5 Reasons Why Open-Source Geeks Love Linux Debian OS
Linux Debian is more than an operating system; it has over 29,000 packages of software for its users. Moreover, these programs are already configured and all users have to do is to install and run them, and their installation is easy. Best of all, users get all of these for free. However, these are not the only benefits of Debian.
Below is a list of the top 5 “general” benefits of the Debian distribution:
- Upgradability
- Availability
- Integrated Packages
- Driver Development
- Good Security
There are several methods of upgrading a Debian system. For a desktop computer, a CD-ROM or a network upgrade is possible without need for a reboot. For networked systems that should not be rebooted, the network method works well. In fact, the network will not even need to be switched to single user mode. This is not always the case with other distributions. Or there is an easier way: You can sign up for a new Virtual Private Server (VPS) and simply select the OS and version you are comfortable with and click the create button. You can upgrade your OS at a later point using the plug-and-play functionally found within VPS.net. See screenshot below.
Debian is available for different architectures using the Linux Kernel. Currently, ports for Hurd, FreeBSD and NetBSD kernels are in development. This wide availability means IT administrators can use the same OS on all computers in a heterogeneous network. The major advantage of this is that system maintenance time is minimized.
One of the best features of Debian is its near-perfect integration of packages. Moreover, qualified developers create Debian packages; and they are kept in small chunks allowing users to choose which ones to install. This means users can use the packages with the knowledge that any complex dependencies have already been sorted. It also means that all that packages can be downloaded from a single site.
Unlike other operating systems, its manufacturer does not develop drivers for Debian. Most of the drivers are developed by users of GNU/Linux / GNU/kFreeBSD. The major advantage of this is that hardware support continues long after the manufacture has stopped producing the hardware. What is more, it is clear that Open Source drivers are more stable than their proprietary counterparts.
The Debian community is usually very responsive in fixing bugs in the system. In fact, it normally just takes a matter of days before fixed packages to be uploaded. This is because the system’s source code is publicly available for open evaluation. Peer-review also prevents potential security loopholes from being implemented.