Differences between revisions 140 and 142 (spanning 2 versions)
Revision 140 as of 2012-01-09 01:20:45
Size: 79250
Editor: JustinBRye
Comment: add "pseudo-essential"
Revision 142 as of 2012-04-08 21:28:46
Size: 79010
Editor: JustinBRye
Comment: make wikisyntax more robust
Deletions are marked like this. Additions are marked like this.
Line 3: Line 3:
<<BR>>
Line 18: Line 18:
||<tablestyle="text-align:center;background-color:#ddd;width:100%">Jump to : [[Glossary#A|A]] [[Glossary#B|B]] [[Glossary#C|C]] [[Glossary#D|D]] [[Glossary#E|E]] [[Glossary#F|F]] [[Glossary#G|G]] [[Glossary#H|H]] [[Glossary#I|I]] [[Glossary#J|J]] [[Glossary#K|K]] [[Glossary#L|L]] [[Glossary#M|M]] [[Glossary#N|N]] [[Glossary#O|O]] [[Glossary#P|P]] [[Glossary#Q|Q]] [[Glossary#R|R]] [[Glossary#S|S]] [[Glossary#T|T]] [[Glossary#U|U]] [[Glossary#V|V]] [[Glossary#W|W]] [[Glossary#X|X]] [[Glossary#Y|Y]] [[Glossary#Z|Z]] ''~-Symbols:-~'' [[Glossary#Dot|.(dot)]] ||

## not really used as jargon, let alone being Debian-specific
##<<Anchor(0)>>
##= 0 =
## 0 :: uid 0, see also [[#root|root]]
 
||<tablestyle="text-align:center;background-color:#ddd;width:100%">Jump to: [[#A|A]] [[#B|B]] [[#C|C]] [[#D|D]] [[#E|E]] [[#F|F]] [[#G|G]] [[Glossary#H|H]] [[Glossary#I|I]] [[Glossary#J|J]] [[#K|K]] [[#L|L]] [[#M|M]] [[#N|N]] [[#O|O]] [[#P|P]] [[#Q|Q]] [[#R|R]] [[#S|S]] [[#T|T]] [[#U|U]] [[#V|V]] [[#W|W]] [[#X|X]] [[#Y|Y]] [[#Z|Z]] ''~-Symbols:-~'' [[#Dot|.(dot)]] ||
Line 28: Line 23:
## A11y :: not Debian-specific
Line 63: Line 60:
##
* (Not Debian-specific) A general category of hardware (such as "486" or "little-endian"), or a variant of some piece of software tailored for this hardware; may specifically mean the category as determined by some particular tool, such as [[DebianMan:1/arch|arch]] or [[DebianMan:1/dpkg-architecture|dpkg-architecture]].
 * One of the platforms for which Debian [[#package|package]]s are built, known by labels such as [[#amd64|amd64]] or [[#mipsel|mipsel]], and also differentiated by the OS kernel used - the same hardware (not literally an Intel 386 processor) may dualboot [[#i386|i386]] and [[#kfreebsd-i386|kfreebsd-i386]] architectures. See also [[#port|port]], [[#release-architecture|release architecture]].
  * (Not Debian-specific) A general category of hardware (such as "486" or "little-endian"), or a variant of some piece of software tailored for this hardware; may specifically mean the category as determined by some particular tool, such as [[DebianMan:1/arch|arch]] or [[DebianMan:1/dpkg-architecture|dpkg-architecture]].
  * One of the platforms for which Debian [[#package|package]]s are built, known by labels such as [[#amd64|amd64]] or [[#mipsel|mipsel]], and also differentiated by the OS kernel used - the same hardware (not literally an Intel 386 processor) may dualboot [[#i386|i386]] and [[#kfreebsd-i386|kfreebsd-i386]] architectures. See also [[#port|port]], [[#release-architecture|release architecture]].
Line 68: Line 64:
 Archive :: A set of files:
##
* (Not Debian-specific) A set of items combined into one file, such as a tarball or [[#dotdeb|.deb]] file (technically an [[DebianMan:1/ar|ar]] archive).
 * An organized, searchable collection of files, such as a software repository.
 * Used as a synonym for [[#suite|suite]] by (e.g.) [[DebianPkg:unstable/aptitude|aptitude]] - "`aptitude search '~i?archive(backports)'`").
 Archive :: Can mean:
  * (Not Debian-specific) A set of items combined into one file, such as a tarball or [[#dotdeb|.deb]] file (technically an [[DebianMan:1/ar|ar]] archive).
  * An organized, searchable collection of files, such as a software repository.
  * Used as a synonym for [[#suite|suite]] by (e.g.) [[DebianPkg:unstable/aptitude|aptitude]] - "`aptitude search '~i?archive(backports)'`").
Line 104: Line 99:
##
* Any non-textfile, such as a JPEG format image.
 * Any ELF executable (often used generically to include shellscripts and other non-binary executables normally found in a `bin` directory).
 * The output of a build process - see [[#binary-package|binary package]].
  * Any non-textfile, such as a JPEG format image.
  * Any ELF executable (often used generically to include shellscripts and other non-binary executables normally found in a `bin` directory).
  * The output of a build process - see [[#binary-package|binary package]].
Line 134: Line 128:
 Building ::
##
 *
A [[#wanna-build|wanna-build]] state.
* (Not Debian-specific) A piece of architecture in the non-jargon sense.
 Building :: A [[#wanna-build|wanna-build]] state /* or, a piece of architecture, in the non-Debian-specific non-jargon sense */
Line 165: Line 156:
##
* In various project upstreams, a collection of extra software produced by third parties and included into a distribution "without warranty".
 * in Debian, software that is itself [[#dfsg|DFSG]]-compliant but requires software in [[#non-free|non-free]] to build or run usefully (or the archive [[#area|area]] such software is separated out into).

## for the above the formatting fails if you take out the comment line
## for the following everything just works the way it's supposed to
## that reminds me, I should add an entry for WTF
  * In various project upstreams, a collection of extra software produced by third parties and included into a distribution "without warranty".
  * in Debian, software that is itself [[#dfsg|DFSG]]-compliant but requires software in [[#non-free|non-free]] to build or run usefully (or the archive [[#area|area]] such software is separated out into).
Line 175: Line 161:

