1. Meta-questions

1.1 In what format is this document written?

This document was written using Linuxdoc-SGML. The Linuxdoc-SGML system can be used to create files in a variety of other formats, e.g., GNU info, HTML, LaTeX, TeX .dvi format, and Postscript (TM) files.

1.2 Where do I get the latest version of this document?

The latest version of this document can be viewed in HTML format at the Debian home page.

It is also available in plain text format at any of the Debian mirrors in the directory doc/FAQ as debian-faq.txt.

The original SGML file used to create this document is available as part of the Debian package called doc-debian_VVV-RRR.deb, where VVV is the latest version number and RRR is the latest revision number. This package is normally stored in the directory Debian-1.1/binary-all/doc. The linuxdoc-sgml package contains tools to transform this document into one or more other formats, as required by the user: GNU info files, HTML, LaTex, TeX .dvi format, and Postscript.

1.3 Where do I send questions, corrections, etc. about this document?

Comments on this document are welcome. Please send Email to debian-faq@debian.org.

1.4 (How) Can I redistribute this file?

This document is copyright 1996 by Software in the Public Interest.

Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of this document provided the copyright notice and this permission notice are preserved on all copies.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this document under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided also that the section entitled ``GNU General Public License'' is included exactly as in the original, and provided that the entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a permission notice identical to this one.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this document into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions, except that the sections entitled ``GNU General Public License'' and this permission notice may be included in translations approved by the Free Software Foundation instead of in the original English.

1.5 What information resources were used to obtain the questions and answers presented here?

This FAQ previously was maintained by J.H.M. Dassen ( jdassen@wi.LeidenUniv.nl) and Chuck Stickelman ( stick@richnet.net).

Parts of the information came from

• The Debian-1.1 release annoucement by Bruce Perens.
• The Linux FAQ by Ian Jackson.
• The Debian Mailing List Archives
• The dpkg programmers' manual, which is incorporated into recent versions of the Debian package known as dpkg.
• The Debian policy manual, which is incorporated into recent versions of the Debian package known as dpkg.
• The many developers, volunteers, and beta testers.
• The flaky memories of its authors.

The authors would like to thank all those who helped make this document possible.