1. Understanding serious Debian deployments
45 mins including questions: ~35 mins of talk
Goal: show that there are problems we don't usually think about, nor we are
aware of
Introduction: what the talk is about
Showing non-technical problems that can happen inside Debian and we ren't always aware of
Nov 10, 2006
9 slides
Enrico Zini

2. What is Debian Founded 16 August 1993.
95 uk
70 fr
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Founded 16 August 1993.
25514 "packages" (programs, code libraries, documentation...) on 11 supported architectures
1014 volunteer developers from 51 different nations
debian ubuntu linspire progeny lliurex DSL knoppix guadalinex skolelinux xandros morphix debian-br agnula arklinux mepis grml ichtux parsix lamppix edubuntu kubuntu eduknoppix adamantix kanotix ...
data collected on Nov 9, 2006

3. Why people use Debian A system with lots of Free Software:
You can use it
You can study it
You can build on it
You can get all the software you need, just from Debian.
Debian adds: package management, extra quality control, security support, common behaviours, license scrutiny.

4. Why people use Debian Libraries are there to use
Source code is there to learn and borrow
Everything you do with Debian, can be the start of your own business
A moderately big IT department can control it (like in the city of Munich)
You can build your own system on it (like many in the Greather Debian world)
Meticulous attention to licenses guarantee that all of this is possible

5. How Debian works: motivations
“We want to make the best Operating System, which is 100% Free Software.”
(the meaning of “best” has been wisely omitted)
There is no common motivation: you can even find developers with opposite motivations (for example, paid job / voluntary ideals).
Debian comes from of the intersection of many diverse of goals and motivations.
It also enables cooperation of possibly competing actors.
Because you like it
Because your friends use it
Because your customers use it
Because your wife is a Debian Developer
Because you want your customers to use it
Because your government does not want you to use it
Because your friends never heard about it
Because your government uses it
Because it makes you look smart
Because you can upload to it
Because it feels good
Because you use it

6. How Debian works: governance
Common ground:
Social Contract (the only shared vision and nontechnical document)
Constitution (defines the governance procedures)
Technical policies
Governance:
Developers (and the Condorcet voting system)
Technical Committee
DPL and Delegates
Admission:
The NM process (trust the identity, trust the principles, trust the skills)

7. How Debian works: steering
The principles (Social Contract) do not change. The rest changes with work.
Every contribution in Debian is voluntary as far as Debian is concerned: choices and deadlines cannot be forced.
If what you need does not get done, you need to do it.
Debian never had a business phone contact. Actually, it had thousands.

8. Example uses of Debian ERPOSS3 (security)
City of Munich (vendor independence)
Skolelinux (customisation)
Ubuntu (business on extra guarantees)
Dhongzha Linux (localization and technological independence)
EDOS (research on large scale software systems)
You have to change the plug on all new versions of the appliance
The australian developers don't know of your plug

9. Using it locally
330 us
174 de
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There are far more Debian Developers in Europe than in the United States: with Free Software we are not underdeveloped!
You can use the local language.
You can use and grow the local know-how.
You can get / hire help from outside.
Tip: try to minimise isolation:
minimise the amount of new code
reuse existing components
involve existing groups
TODO: The developer communities are open! Work with the australian developers to make a device with a switchable plug
(tipo l'alimentatore universale di Yuwei)