* The `control` file included in the `debian` directory of each [[#source-package|source package]] contains dependency information required to build the package, and has separate stanzas containing further information for each [[#binary-package|binary-package]].
 * The `control` file included in the `DEBIAN` directory of each binary [[#dotdeb|.deb]] (formed from the corresponding stanza in the source `control` file) contains dependency information required to install the package, plus the package description etc.
 * Any "control file"; that is, any file with the same multi-field syntax as the above - for instance, [[#dotdsc|.dsc]] files are also counted as control files.
  * The `control` file included in the `debian` directory of each [[#source-package|source package]] contains dependency information required to build the package, and has separate stanzas containing further information for each [[#binary-package|binary-package]].
  * The `control` file included in the `DEBIAN` directory of each binary [[#dotdeb|.deb]] (formed from the corresponding stanza in the source `control` file) contains dependency information required to install the package, plus the package description etc.
  * Any "control file"; that is, any file with the same multi-field syntax as the above - for instance, [[#dotdsc|.dsc]] files are also counted as control files.
Line 185: Line 170:
##
* The highest [[#rc|RC]] bug [[#severity|severity]].
 * The highest [[#upload|upload]] [[#urgency|urgency]] level, synonymous with [[#emergency|emergency]].
  * The highest [[#rc|RC]] bug [[#severity|severity]].
  * The highest [[#upload|upload]] [[#urgency|urgency]] level, synonymous with [[#emergency|emergency]].
Line 215: Line 199:
##
* `debconf`, a ([[DebianPkg:unstable/debconf|package]] providing a) [[DebianMan:1/debconf|utility]] for performing configuration tasks, closely integrated with [[DebianPkg:unstable/dpkg|dpkg]].
 * DebConf, the Debian Project's annual convention; see [[http://www.debconf.org/|debconf.org]].
  * `debconf`, a ([[DebianPkg:unstable/debconf|package]] providing a) [[DebianMan:1/debconf|utility]] for performing configuration tasks, closely integrated with [[DebianPkg:unstable/dpkg|dpkg]].
  * DebConf, the Debian Project's annual convention; see [[http://www.debconf.org/|debconf.org]].
Line 268: Line 251:
 Deferred :: A set of [[http://ftp-master.debian.org/deferred.html|queues]] on [[#ftp-master|ftp-master]] where the queue daemon stores [[#package|package]]s that were [[#upload|upload]]ed to the corresponding [[#delayed|delayed]] queue - see [[ftp://ftp-master.debian.org/pub/UploadQueue/README|README]].
##
so named "to avoid confusion", which confuses me
 Deferred :: A set of [[http://ftp-master.debian.org/deferred.html|queues]] on [[#ftp-master|ftp-master]] where the queue daemon stores [[#package|package]]s that were [[#upload|upload]]ed to the corresponding [[#delayed|delayed]] queue - see [[ftp://ftp-master.debian.org/pub/UploadQueue/README|README]]. /* so named "to avoid confusion", which confuses me */
Line 293: Line 275:
 DEX :: Short for the [[DEX|Debian Derivatives Exchange Project]].
## short and slightly twisted
 DEX :: Short /* and twisted */ for the [[DEX|Debian Derivatives Exchange Project]].
Line 304: Line 285:
##
* (Not Debian-specific) The complete set of software from one upstream project, considered as a unit. MacTeX is a TeX distribution, for instance, whereas NetBSD is a full Operating System distribution. This is the sense (often abbreviated "distro") in which Debian is "a distribution".
 * A [[#suite|suite]] within the Debian repositories capable of providing a fully functional OS on its own, unlike the supplementary ones such as "[[#testing-security|testing-security]]". This is the sense in which [[#stable|stable]] is "a distribution".
 * Used more generally (e.g. in [[DebianMan:5/sources.list|sources.list(5)]]) as a synonym for [[#suite|suite]]; hence [[#source|source]] URLs which put `http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/experimental/` alongside all the other `dists`.
  * (Not Debian-specific) The complete set of software from one upstream project, considered as a unit. MacTeX is a TeX distribution, for instance, whereas NetBSD is a full Operating System distribution. This is the sense (often abbreviated "distro") in which Debian is "a distribution".
  * A [[#suite|suite]] within the Debian repositories capable of providing a fully functional OS on its own, unlike the supplementary ones such as "[[#testing-security|testing-security]]". This is the sense in which [[#stable|stable]] is "a distribution".
  * Used more generally (e.g. in [[DebianMan:5/sources.list|sources.list(5)]]) as a synonym for [[#suite|suite]]; hence [[#source|source]] URLs which put `http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/experimental/` alongside all the other `dists`.
Line 310: Line 290:
 Dist-upgrade ::
##
* In Debian [[#package-management|package management]], the process of migrating a whole system from one [[#release|release]] to the next (dist-upgrades skipping a release are not supported).
 * In [[DebianPkg:unstable/apt|apt]] specifically, an action that makes relatively aggressive (but intelligent) attempts to bring the system fully up to date, even if this requires some changes to the list of installed packages (that is, it may automatically [[#install|install]], [[#remove|remove]], or replace packages). Compare plain [[#upgrade|upgrade]], and [[DebianPkg:unstable/aptitude|aptitude]]'s [[#full-upgrade|full-upgrade]].
 Dist-upgrade :: a major upgrade:
  * In Debian [[#package-management|package management]], the process of migrating a whole system from one [[#release|release]] to the next (dist-upgrades skipping a release are not supported).
  * In [[DebianPkg:unstable/apt|apt]] specifically, an action that makes relatively aggressive (but intelligent) attempts to bring the system fully up to date, even if this requires some changes to the list of installed packages (that is, it may automatically [[#install|install]], [[#remove|remove]], or replace packages). Compare plain [[#upgrade|upgrade]], and [[DebianPkg:unstable/aptitude|aptitude]]'s [[#full-upgrade|full-upgrade]].
Line 389: Line 368:
##
* The [[http://ftp-master.debian.org|ftp-master]] server, the primary copy of the Debian archive.
 * The [[Teams/FTPMaster|FTPMaster team]] that looks after this server, doing tasks such as checking the [[#new|NEW]] queue.
 * Senior members of this team also rank as "FTP Masters".
## I wonder which came first - the master-archives or the archive-masters?
  * The [[http://ftp-master.debian.org|ftp-master]] server, the primary copy of the Debian archive.
  * The [[Teams/FTPMaster|FTPMaster team]] that looks after this server, doing tasks such as checking the [[#new|NEW]] queue.
  * Senior members of this team also rank as "FTP Masters".
/* which came first - the master-archives or the archive-masters? */
Line 432: Line 410:
## I18n :: not Debian-specific
Line 449: Line 429:
##
* The highest non-[[#rc|RC]] bug [[#severity|severity]].
 * The second-highest package [[#priority|priority]].
  * The highest non-[[#rc|RC]] bug [[#severity|severity]].
  * The second-highest package [[#priority|priority]].
Line 454: Line 433:
 Install ::
##
* To set up an Operating System (e.g. with [[#debian-installer|Debian-Installer]]), or otherwise introduce software onto a system. Examples include installing a bootable image to your boot-sector, a homebrew kernel in `/boot`, or a shellscript in `/usr/local/sbin`. The Debian system is designed to permit various forms of local installation performed outside the package database, but you have to keep track of them yourself.
 * In Debian [[#package-management|package management]], to put a [[#binary-package|binary package]] onto a system in a way that registers it with the package database. Note that the package management system sees package [[#upgrade|upgrade]]s as a subcategory of installs.
 * In [[#apt|APT]] (or front-ends), a particular action. Note however that `install` and `remove` can each be used to perform the opposite function, if given an appropriate suffix (e.g.: `apt-get install foo- bar-` will [[#remove|remove]] packages `foo` and `bar`).
 Install :: In terms of software, can mean:
  * To set up an Operating System (e.g. with [[#debian-installer|Debian-Installer]]), or otherwise introduce software onto a system. Examples include installing a bootable image to your boot-sector, a homebrew kernel in `/boot`, or a shellscript in `/usr/local/sbin`. The Debian system is designed to permit various forms of local installation performed outside the package database, but you have to keep track of them yourself.
  * In Debian [[#package-management|package management]], to put a [[#binary-package|binary package]] onto a system in a way that registers it with the package database. Note that the package management system sees package [[#upgrade|upgrade]]s as a subcategory of installs.
  * In [[#apt|APT]] (or front-ends), a particular action. Note however that `install` and `remove` can each be used to perform the opposite function, if given an appropriate suffix (e.g.: `apt-get install foo- bar-` will [[#remove|remove]] packages `foo` and `bar`).
Line 465: Line 443:
## among other things (Interactive Polynomial, Inflectional Phrase, Iraqi Police...)
 * Internet Protocol, the primary communications protocol on the net.
* Internet Protocol address (as in "what's your IP?").
 * Instruction Pointer address (as in "segfault at ip 000000000000dead").
 * Intellectual Property, the intangible assets covered by copyright/licensing/patent/trademark law.
  * Internet Protocol, the primary communications protocol on the net.
  * Internet Protocol address (as in "what's your IP?").
