Editing Debian (section)

== Branches ==
{{See also|Debian version history}}
[[File:Debian10-CD-Cover.png|thumb|A Debian 10 Buster box cover]]

Three [[Branching (version control)|branches]] of Debian (also called ''releases'', ''distributions'' or ''suites'') are regularly maintained:<ref name="debian-releases">{{cite web |title = Debian Releases |url = http://www.debian.org/releases/ |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2014-06-22 |archive-date = October 11, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111011180740/http://www.debian.org/releases/ |url-status = live }}</ref>
* ''Stable'' is the current release and targets stable and well-tested software needs.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-new-debian-linux-7-0-is-now-available/ |title = The new Debian Linux 7.0 is now available |last = Vaughan-Nichols |first = Steven J. |work = [[ZDNet]] |date = 2013-05-05 |access-date = 2014-07-08 |archive-date = November 29, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129032319/http://www.zdnet.com/the-new-debian-linux-7-0-is-now-available-7000014911/ |url-status = live }}</ref> ''Stable'' is made by freezing ''Testing'' for a few months where bugs are fixed and packages with too many bugs are removed; then the resulting system is released as ''stable''. It is updated only if major security or usability fixes are incorporated.<ref name="distributions" /> This branch has an optional [[Backporting|backports]] service that provides more recent versions of some software.<ref name="news-backports-official">{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/News/2010/20100905 |title = Backports service becoming official |publisher = Debian |date = 2010-09-05 |access-date = 2014-06-17 |archive-date = September 3, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110903172855/http://www.debian.org/News/2010/20100905 |url-status = live }}</ref> ''Stable''{{'}}s CDs and DVDs can be found in the Debian website.<ref name="jigdo-cd" /> The current version of ''Stable'' is codenamed ''bookworm''.<ref name="debian-releases" />
* ''Testing'' is the preview branch that will eventually become the next major release. The packages included in this branch have had some testing in ''unstable'' but they may not be fit for release yet. It contains newer packages than ''stable'' but older than ''unstable''. This branch is updated continually until it is frozen.<ref name="distributions" /> ''Testing''{{'}}s CDs and DVDs can be found on the Debian website.<ref name="jigdo-cd" /> The current version of ''Testing'' is codenamed ''trixie''.<ref name="debian-releases" />
* ''Unstable'', always codenamed ''sid'', is the [[Trunk (software)|trunk]]. Packages are accepted without checking the distribution as a whole.<ref name="distributions" /> This branch is usually run by software developers who participate in a project and need the latest libraries available, and by those who prefer [[Bleeding edge technology|bleeding-edge]] software.<ref name="debian-releases" /> Debian does not provide full Sid installation discs, but rather a minimal ISO that can be used to install over a network connection. Additionally, this branch can be installed through a system upgrade from ''stable'' or ''testing''.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/CD/faq/#unstable-images |title = Frequently Asked Questions |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2014-07-09 |archive-date = July 14, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714195751/https://www.debian.org/CD/faq/#unstable-images |url-status = live }}</ref>

Other branches in Debian:
* ''Oldstable'' is the prior ''stable'' release.<ref name="distributions" /> It is supported by the Debian Security Team until one year after a new ''stable'' is released, and since the release of Debian 6, for another two years through the Long Term Support project.<ref name="securityfaq" /> Eventually, ''oldstable'' is moved to a repository for archived releases.<ref name="distributions" /> Debian 11 is the current Oldstable release (since 2023-06-10).
* ''Oldoldstable'' is the prior ''oldstable'' release. It is supported by the Long Term Support community. Eventually, ''oldoldstable'' is moved to a repository for archived releases. Debian 10 is the current Oldoldstable release (since 2023-06-10).
* ''Experimental'' is a temporary staging area of highly experimental software that is likely to break the system. It is not a full distribution and missing dependencies are commonly found in ''unstable'', where new software without the damage chance is normally uploaded.<ref name="distributions" />

