This episode explores the story of Debian, one of the most influential and quietly radical projects in the Linux world. From its volunteer-led governance model to the release of Debian 13, Trixie, we look at how Debian balances technical conservatism with long-term innovation.

Main themes
Debian’s origins and values
How Debian is governed
What makes Debian different from other distributions
What’s new in Debian 13, Trixie
Why Debian still matters in 2025

Now, a clear and searchable title.

Debian Linux Explained: History, Governance, and What’s New in Debian 13 Trixie

Here’s the full, listener-facing description.

Debian is often described as the quiet backbone of the Linux world, and in this episode we unpack why that reputation exists.

We trace the origins of Debian Project, a volunteer-run, non-commercial distribution that has shaped modern Linux more than almost any other project. From its early days and founding principles to its unique governance model, Debian shows what large-scale open collaboration can look like when it is driven by values rather than venture capital.

The conversation then turns to Debian 13, Trixie. We break down what this release actually brings, including official 64-bit RISC-V support, the move to 64-bit time formats to avoid the Year 2038 problem, and new tooling such as wcurl. Rather than hype, the focus is on why these changes matter and what they say about Debian’s long-term thinking.

We also explore Debian’s package management ecosystem, looking at how dpkg and APT work together to maintain stability across tens of thousands of packages, all guided by the Debian Free Software Guidelines. This leads into a wider discussion about philosophy, including ongoing debates around AI model compliance and software freedom.

Finally, we examine Debian’s role as the foundation for countless other distributions, including Ubuntu, and ask a simple question. In a world of fast-moving tech and commercial pressure, how has Debian stayed so consistent for over three decades?

This episode uses a bit of AI magic in the background to help research and structure the discussion. If you would like to take part in a future human interview or conversation, you are always welcome to email podcast@beitmenotyou.online.

You can find everything else we’re building, writing, and hosting over at
https://beitmenotyou.online

If you’d like to support the project, no pressure at all, here are a few options:

Lightning: beitmenotyou@geyser.fund
Geyser: https://geyser.fund
Bitcoin (BIC): bc1qkvc05av9u6ds2w5f8y4yevenqnqlc36zqt7jmp
ETH: 0xb2ad3d76dc2a6B283422e1B6c6957a1C5Ea857E3
SOL: 9pTYuMmU3guipw7Dp3EEuVUxhdVgjMYsFuhsCYbeYYNH
BASE: 0xb2ad3d76dc2a6B283422e1B6c6957a1C5Ea857E3
BINANCE: 0xb2ad3d76dc2a6B283422e1B6c6957a1C5Ea857E3
FIAT: https://revolut.me/beitmenotyou