  * Instruction Pointer address (as in "segfault at ip 000000000000dead").
  * Intellectual Property, the intangible assets covered by copyright/licensing/patent/trademark law.
/* among other things (Interactive Polynomial, Inflectional Phrase, Iraqi Police...) */
Line 485: Line 463:
##is for jargon
/* I
s for jargon */
Line 507: Line 486:
## but i18n, a11y etc aren't Debian-specific so don't give them entries here
Line 513: Line 491:
## Lexicographer :: A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge that busies himself in tracing the original and detailing the signification of words. /* Lexicographer - A writer of dictionaries; a harmless drudge that busies himself in tracing the original, and detailing the signification of words. */
Line 519: Line 497:
 Low :: The default [[#upload|upload]] [[#urgency|urgency]] level.
##
included here only because low=normal isn't obvious
 Low :: The default [[#upload|upload]] [[#urgency|urgency]] level. /* included here only because low=normal isn't obvious */
Line 545: Line 522:
 Mentee :: An occasionally seen word for "an individual being [[#mentor|mentor]]ed". This term, like [[#sponsee|sponsee]], may trigger responses of "that's not even a word" in some speakers (though alternatives like "mentoree" aren't much safer).  Mentee :: An occasionally seen word for "an individual being [[#mentor|mentor]]ed". This term, like [[#sponsee|sponsee]], may trigger responses of "that's not even a word" (though alternatives like "mentoree" aren't much safer).
Line 551: Line 528:
 Metapackage :: A [[#dependency-package|dependency package]] designed to automatically pull in a family of packages; may function as a shortcut to simplify installation of a full desktop environment. Sometimes hyphenated ("meta-package"), sometimes used as a synonym for plain [[#dependency-package|dependency package]].
##
but writing it as two words makes it the adjective "meta", which has the wrong meaning
 Metapackage :: A [[#dependency-package|dependency package]] designed to automatically pull in a family of packages; may function as a shortcut to simplify installation of a full desktop environment. Sometimes hyphenated ("meta-package"), sometimes used as a synonym for plain [[#dependency-package|dependency package]]. /* but writing it as two words makes it the adjective "meta", which has the wrong meaning */
Line 584: Line 560:
<<Anchor(new-maintainer)>>
 New Maintainer :: See [[#new-member|New Member]]
Line 615: Line 594:
 Obsolete ::
##
* In [[DebianMan:1/aptitude|aptitude]] (e.g. `aptitude search ?obsolete`), any currently installed package which is not available (in any version) from any known archive. This usually means that the system has [[#dist-upgrade|dist-upgrade]]d to a new [[#stable|stable]] [[#release|release]] that no longer contains that package. [[#transition-package|Transition package]]s don't register as obsolete in this sense.
 * Also used to refer to automatically installed packages that are no longer needed (such as [[#orphan|orphan]] libraries) and would be candidates for autoremoval.
 Obsolete :: Can mean:
  * In [[DebianMan:1/aptitude|aptitude]] (e.g. `aptitude search ?obsolete`), any currently installed package which is not available (in any version) from any known archive. This usually means that the system has [[#dist-upgrade|dist-upgrade]]d to a new [[#stable|stable]] [[#release|release]] that no longer contains that package. [[#transition-package|Transition package]]s don't register as obsolete in this sense.
  * Also used to refer to automatically installed packages that are no longer needed (such as [[#orphan|orphan]] libraries) and would be candidates for autoremoval.
Line 647: Line 625:
 Package ::
##
* (In Java, TeX, etc.) A unit of software with a single shared namespace.
 * (In Debian) See [[#binary-package|binary package]] or [[#source-package|source package]].
 Package :: Can mean:
  * (In Java, TeX, etc.) A unit of software with a single shared namespace.
  * (In Debian) See [[#binary-package|binary package]] or [[#source-package|source package]].
Line 686: Line 663:
 Port ::
##
* (Not Debian-specific) A physical hardware interface.
 * (Not Debian-specific) A TCP networking endpoint identified by port number.
 * (Not Debian-specific) A platform that software has been converted to run on.
 * A hardware/OS kernel combo for which some effort has been made to render Debian installable. See [[#architecture|architecture]], [[#debports|debports]], [[http://www.debian.org/ports|Debian ports pages]].
 Port :: Can mean:
  * (Not Debian-specific) A physical hardware interface.
  * (Not Debian-specific) A TCP networking endpoint identified by port number.
  * (Not Debian-specific) A platform that software has been converted to run on.
  * A hardware/OS kernel combo for which some effort has been made to render Debian installable. See [[#architecture|architecture]], [[#debports|debports]], [[http://www.debian.org/ports|Debian ports pages]].
Line 735: Line 711:
##
* Short for "Release Candidate", in version strings (v1.9~rc5 comes before v1.9).
 * Short for "[[#release-critical|Release-Critical]]" in the [[#bts|BTS]].
 * Short for "Radio Controlled"; one of the few original Toy Story character names never to have been adopted as a Debian [[#release|release]] codename (it was a little buggy).
 * In a filename such as `~/.bashrc`, indicates a type of [[#configuration-file|configuration-file]] - usually interpreted as short for "runtime configuration", but apparently inspired by the following.
 * In the [[DebianPkg:unstable/sysv-rc|sysv-rc]] system, indicates a type of set-up script (in `/etc/rc*.d`) - usually interpreted as short for "[[RunLevel|runlevel]] configuration", but apparently inspired by the following.
 * In the MIT Compatible Time-Sharing System back in the sixties, "runcom files".
  * Short for "Release Candidate", in version strings (v1.9~rc5 comes before v1.9).
  * Short for "[[#release-critical|Release-Critical]]" in the [[#bts|BTS]].
  * Short for "Radio Controlled"; one of the few original Toy Story character names never to have been adopted as a Debian [[#release|release]] codename (it was a little buggy).
  * In a filename such as `~/.bashrc`, indicates a type of [[#configuration-file|configuration-file]] - usually interpreted as short for "runtime configuration", but apparently inspired by the following.
  * In the [[DebianPkg:unstable/sysv-rc|sysv-rc]] system, indicates a type of set-up script (in `/etc/rc*.d`) - usually interpreted as short for "[[RunLevel|runlevel]] configuration", but apparently inspired by the following.
  * In the MIT Compatible Time-Sharing System back in the sixties, "runcom files".
Line 748: Line 723:
##
* The occasion of a new [[#stable|stable]] version of Debian being declared ready for production use.
 * A [[#suite|suite]] that has been or is going to be released; more generally, a synonym for [[#suite|suite]] - even [[#sid|sid]] has a `Release` file and is traditionally (if oxymoronically) referred to as "the unstable release".
  * The occasion of a new [[#stable|stable]] version of Debian being declared ready for production use.
  * A [[#suite|suite]] that has been or is going to be released; more generally, a synonym for [[#suite|suite]] - even [[#sid|sid]] has a `Release` file and is traditionally (if oxymoronically) referred to as "the unstable release".
Line 753: Line 727:
 Release Architecture :: An [[#architecture|architecture]] supported as part of a stable [[#release|release]]; [[#port|port]]s qualify for this status when their autobuilders prove capable of "keeping up" and successfully building a sufficient proportion of the archive.
##
citation needed; where is this documented?
 Release Architecture :: An [[#architecture|architecture]] supported as part of a stable [[#release|release]]; [[#port|port]]s qualify for this status when their autobuilders prove capable of "keeping up" and successfully building a sufficient proportion of the archive. /* citation needed; where is this documented? */
Line 760: Line 733:
 Remove ::
##
* To delete a [[#package|package]] from the archives - see [[#rm|RM]].
 * In Debian [[#package-management|package management]], to uninstall a package, especially in a fashion that leaves behind [[#conffile|conffile]]s (thus if you remove and then reinstall a package you won't lose your custom setup). See [[#purge|purge]].
 * In [[#apt|APT]] (or front-ends), a particular action. Note however that `install` and `remove` can each be used to perform the opposite function, if given an appropriate suffix (e.g.: `apt-get remove foo+ bar+` will [[#install|install]] packages `foo` and `bar`).
 Remove :: Can mean:
  * To delete a [[#package|package]] from the archives - see [[#rm|RM]].
  * In Debian [[#package-management|package management]], to uninstall a package, especially in a fashion that leaves behind [[#conffile|conffile]]s (thus if you remove and then reinstall a package you won't lose your custom setup). See [[#purge|purge]].
  * In [[#apt|APT]] (or front-ends), a particular action. Note however that `install` and `remove` can each be used to perform the opposite function, if given an appropriate suffix (e.g.: `apt-get remove foo+ bar+` will [[#install|install]] packages `foo` and `bar`).
Line 779: Line 751:
## RfB :: Short for "Request for Boot"; used by the [[#debian-systems-administration|DSA team]] when a machine has crashed and needs to be rebooted by the site admin.
## s
een in acronym lists but not detectably in real use; not to be confused with the (ex)package rfb
/* RfB - Short for "Request for Boot"; used by the [[#debian-systems-administration|DSA team]] when a machine has crashed and needs to be rebooted by the site admin. (Seen in acronym lists but not detectably in real use; not to be confused with the (ex)package rfb) */
