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Why is Debian Called the Universal Operating System, Again? (itsfoss.com)

submitted 3 days ago by cm0002@toast.ooo to c/linux@programming.dev

18 comments fedilink hide all child comments

In the Linux world, there are a few primary giants that most other distros have historically been built on and one of the chief among these is Debian. Giants like this may not be quite "household names" outside our (rapidly growing) sphere, but they're among the wise council of elders that most of us are familiar with.

Speaking of Debian, you've probably heard by now, it's "The universal operating system". That's an official Debian tagline, and you may have seen it in memes or elsewhere across the web.

With just how many distributions are based on Debian, you might have taken a guess as to why. But what does this really mean, and why is it still said today? In this article, we'll take a peek into the history of this tagline, and what it means in reality. Plus, I'll answer the question: Does Debian actually live up to this claim?

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[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 29 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I've been using Linux since Slackware. Debian for decades and this is the first time I've heard Debian referred to as 'the universal operating system'.

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

So you've never been to their website?

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not in quite a while. Why would I? I need the ISO every five years or so.

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 23 hours ago (1 children)

According to the wayback machine that's been their tagline for at least 15 years

Feb 19 2011

[–] MehBlah@lemmy.world 2 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

I guess I just never paid attention to it. My usage of debian goes back thirty years. Like other utterly unimportant facts I am no wiser for having heard it. I pay attention to things that matter.

[–] illusionist@lemmy.zip 15 points 3 days ago

Sounds like Roland Taylor used a little too much LLM to write it

[–] lambalicious 33 points 3 days ago (2 children)

Much as I like Debian, if it doesn't run on the 3DS then it's not "universal".

[–] cm0002@toast.ooo 90 points 3 days ago (1 children)

BEHOLD BASK IN THE GLORY THAT IS DEBIAN AND REPEAL YOUR BLASPHEMY

https://github.com/mozl3/sd-linux-3ds/wiki/Installing-Debian

[–] lambalicious 35 points 3 days ago

...I walked right into that one didn't I.

[–] muhyb@programming.dev 21 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Don't know the architecture of 3DS but I remember someone put Debian on a Kindle, so that's universal enough to me. :)

[–] empireOfLove2@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 3 days ago

Its Nintendo custom hardware but the CPU is based on ARM11 RISC, so i dont doubt you could get some form of Linux running on it.

[–] illusionist@lemmy.zip 14 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

First time that I read that line after years in this and many other subs/forums/wikis/news.