldest and most influential Linux distributions, widely respected for its stability, security, and open governance model. First released in 1993, it has since become the foundation for many other distributions, including Ubuntu. Debian is known for its extensive software repositories, robust package management system, and long-term support in each of its releases. Below is a comprehensive version history of Debian, highlighting key features and changes introduced in each major release.

Debian 12, codenamed “Bookworm,” introduced new features, improved hardware support, and updated software packages.

• Linux kernel 6.1. Included Linux kernel 6.1, providing support for modern hardware, including newer processors and graphics cards.
• Updated packages. Featured newer versions of key packages such as GNOME 43, KDE Plasma 5.27, XFCE 4.18, and LXQt 1.2.
• Security improvements. Improved security features, including support for Secure Boot and better cryptographic libraries.
• Systemd improvements. Enhanced integration with systemd, improving system startup times and overall system performance.
• Enhanced container support. Added better support for running containers using Podman and Docker, improving ease of use for developers working in containerized environments.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/bookworm/

Debian 11, codenamed “Bullseye,” focused on security improvements, updated hardware support, and new features for desktop environments.

• Linux kernel 5.10. Included Linux kernel 5.10, offering long-term support, enhanced file system support, and better hardware compatibility.
• Updated desktop environments. Featured updated versions of GNOME 3.38, KDE Plasma 5.20, XFCE 4.16, and LXQt 0.16.
• Security improvements. Introduced support for the exFAT file system and better cryptographic defaults for SSH connections.
• AppArmor enabled by default. Enabled AppArmor security module by default, providing enhanced security by enforcing stricter access controls.
• Improved printing and scanning support. Added driverless scanning and printing support, simplifying configuration for end users.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/bullseye/

Debian 10, codenamed “Buster,” brought significant updates in security, desktop environments, and cloud readiness.

• Linux kernel 4.19. Shipped with Linux kernel 4.19, which improved hardware compatibility and support for modern peripherals.
• GNOME 3.30 by default. Introduced GNOME 3.30 as the default desktop environment, alongside updated versions of KDE Plasma 5.14, XFCE 4.12, and LXQt 0.14.
• Secure Boot support. Added support for UEFI Secure Boot, allowing installation on systems where Secure Boot is enabled.
• IP masquerading improvements. Enhanced network management features, particularly around IP masquerading and firewall rules.
• AppArmor improvements. Expanded the use of AppArmor for securing applications with more comprehensive profiles.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/buster/

Debian 9, codenamed “Stretch,” introduced updates aimed at improving security, networking, and support for modern hardware.

• Linux kernel 4.9. Came with Linux kernel 4.9, providing better support for new hardware and improved file system handling.
• GNOME 3.22 by default. Featured GNOME 3.22 as the default desktop environment, with updates to KDE Plasma 5.8, XFCE 4.12, and LXDE.
• Replaced MySQL with MariaDB. Replaced MySQL with MariaDB as the default database, ensuring better performance and licensing compatibility.
• Improved security. Introduced Stretch as the first release with Firefox and Thunderbird replacing Iceweasel and Icedove due to trademark changes.
• Modern cryptography. Improved support for modern cryptography, including defaulting to newer encryption algorithms for secure communication.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/stretch/

Debian 8, codenamed “Jessie,” marked a significant shift with the introduction of systemd as the default init system, replacing SysVinit.

• Linux kernel 3.16. Shipped with Linux kernel 3.16, which included better hardware support, especially for ARM and PowerPC architectures.
• systemd as default init. Transitioned to systemd as the default init system, improving boot times and service management.
• GNOME 3.14 by default. Featured GNOME 3.14 as the default desktop environment, with updates to KDE Plasma 4.11, XFCE 4.10, and LXDE.
• Improved UEFI support. Added better support for UEFI systems, including the ability to install on systems with UEFI Secure Boot.
• Security improvements. Enhanced security features with the introduction of AppArmor and mandatory access control policies.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/jessie/

Debian 7, codenamed “Wheezy,” introduced several new features and improvements, particularly in terms of cloud and security support.

• Linux kernel 3.2. Came with Linux kernel 3.2, which provided better support for modern hardware and improved networking features.
• Multiarch support. Introduced multiarch support, allowing users to install 32-bit and 64-bit packages on the same system.
• GNOME 3.4 by default. Featured GNOME 3.4 as the default desktop environment, alongside updates to KDE Plasma 4.8, XFCE 4.8, and LXDE.
• Enhanced UEFI support. Improved support for UEFI systems, although Secure Boot was not yet supported.
• OpenStack integration. Added support for cloud platforms like OpenStack, improving Debian’s usage in cloud environments.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/wheezy/

Debian 6, codenamed “Squeeze,” focused on improving system stability, security, and cloud deployment features.

• Linux kernel 2.6.32. Shipped with Linux kernel 2.6.32, providing better performance and support for modern hardware.
• GNOME 2.30 by default. Featured GNOME 2.30 as the default desktop environment, with updates to KDE 4.4 and XFCE 4.6.
• Introduction of Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG). Focused more on the Debian Free Software Guidelines, with strict adherence to providing only free software.
• Improved security. Enhanced security with the inclusion of better tools for managing encrypted filesystems and support for the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol.
• Improved cluster support. Added better support for building clusters, making Debian more scalable for enterprise use.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/squeeze/

Debian 5, codenamed “Lenny,” introduced new desktop environments and improved support for various architectures, including ARM and MIPS.