Line 791: Line 762:
<<Anchor(rfs)>>
 RFS :: Short for "Request For [[#sponsor|Sponsor]]". See DebianMentorsFaq and [[http://mentors.debian.net/|mentors.debian.net]].
Line 802: Line 776:
##
* The root directory (`/`) is the top level directory of the [[#file-system-hierarchy|file system hierarchy]] - the part of the "directory tree" that everything else connects to.
 * The root file system is the primary mountpoint everything else is attached to; it contains the root directory, plus various other essential directories such as `/bin` and `/lib`, and may or may not include others such as `/var` or `/home`.
 * The root user (uid 0) is the so-called "superuser", with unlimited privileges - equivalent to the "Administrator" on some other operating systems. (This name might lead you to expect users to be arranged in some sort of organizational tree structure, but it just means that the superuser can modify the root directory.)
 * The root window is the desktop background, the element of the graphical environment that all other windows are defined relative to. (Thus "root tile" as a synonym for "desktop wallpaper".)
 * The root zone is the core of the DNS system, where the nameservers that are authoritative for Top Level Domains (the "root nameservers") live.
 * The directory `/root` is the home directory of the root user, housed on the root file system. Not to be confused with the root directory as defined above.
##
  * The root directory (`/`) is the top level directory of the [[#file-system-hierarchy|file system hierarchy]] - the part of the "directory tree" that everything else connects to.
  * The root file system is the primary mountpoint everything else is attached to; it contains the root directory, plus various other essential directories such as `/bin` and `/lib`, and may or may not include others such as `/var` or `/home`.
  * The root user (uid 0) is the so-called "superuser", with unlimited privileges - equivalent to the "Administrator" on some other operating systems. (This name might lead you to expect users to be arranged in some sort of organizational tree structure, but it just means that the superuser can modify the root directory.)
  * The root window is the desktop background, the element of the graphical environment that all other windows are defined relative to. (Thus "root tile" as a synonym for "desktop wallpaper".)
  * The root zone is the core of the DNS system, where the nameservers that are authoritative for Top Level Domains (the "root nameservers") live.
  * The directory `/root` is the home directory of the root user, housed on the root file system. Not to be confused with the root directory as defined above.
Line 846: Line 818:
 Section ::
##
* A notional subdivision of the Debian repositories into functional categories such as "admin", "kde", and "video".
 * Also sometimes used as a synonym for archive [[#area|area]].
 Section :: Can mean:
  * A notional subdivision of the Debian repositories into functional categories such as "admin", "kde", and "video".
  * Also sometimes used as a synonym for archive [[#area|area]].
Line 865: Line 836:
##
* Short for SHared LIBrarieS - that is, dynamically loadable subroutines compiled into object files so that a single copy loaded into memory can be accessed by as many different processes as need it. Normally have the file extension `.so`, followed by interface-version numbers.
 * A special file defined in [[http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-sharedlibs.html|Debian Policy]] for tracking shared library dependencies.
  * Short for SHared LIBrarieS - that is, dynamically loadable subroutines compiled into object files so that a single copy loaded into memory can be accessed by as many different processes as need it. Normally have the file extension `.so`, followed by interface-version numbers.
  * A special file defined in [[http://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-sharedlibs.html|Debian Policy]] for tracking shared library dependencies.
Line 876: Line 846:
 Source ::
##
* A package origin defined by a line in [[DebianMan:5/sources.list|sources.list]].
 * A [[DebianMan:1/bash|bash]] builtin that executes commands from a file.
 * Compilable code, the input of a build process - see [[#source-package|source package]].
 Source :: Can mean:
  * A package origin defined by a line in [[DebianMan:5/sources.list|sources.list]].
  * A [[DebianMan:1/bash|bash]] builtin that executes commands from a file.
  * Compilable code, the input of a build process - see [[#source-package|source package]].
Line 886: Line 855:
 Source package ::
##
* A unit of upstream software (with a single build system), which may correspond to several separate [[#binary-package|binary package]]s within Debian.
 * The bundle of files ([[#dotdsc|.dsc]] file, upstream tarball, etc) used as input to the package-building process.
 Source package :: Can mean:
  * A unit of upstream software (with a single build system), which may correspond to several separate [[#binary-package|binary package]]s within Debian.
  * The bundle of files ([[#dotdsc|.dsc]] file, upstream tarball, etc) used as input to the package-building process.
Line 901: Line 869:
 Sponsee :: An occasionally seen word for "an individual being [[#sponsor|sponsor]]ed". This term, like [[#mentee|mentee]], may trigger responses of "that's not even a word" in some speakers (though alternatives like "sponsoree" aren't much safer).  Sponsee :: An occasionally seen word for "an individual being [[#sponsor|sponsor]]ed". This term, like [[#mentee|mentee]], may trigger responses of "that's not even a word" (though alternatives like "sponsoree" aren't much safer).
Line 922: Line 890:
 Suite ::
##
* A set of closely integrated packages (often multiple [[#source-package|source package]]s), such as an "office suite".
 * Used in `Release` files and elsewhere to mean a repository holding one particular "branch" of Debian's development process - [[#unstable|unstable]], [[#testing|testing]], and so on. Compare [[#archive|archive]], [[#distribution|distribution]], [[#release|release]].
 Suite :: Can mean:
  * A set of closely integrated packages (often multiple [[#source-package|source package]]s), such as an "office suite".
  * Used in `Release` files and elsewhere to mean a repository holding one particular "branch" of Debian's development process - [[#unstable|unstable]], [[#testing|testing]], and so on. Compare [[#archive|archive]], [[#distribution|distribution]], [[#release|release]].
Line 961: Line 928:
 Unstable :: The [[DebianUnstable|unstable]] [[#distribution|distribution]] is where you can find the latest packages introduced into the Debian system.
##
unless you're counting experimental, or incoming, or debcheckout, or...
 Unstable :: The [[DebianUnstable|unstable]] [[#distribution|distribution]] is where you can find the latest packages introduced into the Debian system. /* unless you count experimental, or incoming, or debcheckout, or... */
Line 968: Line 934:
 Upgrade ::
##
* In Debian [[#package-management|package management]], the process of installing the newest versions of a set of [[#binary-package|binary package]]s (by default, all packages that have newer candidates available).
 * In [[DebianPkg:unstable/apt|apt]] specifically, the kind of upgrade that only fetches and installs new versions of packages, without changing the list of installed packages (so for instance a package whose new version has extra dependencies would be left unupgraded). Compare [[#dist-upgrade|dist-upgrade]], and [[DebianPkg:unstable/aptitude|aptitude]]'s [[#safe-upgrade|safe-upgrade]].
 Upgrade :: Can mean:
  * In Debian [[#package-management|package management]], the process of installing the newest versions of a set of [[#binary-package|binary package]]s (by default, all packages that have newer candidates available).
  * In [[DebianPkg:unstable/apt|apt]] specifically, the kind of upgrade that only fetches and installs new versions of packages, without changing the list of installed packages (so for instance a package whose new version has extra dependencies would be left unupgraded). Compare [[#dist-upgrade|dist-upgrade]], and [[DebianPkg:unstable/aptitude|aptitude]]'s [[#safe-upgrade|safe-upgrade]].
Line 987: Line 952:
##
* An actual human being currently logged into the system.
 * Any service recipient (including for instance remote processes accessing a web server).
 * An account, which may belong to a user in the first sense or just be a "system" account.
 * In [[DebianMan:1/chmod|chmod(1)]], the specific user (in the above sense) with ownership of a file.
 * Any normal, unprivileged account (thus "as a user" versus "as [[#root|root]]").
 * Any normal, non-technical human user, likely also to be a user in the above sense.
##
The name of the top-level `/usr` directory was also originally short for "user" (since at the time home directories lived there).
##
"Universal System Resources", "Unix Source Repository", and so on are folk etymology
  * An actual human being currently logged into the system.
  * Any service recipient (including for instance remote processes accessing a web server).
  * An account, which may belong to a user in the first sense or just be a "system" account.
  * In [[DebianMan:1/chmod|chmod(1)]], the specific user (in the above sense) with ownership of a file.
  * Any normal, unprivileged account (thus "as a user" versus "as [[#root|root]]").
  * Any normal, non-technical human user, likely also to be a user in the above sense.
 The name of the top-level `/usr` directory was also originally short for "user" (since at the time home directories lived there). /* "Universal System Resources", "Unix Source Repository", and so on are folk etymologies */

