Editing Debian (section)

=== Founding (1993–1998) ===
First announced on August 16, 1993, Debian was founded by [[Ian Murdock]], who initially called the system "the Debian Linux Release".<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/intro.en.html | work = A Brief History of Debian |title = Chapter 1 – Introduction – What is the Debian Project? |publisher = Debian |date = 2013-05-04 |access-date = 2014-06-22 |archive-date = December 22, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222010809/https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-intro.en.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite newsgroup |title = New release under development; suggestions requested |url = https://groups.google.com/forum/#!original/comp.os.linux.development/Md3Modzg5TU/xty88y5OLaMJ |message-id = CBusDD.MIK@unix.portal.com |last = Murdock |first = Ian A. |author-link = Ian Murdock |date = 1993-08-16 |newsgroup = comp.os.linux.development |access-date = 2012-06-13 |archive-date = January 22, 2011 |archive-url = http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110122130054/https://groups.google.com/forum/#!original/comp.os.linux.development/Md3Modzg5TU/xty88y5OLaMJ |url-status = live }}</ref> The word "Debian" was formed as a [[portmanteau]] of the first names of himself and his then-girlfriend (later ex-wife) Debra Lynn.<ref>{{cite book |last = Nixon |first = Robin |title = Ubuntu: Up and Running |page = 3 |publisher = [[O'Reilly Media]] |year = 2010 |isbn = 978-0-596-80484-8 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=badSTnfeOoAC |access-date = 2014-06-22 |archive-date = July 31, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200731133410/https://books.google.com/books?id=badSTnfeOoAC |url-status = live }}</ref> Before Debian's release, the [[Softlanding Linux System]] (SLS) had been a popular Linux distribution and the basis for [[Slackware]].<ref name="grassroots">{{cite web |title = Debian and the grass roots of Linux |url = http://www.itpro.co.uk/135084/debian-and-the-grass-roots-of-linux |last = Hillesley |first = Richard |publisher = IT Pro |date = 2007-11-02 |access-date = 2014-05-25 |archive-date = May 26, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140526030921/http://www.itpro.co.uk/135084/debian-and-the-grass-roots-of-linux |url-status = live }}</ref> Murdock was motivated to launch a new distribution by what he saw as poor maintenance and the prevalence of [[software bug|bugs]] in SLS.<ref name="Scheetz 1998">{{cite book | last=Scheetz | first=Dale | title=The Debian Linux user's guide | publisher=Linux Press | location=Penngrove, Calif | year=1998 | isbn=0-9659575-1-9 | oclc=42689229 }}</ref>

Debian 0.01, released on September 15, 1993, was the first of several internal releases.<ref name="ChangeLog">{{cite web |url = http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/debian-0.91/ChangeLog |title = ChangeLog |publisher = [[ibiblio]] |access-date = 2016-08-18 |archive-date = January 6, 2017 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170106042725/http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/debian-0.91/ChangeLog |url-status = live }}</ref> Version 0.90 was the first public release,<ref name="ChangeLog" /> supported through mailing lists hosted at [[Pixar]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/debian-0.91/debian-0.91/RELEASE-0.91 |title = Release-0.91 |publisher = [[ibiblio]] |date = 1994-01-31 |access-date = 2014-07-03 |archive-date = September 24, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133319/http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/debian-0.91/debian-0.91/RELEASE-0.91 |url-status = live }}</ref> The release included the Debian Linux Manifesto, outlining Murdock's view for the new [[operating system]]. In it he called for the creation of a distribution to be maintained "openly in the spirit of Linux and GNU."<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/debian-0.91/info/Manifesto |title = The Debian Linux Manifesto |last = Murdock |first = Ian A. |author-link = Ian Murdock |publisher = [[ibiblio]] |date = 1994-01-06 |access-date = 2014-07-17 |archive-date = September 24, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924133321/http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/historic-linux/distributions/debian-0.91/info/Manifesto |url-status = live }}</ref>

