Has provided a reliable development and server environment with strong security and minimal maintenance
What is our primary use case?
On the personal side, I use Debian desktop, which is a lightweight way for me to get work done and do software development. On the professional side, we have Debian servers that host web applications and execute droplets on servers that containerize applications.
We use Debian in our professional environment to host an N8N droplet for automations, specifically work automations. We have a container on a Debian server for a couple of our web applications. We have a web application that helps us manage our support inquiries and a web application that helps our clients engage with their patients. Some of those are Debian, and some of those are Ubuntu.
I have also used Debian via WSL, Windows Subsystem for Linux, which is another personal use case for software engineering via VS Code.
We use Debian deployments primarily on cloud providers such as AWS and Google Cloud. I mostly use AWS for our Debian deployments, but we also use DigitalOcean.
What is most valuable?
Debian offers the best features in that it is open source, simple, and battle-tested, with a good release cycle. I appreciate their waterfall methodology; if it is not broken, do not fix it. Debian operates a very important place in the market, particularly around web-related services that need to be resilient and long-lasting. I believe Debian is fantastic.
Debian's release cycle is a philosophy that makes sense for organizations that have a very nimble and quick release cycle, while other distros that are more waterfall-like test things every few years and ship new releases every few years. There are pros and cons to both approaches.
What needs improvement?
I believe security on Debian is top-notch due to its long history and the many individuals and organizations that rely on it, meaning there are many eyes on it. Reliability and security are fantastic; I have never had any issues with either. I would say package management could be a little easier to use, install, reinstall, and roll back packages. It seems there should be a more deterministic way to do that. It does seem that you are running a lot of random install scripts to install things or relying on another two or three package management services, so there could be better software installation methods.
Maybe apt, the package management tool, could have some efficiencies added to allow one to roll back more easily and keep a log. Debian does have some logs that show recent changes, but it is still a little hard to roll back or know what changes were made when; the interface is not as clean as it could be.
The installer experience with Debian is not great, but it is not terrible now. With AI, it is pretty easy to follow the basic steps to get it going. Most people setting up Linux are often using a distro based on Debian rather than vanilla Debian.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Debian's scalability is great; I have had no issues with scalability, reliability, or stability.
How are customer service and support?
I rely on forums and online research for customer support and do not know if Debian has official customer support.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
There is not really another option besides Windows, which is not a good option. We have never used it because it is complicated and not as reliable on the server side. Even on desktop, Debian is very complicated to install and set up, but if you can get past that learning curve and set up a simple system that does just what you want, you unlock all sorts of capabilities that you just cannot get from other desktop operating systems like Windows or Mac.
How was the initial setup?
The installer experience with Debian is not great, but it is not terrible now. With AI, it is pretty easy to follow the basic steps to get it going. Most people setting up Linux are often using a distro based on Debian rather than vanilla Debian.
What other advice do I have?
My advice for others looking into using Debian depends on their purpose. It is different advice for using Debian on the desktop versus for a server. If you are using it over AWS or something, there is not much advice needed since cloud providers have their own interfaces. For running a Debian server, there is a lot of advice online that I am not qualified to give. For the desktop, be prepared for a lot of tweaking and configuration since you are starting with a blank slate and building from there. Many features that come on Windows and Mac are not necessary and can bloat the experience.
I found this interview to be a little less applicable for Debian, so you might want to have different review prompts or templates depending on the type of technology you are reviewing or interviewing for. My overall rating for Debian is nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Has reduced licensing costs and helped the team focus on implementation instead of compatibility workarounds
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for Debian at work and personally is for software that is only supported by Linux, and I primarily use Debian for anything Linux related because it's the most supported option. It's very easy to set up, and very easy to install software on it. We use it for testing scripts, Linux scripts, or bash scripting, and for integrations that are not supported by Windows. Cybersecurity solutions like pen testing tools all rely on it. Sometimes we use Kali Linux, but we use Debian particularly because it's available on AWS, while Kali Linux is not available there. When we want to create a Linux-based virtual machine, especially on the cloud like AWS, we always go for Debian.
I have used Debian extensively to automate tasks on the cloud like Terraform, where I would use one Debian virtual machine as a command and control center for managing other Debian-based Linux machines. Additionally, I integrate it with Ansible for further automation.
What is most valuable?
