Debian is a stable, free, and open-source Linux distribution composed of free software-licensed utilities and non-free software. It is one of the oldest and most trusted operating systems, known for its strict adherence to the Debian Free Software Guidelines and its massive software repository.
Debian is the upstream basis for many other distributions (like Ubuntu). Its stability makes it a preferred choice for servers where reliability is a priority. Its package management system (APT) is an industry standard.
Debian is our reference distribution. We value its community governance (no corporate overlord) and its purity. When we build container images, we start with debian-slim to ensure a minimal, secure, and predictable attack surface.