Debian 11 (debian 11 x86_64) | Support by SupportedImages

My main use case is running data analysis scripts, managing databases, scheduling jobs, and supporting analytic pipelines. Debian  provides a clean and stable environment for Python, SQL, and other data tools. I use Debian  to run Python scripts, manage data files, connect to databases, and schedule jobs using Cron. It is also used for hosting analytics tools and internal dashboards.

The deployment was on cloud infrastructure through AWS . I use it on public cloud infrastructure and mainly deployed it on servers in my organization, depending on the use cases. For data analytics workloads, Debian provides a stable and secure environment for running scripts, databases, or scheduling jobs. The deployment is flexible and works well across different environments.

Debian provides many features, with the best being its stability, security, and package management using APT. Once configured, Debian runs smoothly for long periods.

Package management is very easy, as I only need to install packages using sudo apt install or other commands. Debian's package management is one of the greatest features because it uses APT, which makes installing, updating, and managing software very simple and reliable. As a data analyst, I regularly use it to install Python, data libraries, database clients, and system tools.

The overall impact has been very positive because it provides stability, scalability, and all the requirements I need. Debian has improved system stability and reduced maintenance effort, allowing the system to run longer without any issues. Analytics workflows are more predictable and stable. In terms of security and stability, it definitely helps, and it has improved the complexity in my workflow. Overall, it saves my time.

One area where Debian can improve is around newer packages. Sometimes the default repositories have older versions of tools, which can be a limitation for data analytics work. Improving access to newer packages or making backports easier to use would help. A slightly more user-friendly initial setup and better guided onboarding for new users could make Debian more accessible.

I have been using Debian for over a year now as part of my analytics and development environment. It is mainly used on servers and sometimes on a local machine for data processing tasks.

Debian is very stable, which is why I chose it. Compared to other operating systems, Debian is extremely stable in my experience. Once the system is set up, it runs for long periods without crashes or unexpected issues. This is very important for data analytics workloads where scripts, batch jobs, and scheduled processes need to run reliably. The updates are well-tested, so they rarely cause problems, which gives me confidence in using Debian in production. It provides better stability.

Debian is highly scalable in my experience. It works well for small setups and scales smoothly as workloads grow. On AWS , I can easily increase compute or storage resources, and Debian continues to perform reliably with more data, users, and scheduled jobs. This makes it suitable for growing analytics pipelines and production environments. Debian scales very well and handles increasing data volumes and workloads without any performance issues.

I do not need any special customer support for it, as it does not have traditional vendor support since it is open source. However, the community support is very strong, with extensive documentation, forums, and detailed guides available. In my experience, most issues can be resolved quickly using community resources. For organizations that need it, third-party paid support options are also available, but I mostly use the documentation to resolve any issues.

Positive

Before Debian, I used Ubuntu  because I was very familiar with it. I chose Debian over Ubuntu  mainly because of its long-term stability and predictable behavior. For data analytic workloads, especially on servers, stability is more important than having the latest software version. Debian updates are conservative and well-tested, which reduces the risk of breaking analytics pipelines. It also has a smaller footprint.

The initial setup process of Debian does not have a user-friendly experience, and a better guided onboarding for new users could make Debian more accessible.

Debian is open source, so there are no licensing costs. Combined with the reduced downtime, it provides a very good return on investment.

For pricing, I do not have a proper understanding because my seniors handled it. However, Debian is completely free and open source, so there are no licensing or subscription costs. This has been a big advantage for my organization, especially for analytics workloads running on AWS. The costs incurred are for infrastructure, such as AWS, not for Debian itself. Overall, this makes Debian very cost-effective.

My advice would be to choose Debian if stability is a priority. Spend some time on the initial setup and security configuration, as that will pay off later. Make  good use of APT package management, automation, and community documentation. For data analytics workloads, Debian works best when you keep the system lean and well-maintained. I would rate this product nine out of ten.

Positive

My main use case is about server handling, creating pipelines, and maintaining Docker  images that have been used in the DevOps field.

The work involves going into the server, running APT updates, maintaining the packages that are there, and checking all vulnerabilities that exist. I then fix those vulnerabilities using different packages, upgrade those packages, and install new packages as needed.

Debian  functions as an umbrella where you will find all those packages that are available for Ubuntu  as well as for different operating systems. I feel that Debian  is one of the origins from which it all started, so contributing to it makes me feel special.

Debian has impacted my work significantly. All the upstream servers are on Ubuntu  or Debian and I have to fix issues on them. That is what I have been working on.

Debian always provides zero downtime because all that is needed is to run pseudo APT upgrade and it fixes NGINX  or the other packages that need to be fixed. It is straightforward to be used because APT is available for that purpose. APT produces Python packages as well as Node packages, and I just need to install them from there rather than having multiple sources.

I feel Debian contributors could receive a stipend. It is open source, but monetary support is always needed.

Because there is always a chance to improve things, I believe there is room for improvement.

I have been working in my current field for the past six years.

Debian is very stable.

It is highly scalable.

Customer support for Debian is very high because everyone is an open-source contributor and there are many people supporting it.

Positive

I have evaluated Alpine images as well as yum packages and RHEL , Red Hat Enterprise Linux , but I felt Debian was better.

There was nothing difficult about the initial setup.

There was nothing difficult about the implementation team requirements.

There were no significant ROI concerns.

Pricing and setup cost were straightforward from Amazon Web Services . I just needed to deploy it and everything worked out.

There were no alternate solutions that I needed to consider.

For my work and for my customers, I use Debian to cross-build for some other ARM devices that are used for Gilbarco, which are used in many US gas stations to provide fuel to cars. I bought some QEMU to allow developers to run the ARM on computers. I installed Debian on every i.MX8 device, and I think there are thousands in the US market, plus some other thousands worldwide.

Regarding my use case and interesting projects, I recently used Debian for Amazon and then for some other GitHub  actions, still as a QEMU.

That long-term support has helped me and my customers by being stable and running well. Debian has positively impacted my organization and my customers.

Regarding needed improvements, I think sudo and the way sudo is configured, with visudo required, would help many newcomers to Debian because the learning curve on the configuration might have some challenges in the way it is done.

About the features of Debian, of course, it is a slow distribution like many others. The setup is fast and efficient, but it is not doing much. I am an embedded developer and a Linux developer, so I am happy with that. I can customize more, but then the hardware support and the packages are old. However, I am looking for stability, so old probably means stable, but it is not for every user.