The best features Debian offers include compatibility and the wide range of software available on it, along with flexibility. The commands and most tutorials or documentation online for anything you need are always mainly built for Debian. It's much easier to find resources for Debian compared to other Linux distributions.
Debian's compatibility and flexibility have significantly helped me in my work. For example, if I want to install any prerequisites for software on Debian, it's very easy to use the default commands for installing software such as APT-get, and I always find the package I want to install compatible and available in any of Debian's libraries or repos. When I try the same on Kali Linux or CentOS, I almost always struggle to find the packages easily, but for Debian, I always find what I need.
Debian has positively impacted my organization by making it much easier for the technical team. If we had forced our team to use Kali Linux or any other Linux-based distributions, they would struggle more to complete projects that rely on Linux. Debian is the most straightforward and compatible option, which greatly simplifies our engineers' tasks.
This ease of use with Debian has translated into results for our team by saving time and reducing errors. For example, when deploying a Linux-based application or software for one of our customers, since it's most likely compatible with Debian, the team can concentrate on implementing the product and installing it without working around limitations or compatibility issues.
What needs improvement?
I wish the company responsible for Debian would send communications about updates and new features to keep people informed and to give Debian the recognition and praise that it deserves.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Debian on and off depending on the projects I work on and for personal use in lab testing and internal applications for my company since I was studying in university and throughout my experience over the past five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In my experience, Debian is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of Debian for our organization depends on our requirements. We don't spin up new Debian instances arbitrarily. We deploy machines for lab testing or specific projects as needed, some being temporary for testing purposes.
How are customer service and support?
We rely on community resources for support, such as documentation, forums, and asking questions online. It's very easy to find reliable tutorials and guides. However, we've never reached out for official support or dealt with Debian's vendor tickets, as we manage everything ourselves by utilizing open-source resources.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used to rely heavily on Windows before switching to Debian. With Windows, you need a license and must ensure that all the software you try to install supports Windows. A lot of software relies on Linux, which made the transition to Debian easier.
What was our ROI?
I have seen a return on investment using Debian. We were able to save a substantial amount by using Linux instead of Windows and spending a lot of money on Windows licenses.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Regarding pricing, setup cost, and licensing, we have a certain amount of credit on AWS, and as long as I remain within the limit of that credit, I can create machines as much as I want without exceeding the monthly limit.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before choosing Debian, we evaluated other options like Ubuntu, Kali Linux, and CentOS, but many of them have additional costs such as support licensing, even though they are still cheaper than Windows. Debian stood out as the most compatible option, being the most stable with frequent updates and reliable backward support, making it the best choice for us.
What other advice do I have?
Other vendors should consider preparing AWS market-ready instances that are based on Debian. Offering ready-to-spin virtual machines that are packaged with their software would be beneficial.
My advice to others looking into using Debian is to assess their current pain points if they are using Windows or another Linux distribution and check if Debian resolves those issues. It's more compatible with solutions they may already have deployed on other operating systems, and I'm confident they'll find it to be a better and more cost-effective choice.
My additional thoughts about Debian are that the best part is the community, the resources available online, and how easy it makes it for technical users. I truly appreciate that I've never struggled to achieve or implement something on Debian. If I don't know how, I can always search online and find someone who has already done it, along with tutorials or documentation available online. I would rate my overall experience with Debian highly based on its stability, compatibility, and strong community support.
Freedom of configuration, but still with software compatibility issues
What do you like best about the product?
The freedom for improvement and configuration, the security and stability of the system are differentiators.
What do you dislike about the product?
the incompatibility with some software is still a problem
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
In relation to security, it added a lot to the organization.
Reliable and secure operating system for technical and server environments
What do you like best about the product?
As an SOC Analyst, I often use Debian for lab setups, log analysis, and running lightweight security tools. What I like best about Debian is its unmatched stability and reliability. The system runs smoothly for long periods without needing frequent reboots or maintenance. Its package management through APT makes installing and updating software straightforward, and the massive repository of open-source packages means I rarely need to look elsewhere for tools.
I also appreciate how customizable Debian is. It lets me configure the environment exactly how I want, whether I’m setting up a SIEM test node or deploying scripts for automation. The strong community support and comprehensive documentation make troubleshooting and learning much easier.
What do you dislike about the product?