The ''snapshot'' archive provides older versions of the branches. They may be used to install a specific older version of some software.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://snapshot.debian.org/ |title = snapshot.debian.org |publisher = Debian |access-date = 2014-07-09 |archive-date = June 13, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190613201839/http://snapshot.debian.org/ |url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Numbering scheme ===
''Stable'' and ''oldstable'' get minor updates, called ''point releases''; {{as of|2021|August|lc=y}}, the ''stable'' release is version 11.7,<ref name="bullseye-changelog">{{cite web|date=2021-02-06|title=ChangeLog|url=https://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/bullseye/ChangeLog|access-date=2021-08-14|work=bullseye|publisher=Debian|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814220141/https://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/bullseye/ChangeLog|url-status=live}}</ref> released on {{start date and age|2023|04|29}}, and the ''oldstable'' release is version 10.10.<ref name="buster-changelog">{{cite web|date=2021-08-14|title=ChangeLog|url=https://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/buster/ChangeLog|access-date=2021-08-14|work=buster|publisher=Debian|archive-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814215958/https://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/buster/ChangeLog|url-status=live}}</ref>

The numbering scheme for the point releases up to Debian 4.0 was to include the letter ''r'' (for ''revision''){{sfn |Hertzog |2013 |loc=Section 1.6}} after the main version number and then the number of the point release; for example, the latest point release of version 4.0 is 4.0r9.<ref name="etch-release">{{cite web |url = http://archive.debian.org/debian/dists/Debian-4.0/Release |title = Release |work = etch |publisher = Debian |date = 2010-05-22 |access-date = 2014-06-05 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150815043253/http://archive.debian.org/debian/dists/Debian-4.0/Release |archive-date = August 15, 2015 |url-status = dead }}</ref> This scheme was chosen because a new dotted version would make the old one look obsolete and vendors would have trouble selling their CDs.<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/1998/08/msg01581.html |title = Naming of new 2.0 release |last = Schulze |first = Martin |mailing-list = debian-devel |publisher = Debian |date = 1998-08-24 |access-date = 2014-07-26 |archive-date = July 28, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140728001008/https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/1998/08/msg01581.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

From Debian 5.0, the numbering scheme of point releases was changed, conforming to the GNU version numbering standard;<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/html_node/Releases.html#index-version-numbers_002c-for-releases |title = GNU Coding Standards: Releases |publisher = [[GNU]] |date = 2014-05-13 |access-date = 2014-05-25 |quote = You should identify each release with a pair of version numbers, a major version and a minor. We have no objection to using more than two numbers, but it is very unlikely that you really need them. |archive-date = May 25, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140525214338/https://www.gnu.org/prep/standards/html_node/Releases.html#index-version-numbers_002c-for-releases |url-status = live }}</ref> the first point release of Debian 5.0 was 5.0.1 instead of 5.0r1.<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2009/02/msg00003.html |first = Marc |last = Brockschmidt |access-date = 2009-02-15 |date = 2009-02-15 |mailing-list = debian-devel-announce |title = Debian squeeze waiting for development |publisher = Debian |archive-date = June 20, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170620183013/https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel-announce/2009/02/msg00003.html |url-status = live }}</ref> The numbering scheme was once again changed for the first Debian 7 update, which was version 7.1.<ref name="wheezy-changelog">{{cite web |url = http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/wheezy/ChangeLog |title = ChangeLog |work = wheezy |publisher = Debian |date = 2016-06-04 |access-date = 2016-12-14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140704124448/http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/wheezy/ChangeLog |archive-date = July 4, 2014 |url-status = dead }}</ref> The ''r'' scheme is no longer in use, but point release announcements include a note about not throwing away old CDs.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/News/2014/20141018 |title = Updated Debian 7: 7.7 released |publisher = Debian |date = 2014-10-18 |access-date = 2014-10-20 |archive-date = October 25, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141025044530/https://www.debian.org/News/2014/20141018 |url-status = live }}</ref>