It is a pleasure to introduce you to the Bookworm edition of the Debian Administrator’s Handbook. Since you are reading this book, you are probably already aware of the many good reasons to choose Debian. Debian is known as the Universal Operating System, supporting a wide range of use cases across all fields where Linux is applied—likely including your specific needs, which is why you have opted for Debian.
Since Debian is free, there are no customer bills to track, making it difficult to precisely measure its usage. However, rough estimates suggest that Debian and its derivatives power nearly 20% of the web servers on the internet. Debian is not only well-established on servers, but is also widely used in various fields of scientific research, even contributing to efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, Debian has also been chosen to power robots that will fly to the moon.
While I can not speak for other users, my main motivation for choosing and sticking with Debian is the ability to influence its development, something that can be challenging with company-driven distributions. Debian mostly operates as a “do-ocracy“ principle, where those who do the work have a say in what gets done. I encourage newcomers to get involved and make sure that Debian meets their specific needs … within the boundaries of our shared policies, of course.
Within the Debian community, there is ample support available for any challenges you might encounter. If this book leaves you with any unanswered questions, I highly recommend consulting the relevant mailing lists, forums, or IRC and Matrix channels, depending on your preference. In my experience, you can receive very competent help incredibly quickly, often resolving your issues almost immediately. In turn, it is highly appreciated if you join these channels and share your own knowledge, possibly gained from this book, to help others as well.
This book has become a classic resource for learning about Debian administration. Having read one of its early editions, I can attest to the wealth of experience and knowledge that it encapsulates. Authored by long-standing members of the Debian community, many directly involved in its development, this handbook embodies the collaborative spirit that defines Debian. Like the operating system itself, this book is the product of a collective effort, emphasizing freedom and openness.
August 2024
Andreas Tille (Debian Project Leader)