The main challenge with Debian is that some of its stable releases use older software versions, which can be limiting when I need the latest features or compatibility for new tools. The initial setup can also feel a bit technical for users who are new to Linux. However, once configured, it runs very efficiently and requires little maintenance. These issues are manageable with a bit of experience.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Before using Debian, I had to rely on systems that required frequent updates and were prone to crashes. Debian solved that by providing a secure and stable environment that can run continuously without performance degradation. It also reduced setup time for lab projects and monitoring tools since the package manager handles dependencies seamlessly.
Overall, Debian has been a dependable operating system that supports both professional and technical workflows. It is ideal for anyone who values performance, security, and long-term system stability in their daily operations.
Review Debian
What do you like best about the product?
What I like about Debian is its simplicity. Even non-experts can use it. Its implementation is very simple and it adapts easily to any system.
It's very easy to use for everyone.
It can have many or few features, depending on the user's preferences, and it integrates even with low requirements.
I use it frequently.
What do you dislike about the product?
The customer support could be better, there is only the community and some documentation, it's not the best.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Debian solves the problem of reliable, secure, and free operating systems by providing a stable, well-maintained, and community-driven Linux distribution
Effortless Setup and Seamless Package Management with Debian
What do you like best about the product?
I appreciate Debian's perfect GUI, making user creation and login easy and intuitive. The APT package management is incredibly valuable, simplifying software installation to a single command. Its compatibility with a lot of software makes it a reliable choice. Debian’s environment supports my software development needs, offering a stable and efficient platform.
What do you dislike about the product?
N/A
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
I find Debian easy to set up with a great programming environment and APT package management simplifies software installation with a single command.
A rock-solid, stable, and reliable Linux distribution for professionals
What do you like best about the product?
Debian is one of the most stable and secure Linux distributions I’ve ever used. The package management system (APT) is smooth and efficient, and the availability of thousands of precompiled packages makes setup and maintenance effortless. Its long-term support and community-driven development make it an ideal choice for servers and production environments. I also appreciate that Debian forms the foundation for many other popular distributions like Ubuntu, which speaks volumes about its reliability.
What do you dislike about the product?
While Debian’s stability is unmatched, it sometimes comes at the cost of having slightly older software versions compared to rolling-release distributions. Setting up certain proprietary drivers or multimedia codecs may require additional steps, which can be a bit challenging for new users. However, once configured, the system runs flawlessly.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Debian solves the problem of maintaining a secure, stable, and customizable operating system for both servers and desktops. It eliminates dependency issues through its robust package management system and ensures long-term reliability with predictable release cycles. For me, it has greatly reduced downtime and maintenance overhead in server environments. The strong community support and extensive documentation also make troubleshooting and automation tasks much easier, allowing me to focus more on development and less on system stability concerns.
Best OS for Linux dev, Cyber Security
What do you like best about the product?
Best optimised operating system, lot of tools for Linux devs, Cyber Security officers, gamers
What do you dislike about the product?
UI is not that fancy as it is meant to be optimised for performance but not looks
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
It is solving performance issues unlike other OS over UI.
Reliable and stable operating system for servers and desktops
What do you like best about the product?
Debian is extremely stable and secure, which makes it perfect for running servers and production environments. I like the huge software repository and the strong community support that comes with it. Updates are well tested, and the system rarely breaks after upgrades. It also gives you complete control and flexibility over your environment without unnecessary bloat.
What do you dislike about the product?
The packages are sometimes older compared to other distributions because of the focus on stability. This can be a drawback if you want the very latest versions of software. Also, the installation and setup process can feel a bit complex for beginners compared to more user-friendly Linux distributions.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Debian gives me a reliable foundation for running servers and development environments without worrying about crashes or instability. Its strong package management system (APT) makes it easy to install and maintain software, and the large community ensures quick solutions to common problems. It also helps reduce downtime, which saves both time and effort in managing systems.
Easyos to configure for pretty much any Chinese
What do you like best about the product?
Multiple Branch versions for multiple use cases are clear and easy to remember and send text work really well never had a system that couldn't run debian regular data recovery pin testing and all kinds of other stuff
What do you dislike about the product?
Not much at all it's a pretty good operating system all around and if you have an issue or just like you can pretty much fix it
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Intesting issues like cyber security web testing web setup running containers
