Demand for Debian GNU/Linux Spreads at Robert Pogson

Russia and Malaysia have new mirrors of the Debian repository of Free Software. This shows the continuing global acceptance of Debian GNU/Linux as a great distribution of software. People value the price ($0), the performance (lack of malware, not phoning home) and the flexibility (APT package management system).

see New mirrors closer to Debian users

For those unfamiliar with APT, here are some
features:

type a command or click a GUI and install/remove/upgrade/query a software package or a cluster of related packages, or security updates, using the same software as the Debian OS installer,
the repository of packages is huge with tens of thousands of packages in more than a dozen categories like editors, games, web applications…
the repository is searchable by keywords, dependencies, versions, names, etc.
you can see known bugs and the bug-killing history of any package,
you can keep a list of your favourite packages and install them all at once, and
you can upgrade to the next release using the same system. You can even install it before release for testing.

In short, APT is absolutely fabulous and alone is reason enough to use Debian GNU/Linux for all your IT. For those unsatisfied with the speed of the web an organisation can keep a local repository mirror or cache to transfer software to computers at the speed of a LAN. That’s awesome.

My Mission

My observations and opinions about IT are based on 40 years of use in science and technology and lately, in education. I like IT that is fast, cost-effective and reliable. I do not care whether my solution is the same as yours. I like to think for myself.

My first use of GNU/Linux in 2001 was so remarkably better than what I had been using, I feel it is important work to share GNU/Linux with the world. I have been blessed by working in schools where students and school systems have benefited by good, modular software easily installed in most systems.

I have shown GNU/Linux to thousands of students and hundreds of teachers over the years and will continue in some way doing that until I die in spite of the opposition.

3 Responses to “Demand for Debian GNU/Linux Spreads”

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1 dougman Sep 5th, 2012 at 9:50 am

Again M$ plays catch-up with Linux, notice they don’t mention the total count of apps, how embarrassing. I seem to recall it was only a hundred.

If M$ cannot convince developers…developers…developers to develop then how they suppose to sell Metrofail?

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-US/apps

http://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmoorhead/2012/04/13/windows-8-store-with-99-metro-apps-is-it-behind-schedule/

A package manager was light years ahead of its time, Linux Mint makes the repository look nice.
2 iLia Sep 6th, 2012 at 10:33 am

the repository of packages is huge with tens of thousands of packages in more than a dozen categories like editors, games, web applications…

Packages, not applications, there is a huge difference, one application can consist of dozens of packages. Apply some division.

you can keep a list of your favourite packages and install them all at once

Only if my favorite applications are included in the repository.

If M$ cannot convince developers…developers…developers to develop then how they suppose to sell Metrofail?

nohow, they will sell Windows 7

And tell me why the version of my favorite application is somewhat outdated, there is a much newer version on the developers site?
3 Robert Pogson Sep 7th, 2012 at 8:11 am

iLia wrote, “they will sell Windows 7″.

It’s not clear that OEMs will continue to ship “7″. M$ is excited to have them promote “8″. I expect “7″ has peaked.