The Debian project released the 0.9x versions in 1994 and 1995.<ref name="releases">{{cite web |url = http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-releases.en.html |work = A Brief History of Debian |title = Chapter 3 – Debian Releases |publisher = Debian |date = 2013-05-04 |access-date = 2014-06-22 |archive-date = August 17, 2011 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110817004510/http://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-releases.en.html |url-status = live }}</ref> During this time it was sponsored by the [[Free Software Foundation]] for one year.<ref>{{cite newsgroup |url = https://groups.google.com/forum/#!original/comp.os.linux.misc/A30TG4KRx4Y/WKi_Yx0iuTAJ |title = The FSF is no longer sponsoring Debian |message-id = gnusenet199604280427.AAA00388@delasyd.gnu.ai.mit.edu |last = Stallman |first = Richard |author-link = Richard Stallman |newsgroup = comp.os.linux.misc |date = 1996-04-28 |access-date = 2014-08-22 |archive-date = January 22, 2011 |archive-url = http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110122130054/https://groups.google.com/forum/#!original/comp.os.linux.misc/A30TG4KRx4Y/WKi_Yx0iuTAJ |url-status = live }}</ref> Ian Murdock delegated the base system, the core packages of Debian, to Bruce Perens, while Murdock focused on the management of the growing project.<ref name="Scheetz 1998" /> The first ports to non-[[IA-32]] architectures began in 1995, and Debian 1.1 was released in 1996.<ref name="history4">{{cite web |url = https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-detailed.en.html |work = A Brief History of Debian |title = Chapter 4 – A Detailed History |publisher = Debian |date = 2013-05-04 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191221235707/https://www.debian.org/doc/manuals/project-history/ch-detailed.en.html |access-date = 2014-08-01 |archive-date = December 21, 2019 }}</ref> By that time and thanks to [[Ian Jackson (computer programmer)|Ian Jackson]], the dpkg package manager was already an essential part of Debian.{{sfn |Krafft |2005 |pp=31–32}}

In 1996, [[Bruce Perens]] assumed the project leadership. Perens was a controversial leader, regarded as authoritarian and strongly attached to Debian.{{sfn |Hertzog |2013 |p=9}} He drafted a [[social contract]] and edited suggestions from a month-long discussion into the Debian Social Contract and the Debian Free Software Guidelines.<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-announce/1997/msg00017.html |title = Debian's 'Social Contract' with the Free Software Community |last = Perens |first = Bruce |author-link = Bruce Perens |mailing-list = debian-announce |publisher = Debian |date = 1997-07-05 |access-date = 2014-08-01 |archive-date = June 10, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060610070939/http://lists.debian.org/debian-announce/debian-announce-1997/msg00017.html |url-status = live }}</ref> After the FSF withdrew their sponsorship in the midst of the [[Free and open-source software|free software vs. open source debate]],<ref>{{cite web |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/1999/02/msg01641.html |title = It's Time to Talk About Free Software Again |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140716055445/https://lists.debian.org/debian-devel/1999/02/msg01641.html |archive-date = July 16, 2014 |df = mdy-all }}</ref> Perens initiated the creation of the legal [[umbrella organization]] [[Software in the Public Interest]] instead of seeking renewed involvement with the FSF.<ref name="history4" /> He led the conversion of the project from the [[a.out]] to the [[Executable and Linkable Format|ELF]] executable format.<ref name="Scheetz 1998" /> He created the [[BusyBox]] program to make it possible to run a Debian installer from a single [[floppy disk]], and wrote a new installer.<ref>{{cite magazine |url = http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4335 |title = Building Tiny Linux Systems with Busybox–Part I |last = Perens |first = Bruce |author-link = Bruce Perens |magazine = [[Linux Journal]] |date = 2000-11-01 |access-date = 2014-06-05 |archive-date = June 6, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140606231721/http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4335 |url-status = live }}</ref> By the time Debian 1.2 was released, the project had grown to nearly two hundred volunteers.<ref name="Scheetz 1998" /> Perens left the project in 1998.<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/1998/03/msg01628.html |title = I am leaving Debian |last = Perens |first = Bruce |author-link = Bruce Perens |publisher = Debian |mailing-list = debian-user |date = 1998-03-18 |access-date = 2014-06-05 |archive-date = July 6, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140706171832/https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/1998/03/msg01628.html |url-status = live }}</ref>

Ian Jackson became the project leader in 1998.<ref>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-announce/1997/msg00037.html |title = Ian Jackson is the next Debian Project Leader |last = Perens |first = Bruce |author-link = Bruce Perens |mailing-list = debian-announce |publisher = Debian |date = 1997-12-01 |access-date = 2014-08-02 |archive-date = September 9, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150909035450/https://lists.debian.org/debian-announce/1997/msg00037.html |url-status = live }}</ref> Debian 2.0 introduced the second official port, [[Motorola 68000 family|m68k]].<ref name="releases" /> During this time the first port to a non-Linux kernel, [[Debian GNU/Hurd]], was started.<ref name=d1>{{cite mailing list |url = https://lists.debian.org/debian-hurd/1998/07/msg00000.html |title = debian-hurd... is up! |last = Grobman |first = Igor |mailing-list = debian-hurd |publisher = Debian |date = 1998-07-14 |access-date = 2014-08-02 |archive-date = October 18, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181018224515/https://lists.debian.org/debian-hurd/1998/07/msg00000.html |url-status = live }}</ref> On December 2, the first Debian Constitution was ratified.<ref name="constitution" />