Debian_Jargon-160x160.png

Debian Glossary Only.

If you don't find the entry you wanted below, check

Or you can add it yourself. If you can't define it yourself you can put ToDo instead, but always check the sites mentioned above - if it isn't Debian-specific, an existing definition elsewhere is likely to be more helpful.

Jump to: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Symbols: .(dot)

A

Adoption

The process of taking over as maintainer of a package that has been orphaned or tagged RFA.

Advocate

A Debian member who advocates an application. Advocates should know the applicant fairly well and should be able to give an overview of the applicant's work, interests, and plans. Advocates are often the sponsors of an applicant.

Alioth

Alioth is a collaborative development environment based on the FusionForge software as a service for the Debian project and community.

Alioth (guest) account

To contribute to a project hosted on Alioth, register for a guest account, then ask to have that account given commit rights.

Alpha

A port (formerly a release architecture and still available via debports) using the Linux kernel on (Compaq/Digital) Alpha hardware.

AM

See Application Manager.

Amd64

A port (and release architecture in squeeze) using the Linux kernel on 64bit PCs - technically x86-64 or AMD64 or Intel64, nontechnically most new consumer PCs.

ANAIS

Short for "Architecture Not Allowed In Source"; used in bug reports for package removal, usually indicating that the number of architectures for which the package is to be built has been reduced. Nothing to do with the name Anaïs (cf. britney etc.).

Applicant

A person requesting membership in the Debian project; prospective Debian developer.

Application Manager (AM)

A Debian member who is assigned to an applicant to collect the information needed by the Debian account managers to decide about an application. One application manager can be assigned to more than one applicant. Nothing to do with software applications or package management.

APT

Debian's Advanced Package Tool (or perhaps Advanced Packaging Tool - neither is "official"), a package management library that handles fetching the list of packages, resolving package dependencies, etc. It then uses dpkg to perform the actual package installation, removal, etc. The package apt provides the commandline tools apt-get and apt-cache, but other APT front-ends exist such as aptitude and synaptic.

Architecture
The type of system a piece of software is built for:
  • (Not Debian-specific) A general category of hardware (such as "486" or "little-endian"), or a variant of some piece of software tailored for this hardware; may specifically mean the category as determined by some particular tool, such as arch or dpkg-architecture.

  • One of the platforms for which Debian packages are built, known by labels such as amd64 or mipsel, and also differentiated by the OS kernel used - the same hardware (not literally an Intel 386 processor) may dualboot i386 and kfreebsd-i386 architectures. See also port, release architecture.

Archive
Can mean:
  • (Not Debian-specific) A set of items combined into one file, such as a tarball or .deb file (technically an ar archive).

  • An organized, searchable collection of files, such as a software repository.
  • Used as a synonym for suite by (e.g.) aptitude - "aptitude search '~i?archive(backports)'").

Area

The term used in Debian Policy for the main, contrib, and non-free divisions of the repositories (also known as components).

Arm

A port (superseded by armel and no longer maintained) using the Linux kernel on ARM/StrongARM hardware, a CPU type originally created for the Acorn Archimedes (standing for Acorn RISC Machine).

Armel

A port (and release architecture in squeeze) using the Linux kernel on little-endian ARM/StrongARM chips, now common in embedded/mobile devices.

Armhf

A new port (and prospective release architecture in wheezy) using the Linux kernel on newer armel-style hardware with an FPU. Explicitly targetting version 7 of the ARM architecture, using the hard-float version of the ARM EABI.

Avr32

A (work-in-progress) port (not yet a release architecture but available via debports) using the Linux kernel on Atmel's 32-bit RISC architecture.

B

Backports

Backports are versions of packages from testing and unstable that have been rebuilt to be able to install and run on the stable distribution; especially those hosted on backports.debian.org.