• Linux kernel 2.6.26. Shipped with Linux kernel 2.6.26, providing better performance and compatibility with modern hardware.
• GNOME 2.22 by default. Featured GNOME 2.22 as the default desktop environment, along with updates to KDE 3.5, XFCE 4.4, and LXDE.
• Eee PC support. Added specific support for Asus Eee PC models, improving out-of-the-box experience for netbook users.
• Improved installation process. Simplified the installation process with a new graphical installer.
• SELinux integration. Introduced support for Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux), enhancing security and access control capabilities.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/lenny/

Debian 4, codenamed “Etch,” was a significant release that improved installation, security, and desktop environment features.

• Linux kernel 2.6.18. Shipped with Linux kernel 2.6.18, providing better hardware support, particularly for server environments.
• GNOME 2.14 by default. Featured GNOME 2.14 as the default desktop environment, alongside updates to KDE 3.5 and XFCE 4.4.
• Improved installer. Introduced a graphical installer for the first time, making the installation process more user-friendly.
• X.Org by default. Switched from XFree86 to X.Org for better graphics performance and improved support for modern displays.
• Better wireless support. Improved support for wireless networking, simplifying the setup of Wi-Fi connections.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/etch/

===Debian

3.1 “Sarge” (June 2005)===

Debian 3.1, codenamed “Sarge,” focused on improving stability, hardware support, and overall system performance.

• Linux kernel 2.6.8. Came with Linux kernel 2.6.8, which brought better support for modern hardware.
• GNOME 2.8 by default. Featured GNOME 2.8 as the default desktop environment, along with updates to KDE 3.3 and XFCE 4.2.
• Improved package management. Introduced better dependency handling in the APT package manager, making it easier to install and upgrade software.
• Better hardware detection. Improved support for auto-detection of hardware, making installation on a wide range of systems easier.
• Security enhancements. Introduced better tools for managing firewalls and security configurations.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/sarge/

Debian 3.0, codenamed “Woody,” focused on adding support for new architectures and improved software management.

• Linux kernel 2.2 and 2.4. Offered both Linux kernel 2.2 and Linux kernel 2.4, providing better hardware support for newer systems.
• New architectures. Added support for PowerPC, ARM, MIPS, and S/390 architectures.
• Improved package management. Enhanced the APT package manager with better dependency resolution.
• Updated desktop environments. Featured updated versions of GNOME 1.4 and KDE 2.2.
• Improved network support. Added better networking tools and improved support for IPv6.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/woody/

Debian 2.2, codenamed “Potato,” introduced better support for newer hardware and updated desktop environments.

• Linux kernel 2.2. Came with Linux kernel 2.2, improving hardware compatibility, especially for networking and storage devices.
• GNOME and KDE. Featured GNOME 1.2 and KDE 1.1.2 as available desktop environments.
• Better hardware support. Improved support for modern hardware, including newer CPUs and network adapters.
• Security updates. Introduced a formalized process for security updates and patches, making the system more secure for production environments.
• Better internationalization. Improved support for internationalization, with more languages available during installation.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/potato/

Debian 2.1, codenamed “Slink,” focused on improving system stability, adding more package management features, and better desktop environment support.

• Linux kernel 2.0. Shipped with Linux kernel 2.0, providing stable and reliable performance for a range of hardware.
• GNOME introduction. Introduced GNOME as an available desktop environment for the first time.
• Enhanced package management. Improved the dpkg and APT package management tools, simplifying software installation and upgrades.
• Better hardware detection. Added better support for auto-detecting hardware during installation.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/slink/

Debian 2.0, codenamed “Hamm,” was a major release that introduced support for the Intel Pentium processor and added more software packages.

• Linux kernel 2.0. Shipped with Linux kernel 2.0, improving support for modern hardware and networking features.
• Intel Pentium support. Added better support for the Intel Pentium processor, improving performance on modern systems.
• Updated package manager. Enhanced the dpkg package manager with better dependency handling and error reporting.
• More software packages. Increased the number of available software packages, making Debian a more comprehensive operating system.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/hamm/

Debian 1.3, codenamed “Bo,” focused on improving the system’s stability and enhancing the package management system.

• Linux kernel 2.0. Included Linux kernel 2.0, providing better support for networking and modern hardware.
• Package management improvements. Introduced improvements to the dpkg package manager, making software installation and removal more reliable.
• Stability improvements. Focused on improving system stability, making Debian a more reliable option for production environments.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/bo/

Debian 1.2, codenamed “Rex,” was a major release that introduced more software packages and improved system performance.

• Linux kernel 2.0. Came with Linux kernel 2.0, improving performance and hardware compatibility.
• More software packages. Added more software packages to the official repositories, providing users with a wider selection of tools and applications.
• Performance improvements. Focused on improving system performance and responsiveness.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/rex/

Debian 1.1, codenamed “Buzz,” was the first stable release of Debian, marking the beginning of its long history as a stable and reliable Linux distribution.

• Linux kernel 1.2.13. Shipped with Linux kernel 1.2.13, providing a stable base for the operating system.
• Package management. Introduced the dpkg package manager, which became the foundation for Debian’s package management system.
• Stability focus. Focused on providing a stable and secure operating system for both desktop and server use.

Official documentation: https://www.debian.org/releases/buzz/

Since its first release in 1993, Debian has become a cornerstone of the Linux ecosystem, known for its stability, extensive software repositories, and open governance. Each release has introduced significant updates in terms of security, hardware support, and system management, while maintaining its commitment to free software and openness. From the introduction of systemd in Debian 8 "Jessie" to improved support for containers and modern hardware in Debian 12 "Bookworm", Debian continues to evolve as a powerful, flexible, and secure operating system suitable for a wide range of applications.