The principles of the Debian Project...
The principles of the Debian Project are defined in the Debian Social Contract. This contract is a commitment to the free software community that basically states:
All software within the Debian system will remain free, as defined
in the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG).
The Debian Project will contribute to the free software community
by licensing any software developed for the Debian system in
accordance with the DFSG, developing the best system it can, and
by sharing improvements and fixes with the original developers of
any programs incorporated into Debian GNU/Linux.
Problems will not be hidden from users, and any bug reports filed
against Debian components will be made promptly available to the
public through the Debian Bug Tracking System (BTS).
The Debian Project will focus on the needs of its users and on the principles of free software. Provisions will be made for the support of programs that do not meet the standards in the DFSG because some users may depend on these programs to make effective use of the system. The bug tracking and support systems will always include mechanisms for handling these programs when they are provided with the Debian system.
Debian's commitment to free software distribution and openness has earned it a huge following in
the technical community. More than any other Linux system, Debian has been used as the basis for
other Linux distributions, including KNOPPIX, Ubuntu, Damn Small Linux, and many others.
The success of Debian has come despite the lack of large corporate sponsors, formal enterprise initiatives,
or official certification and training programs. Debian enthusiasts will tell you that it is the
most stable and reliable Linux system. It is thoroughly tested, and new versions aren't released
until the Debian leadership believes that software is extraordinarily stable.
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