Base system

Binary packages with priority required or important; a minimalist set of packages installed before everything else on a new system. Designed to provide just the things you'd be surprised to find missing on a usable UNIX system. Not to be confused with essential, which is much smaller.

BD-Uninstallable

A wanna-build state.

Binary
Several potentially confusing (but not Debian-specific) meanings:
  • Any non-textfile, such as a JPEG format image.
  • Any ELF executable (often used generically to include shellscripts and other non-binary executables normally found in a bin directory).

  • The output of a build process - see binary package.

Binary package

An installable .deb file as opposed to the source package it's built from. The idea is that this is the "binary" compiled in the package building process (regardless of whether the output .deb contains a binary executable, documentation, or indeed Linux kernel source code). See also Virtual package.

BinNMU

A binary(-package)-only Non-Maintainer Upload, often used in porting - see binNMU.

Bo

The codename for Debian 1.3, release date: 1997.

BoF

Short for "Birds of a Feather"; a common type of discussion session held at DebConf.

Britney

The set of scripts that manages the migration of packages into testing. Originally it was one of many similar FTPmaster scripts with names like katie and madison, most of which have since been swallowed up by DAK.

BSP

Short for "Bug Squashing Party"; a get-together of Debian enthusiasts (either virtual or In Real Life) for the purpose of fixing as many bugs as possible.

BTS

Short for "Bug Tracking System"

BTS-link

A system for synchronizing bug status in the Debian BTS with external bug tracking systems like Bugzilla. See this mail.

Building

A wanna-build state

Build-essential

The only package that's literally essential for building a Debian binary package is make (because Policy mandates the use of a Makefile), but the "build-essential" toolkit is a convenient short-cut: a standard set of packages defined to be required for all "normal" Debian packaging work, which can therefore be omitted from lists of build dependencies as obvious, just as essential packages are omitted from install-time dependencies.

Buzz

The codename for Debian 1.1, release date: 1996.

BYHAND

The queue on ftp-master (alongside NEW) for uploads that need special manual handling, such as D-I images.

C

CDBS

Short for "Common Debian Build System" (provided by cdbs).

Component

The term used in sources.list(5) for the main, contrib, and non-free archive areas.

Conffile

A technical term defined in Policy; a file declared in a binary package's conffiles file is treated specially by dpkg to ensure that local modifications are not blindly overwritten by a package upgrade or deleted by a remove. Conffiles are (always?) stored in /etc, and are often conventional global configuration files but may also be initscripts, cronjobs, or similar.

Configuration file

Any file affecting the operation of a program, or providing site- or host-specific information, or otherwise customizing a program's behavior. May or may not be system-wide, or in an intelligible line-oriented text format, or marked as a conffile. Personal configuration files are traditionally stored as dotfiles in the home directory (see also rc-file).

Contrib
Additional, external software, in either of two senses:
  • In various project upstreams, a collection of extra software produced by third parties and included into a distribution "without warranty".
  • in Debian, software that is itself DFSG-compliant but requires software in non-free to build or run usefully (or the archive area such software is separated out into).

Control file

As defined in Debian Policy:

  • The control file included in the debian directory of each source package contains dependency information required to build the package, and has separate stanzas containing further information for each binary-package.

  • The control file included in the DEBIAN directory of each binary .deb (formed from the corresponding stanza in the source control file) contains dependency information required to install the package, plus the package description etc.

  • Any "control file"; that is, any file with the same multi-field syntax as the above - for instance, .dsc files are also counted as control files.

Custom Debian Distribution (CDD)

The old name for a subset of Debian configured to support a particular target group out-of-the-box. Now known as Debian Pure Blends.

Critical
Has two related Debian-specific meanings:

D

Dak

(Short for "Debian Archive Kit") The toolset used to manage the Debian repositories - see DakHowTo.

DAM

Short for "Debian Account Manager".

DD

Short for "Debian Developer".

DDE

Short for "Debian Data Export".

DDP

Short for the "Debian Documentation Project".

DDPO

The Debian Developer's Packages Overview, which lists the packages maintained by a Debian Developer or Team.

DebCamp

See DebCamp; the hacking session right before DebConf.

Debconf
Two things distinguished by capitalization:

Debian Account

Typically the login account of a Debian Developer, but sometimes also used to refer to a Debian Maintainer account. See also Alioth account.

Debian Account Manager (DAM)

A Debian member who has been delegated by the Debian project leader to manage Debian account creation and removal. The DAM has the final decision over an application.

Debian Contributor

A general term for active members of the Debian community, whether or not they have DD status; sometimes used to mean the status of a non-uploading DD (as recognized by general resolution).

Debian Data Export (DDE)

A web interface giving access to Debian data in various formats. See DDE, ProjectB, UDD.

Debian Developer (DD)

A Debian Project member who has gone through the New-Member process and had their application accepted is called a Debian Developer.

Debian Documentation Project

A Debian sub-project covering various documentation issues. See webpages.

Debian Installer (D-I)

Debian Installer is the software used to initially install Debian on your hard disk. This should not be confused with the software used to install additional packages on a running Debian system (see APT).

Debian Maintainer (DM)

The status of a person who has passed the Debian Maintainer process. A Debian Maintainer is granted some rights over packages - in particular, the right to upload packages to the Debian archives. DMs aren't voting members of the Debian Project. See also Debian Developer, Alioth account. Not to be confused with the role of package Maintainer.

Debian Member

Full members of the Debian Project are referred to as Debian Project Member.

Debian Policy Manual
The document that describes what packages should contain, how they should be configured, and generally how packages fit together to create a Debian system.

Debian Project

An organization of free software developers spread around the world with a common goal: to produce a completely free operating system. See the Debian web pages for more information.

Debian Project Leader (DPL)

The official representative of the Debian Project to the outside world, with internal managerial and coordinatory duties; elected annually. See http://www.debian.org/devel/leader.

Debian Pure Blends

A subset of Debian that is configured to support a particular target group out-of-the-box. Debian Pure Blends were formerly known as Custom Debian Distributions (CDD).

Debian Security Advisory (DSA)

A warning message sent to the debian-security-announce mailinglist about a security alert for Debian software with available fixes. Not to be confused with the DSA team.

Debian System Administrators (DSA)

The Debian System Administrators team, who handle the basic infrastructure of the project. Not to be confused with DSA messages.

Debports

debian-ports.org, a site hosting ports that do not currently qualify as official release architectures and are not yet (or no longer) integrated into the main archives.

Deferred

A set of queues on ftp-master where the queue daemon stores packages that were uploaded to the corresponding delayed queue - see README.

DEHS

Short for "Debian External Health Status".

Delayed

A set of directories on ftp-master (ranging from "0-day" to "15-day") that receive uploads not intended for immediate processing, usually to give the package's maintainer an opportunity to check the acceptability of an NMU before it goes into the archive. Compare deferred.

DEP

Short for "Debian Enhancement Proposal", an RFC-like mechanism for planning efforts within the Debian Project.

Dependency-based boot

A scheme, standard since squeeze, for organizing initscripts; "dependency-based" here means checking for things like networking and mounted file systems, not package installation relationships.

Dependency package

An empty binary package that exists only for the sake of its declared dependencies on other packages, for instance to keep the current default version of gcc installed. See metapackage and transition-package for other common types.

Dep-wait

(Plus more rarely dep-wait-removed) A wanna-build state.

Derivative

A term with various senses in finance, IP law, etc., but used in Debian for "child" distributions like Ubuntu; see the DerivativesFrontDesk.

DEX

Short for the Debian Derivatives Exchange Project.

DFSG

Short for the "Debian Free Software Guidelines"; the rules of thumb included in the Debian Social Contract that can be used to judge whether material counts for the project's purposes as free. The string dfsg is often appended to package names and version-strings to indicate that the upstream version has been slightly modified to allow it to stay in main.

D-I

See Debian-Installer.

Distribution (distro, dist)
  • (Not Debian-specific) The complete set of software from one upstream project, considered as a unit. MacTeX is a TeX distribution, for instance, whereas NetBSD is a full Operating System distribution. This is the sense (often abbreviated "distro") in which Debian is "a distribution".
  • A suite within the Debian repositories capable of providing a fully functional OS on its own, unlike the supplementary ones such as "testing-security". This is the sense in which stable is "a distribution".

  • Used more generally (e.g. in sources.list(5)) as a synonym for suite; hence source URLs which put http://ftp.debian.org/debian/dists/experimental/ alongside all the other dists.

Dist-upgrade
a major upgrade:
  • In Debian package management, the process of migrating a whole system from one release to the next (dist-upgrades skipping a release are not supported).

  • In apt specifically, an action that makes relatively aggressive (but intelligent) attempts to bring the system fully up to date, even if this requires some changes to the list of installed packages (that is, it may automatically install, remove, or replace packages). Compare plain upgrade, and aptitude's full-upgrade.

DM

See Debian Maintainer.

DMUA

Short for "DM-Upload-Allowed"; not to be confused with DMUP.

DMUP

Short for "Debian Machine Use Policies"; the Acceptable Use Policy for machines on the Debian network. Not to be confused with DMUA.

DM-Upload-Allowed (DMUA)

a field in control files that can be added (normally by a sponsor) to license uploads signed by a Debian Maintainer rather than a full Debian Developer.

Dotfoo

For Debian-specific file extensions ("dotdeb" etc.) see . (dot).

Downgrade

An action not officially supported in Debian package management, though often possible (and where it isn't, a purge and re-install of the older version is often good enough).

DPL

Short for "Debian Project Leader".

DPMT

The Debian Python Modules Team, who work to improve the Python modules situation in Debian.

DSA

Short for either "Debian Security Advisory" or "Debian Systems Administrators".

Dummy package

An empty package created either to circumvent the dependency system (see equivs) or to express dependencies of its own (see metapackage, dependency package).

E

Emergency

The highest upload urgency level, synonymous with critical.

Essential

A set of binary packages providing the absolute minimal functionality that must be available and usable on the system at all times. The idea is, if you're hit by a software or hardware failure halfway through an upgrade, leaving your package database in an inconsistent state, the essential packages should still work well enough to let you perform repair work. See also required and pseudo-essential.

Etch

The codename for Debian 4.0, release date: 2007.

Experimental

The experimental repository is an incomplete distribution which developers can use to try out versions of software not intended to migrate to testing, and which users are warned not to install.

Extra

The lowest package priority.

F

Failed

(Plus more rarely failed-removed) A wanna-build state.

FHS

See Filesystem Hierarchy Standard.

Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS)

the FilesystemHierarchyStandard defines the main directories and their contents in Linux and other Unix-like computer operating systems. The Debian Policy Manual only explains the exceptions applying to Debian.

Free

Compliant with the DFSG, and eligible to go in main.

Freeze

The distribution development freeze is a period of time when the Debian Project is working to finalize and stabilize the content of the testing distribution (resolving Release Critical bugs, making final tweaks to Debian-Installer, deciding the contents of the CDs, etc.) before its release as the new stable. Debian's release policy is one of Release when Ready, so the length of the freeze period isn't fixed, but it tends to last something like six months.

Front Desk

The front desk members receive the initial applications, advocation messages, and final application reports. They are the point of contact if problems arise with an application.

FTBFS

Short for "Fails To Build From Source", a bugreport type produced by the build infrastructure when a binary package cannot be compiled.

FTP master
Several things, none of which necessarily involve the File Transfer Protocol:
  • The ftp-master server, the primary copy of the Debian archive.

  • The FTPMaster team that looks after this server, doing tasks such as checking the NEW queue.

  • Senior members of this team also rank as "FTP Masters".

Full-upgrade

An aptitude action more or less equivalent to (and formerly known as) a dist-upgrade.

G

General Resolution (GR)

A decision ratified by a vote of Debian Developers, according to the procedure specified in the Debian Constitution.

Giveback

In autobuilder jargon, packages are "taken" when an attempt is made to build them. Failures are often transient, fixed by simply trying again after a few days, so a "giveback" removes the "taken" flag from the package in the wanna-build database and puts it back into the normal needs-build queue.

GR

Short for "General Resolution".

Grave

An RC bug severity.

H

Hamm

The codename for Debian 2.0, release date: 1998.

Hijack

Adoption without prior permission, sometimes justified by a sufficiently buggy package and MIA maintainer.

Hppa

A port (formerly a release architecture and still available via debports) using the Linux kernel on Hewlett Packard Precision Architecture RISC workstations and servers.

Hurd-i386

A (work-in-progress) port (not yet a release architecture but available via debports) using the Hurd kernel on i386-style hardware.

I

I386

A "port" (or rather the original release architecture) using the Linux kernel on 32-bit PCs - the kind dominating the market through the 90s/00s and known variously as IBM-clone, x86, IA-32, or (W)Intel-compatible computers.

Ia64

A port (and release architecture in squeeze) using the Linux kernel on Intel IA-64 AKA Itanium hardware, not to be confused with amd64.

IANADD

Short for "I Am Not A Debian Developer" - a caveat in the tradition of IANAL.

IANAL

Short for "I Am Not A Lawyer", often used on the debian-legal mailing list. Not Debian-specific; see Wikipedia's definition.

ICE

Short for "Internal Compiler Error"; used in bug reports for package removal, usually indicating that gcc does not yet fully support a new architecture.

Important
Two Debian-specific meanings:

Install
In terms of software, can mean:
  • To set up an Operating System (e.g. with Debian-Installer), or otherwise introduce software onto a system. Examples include installing a bootable image to your boot-sector, a homebrew kernel in /boot, or a shellscript in /usr/local/sbin. The Debian system is designed to permit various forms of local installation performed outside the package database, but you have to keep track of them yourself.

  • In Debian package management, to put a binary package onto a system in a way that registers it with the package database. Note that the package management system sees package upgrades as a subcategory of installs.

  • In APT (or front-ends), a particular action. Note however that install and remove can each be used to perform the opposite function, if given an appropriate suffix (e.g.: apt-get install foo- bar- will remove packages foo and bar).

Installed

A wanna-build state.

IP
(Not Debian-specific) A highly ambiguous initialism, which can mean:
  • Internet Protocol, the primary communications protocol on the net.
  • Internet Protocol address (as in "what's your IP?").
  • Instruction Pointer address (as in "segfault at ip 000000000000dead").
  • Intellectual Property, the intangible assets covered by copyright/licensing/patent/trademark law.

ITA

Short for "Intent to Adopt", used to track the status of orphaned packages (see WNPP) or documentation (see DDP).

ITD

Short for "Intent to Document", used by a documentation maintainer who intends to start writing a document. Using the WNPP system avoids duplicated effort; see DDP.

ITP

Short for "Intent To Package", used by a Debian Developer or Maintainer who intends to package a piece of software; see WNPP.

ITT

Short for "Intent to Translate", used by a translator who intends to start translating a document. This, like the above, is a mechanism to prevent duplication of efforts; see DDP.

J

K

Katie

The script (these days really just a subcomponent of DAK) that validates uploaded packages (and mails the uploader to say whether they've been accepted).

Kfreebsd-amd64

A port (and "technology preview" release architecture in squeeze) using the FreeBSD kernel on amd64-style hardware.

Kfreebsd-i386

A port (and "technology preview" release architecture in squeeze) using the FreeBSD kernel on i386-style hardware.

KSP

Short for "Key Signing Party", a common event at DebConfs and other real-life get-togethers.

L

L10n

A tag indicating a bug in localization (en_GB: localisation) support.

Lenny

The codename for Debian 5.0, release date: 2009 (oldstable).

Lfs

(A tag indicating a bug in) Large File Support (meaning individual files over two gigabytes). Not to be confused with the LinuxFromScratch distribution.

Low

The default upload urgency level.

M

M32r

A rumored port which has never made it as far as debports using the Linux kernel on Renesas M32R embedded hardware.

M68k

A port (formerly a release architecture and still available via debports) using the Linux kernel on Motorola-680x0 CPUs, once common in Sun3/Apple/Atari/Amiga machines.

Main

The "truly Debian" archive area, reserved for free software.

Maintainer

The maintainer of a package is the person or group of people responsible for package maintenance; see Debian Policy. See also Debian Maintainer.

Mass bug filing (MBF)

Reporting a great number of bugs for the same problem. See the Debian Developer's Reference.

MBF

Short for "Mass Bug Filing".

Mentee

An occasionally seen word for "an individual being mentored". This term, like sponsee, may trigger responses of "that's not even a word" (though alternatives like "mentoree" aren't much safer).

Mentor

An experienced Debian Member who takes responsibility for assisting a less experienced member or Applicant. Outside occasional efforts such as the Debian Women mentoring program, such relationships generally exist only on an informal and unofficial basis. Every Applicant has an advocate who may effectively act as a mentor; but despite the name of the debian-mentors mailing list, its primary function is to put new maintainers in touch with sponsors.

Metapackage

A dependency package designed to automatically pull in a family of packages; may function as a shortcut to simplify installation of a full desktop environment. Sometimes hyphenated ("meta-package"), sometimes used as a synonym for plain dependency package.

MIA

Short for "Missing In Action"; (a database tracking) Debian package maintainers who have abandoned their duties without retiring. Nothing to do with the name Mia (cf. britney).

Migration

Any process that involves transferring a large set of items, such as (most often in Debian) the automatic movement of packages from one suite to the next. No, it doesn't mean they travel in swarms, and they don't fly back in the winter.

Minor

A low bug severity.

Mips

A port (and release architecture in squeeze) using the Linux kernel on big-endian SGI-style MIPS hardware.

Mipsel

A port (and release architecture in squeeze) using the Linux kernel on the little-endian version of mips-style hardware.

N

Native

A source package with no upstream and no use outside of Debian can leave out some complications in its packaging by using the "native" source format.

NBS

Short for "Not Built from Source"; one of the criteria used to detect candidates for automated package removal, in this case removing a binary package that isn't built from any remaining source package. See ftpmaster_Removals.

Needs-build

A wanna-build state.

NEW

The queue on ftp-master for packages uploaded for the first time, which need to be reviewed first - see REJECT. This includes renames, packages moving between areas, and source-packages that build new binary packages.

New Maintainer

See New Member

New Member (NM)

(Formerly New Maintainer) The process of becoming an official Debian Member, or a person going through that process. See also Applicant, Debian Member.

NMU

Short for "Non-Maintainer Upload"; a version of a package that wasn't uploaded by an official Maintainer, but rather by another Debian Developer. This typically occurs for security updates, Mass Bug Filings, and when the maintainer is on holiday - see Debian Developer's Reference.

Non-free

Not compliant with the DFSG; also, the archive area for software which is non-free but can be legally distributed by Debian.

Non-US

(Obsolete) A subdivision of the Debian archives needed for the slink/potato/woody releases to deal with US legal restrictions on the export of cryptographic software. Software such as GPG was hosted only on mirrors outside the USA.

Normal

The default bug severity.

Not-for-us

A wanna-build state (not to be confused with non-us).

NPOASR

Short for "Never Part Of A Stable Release"; used in bug reports for package removal, implying that users won't see the package's absence as a regression.

NVIU

Short for "Newer Version In Unstable"; one of the criteria used to detect candidates for automated package removal, in this case removing an experimental build as superseded by a more recent build already present in unstable. See ftpmaster_Removals.

O

O

Short for the QA status "Orphaned".

Obsolete
Can mean:
  • In aptitude (e.g. aptitude search ?obsolete), any currently installed package which is not available (in any version) from any known archive. This usually means that the system has dist-upgraded to a new stable release that no longer contains that package. Transition packages don't register as obsolete in this sense.

  • Also used to refer to automatically installed packages that are no longer needed (such as orphan libraries) and would be candidates for autoremoval.

Oldstable

The distribution before the current stable release, which continues to receive some level of security support for a while (commonly a year) after it is superseded.

Oldstable proposed-updates

The equivalent to stable-proposed-updates for oldstable.

Optional

A package priority (the highest priority that's not installed by default).

OPU

Short for "Oldstable Proposed Updates"; used to tag subject lines of processing requests. See PU.

Origin

In Release files and aptitude searches, the organization providing the repository - examples include Debian, Debian Backports, and Google, Inc..

Orphan

(Not to be confused with the following) In Debian package management, a stray installed package with no reverse dependencies (such as a library for which the corresponding executable has been purged), which can be detected with tools such as deborphan. Such unwanted relics are now increasingly tracked by APT itself.

Orphaned (O)

(Not to be confused with the above) Used in package QA to indicate that a package has no maintainer, and is in need of adoption (see ITA and WNPP). If the package has a priority of standard or higher, the severity of the orphaning bug report should be set to important. The term is similarly used to indicate documentation that the author is declaring abandoned; see DDP.

P

Package
Can mean:

Package maintenance

The software-development task of looking after a package within Debian (that is, bugtracking, following upstream development, etc. - see maintainer); not to be confused with package management.

Package management

The administrative task of regulating the software installed on a particular system (using tools such as APT); not to be confused with package maintenance.

Packages-arch-specific (P-a-s)

In the buildd system, the "Packages-arch-specific" list names the binary packages that are not to be built from source on particular architectures.

Package Tracking System (PTS)

The Package Tracking System lets you follow almost everything related to the life of a package, and is of interest for co-maintainers, QA workers, and advanced users.

PAPT

Short for "Python Applications Packaging Team".

P-a-s

Short for "Packages-arch-specific".

Pending

A BTS tag indicating that "a solution to this bug has been found and an upload will be made soon". In practice this may mean anything from "my regular sponsor is away for the weekend" to "it'll be folded into the scheduled major release in the new year".

Pinning

APT pinning is the name given to the use of apt_preferences(5) to define a modified system of package-management priorities. This makes it possible, for instance, to run an essentially stable system but specify particular packages for which newer candidates (e.g. backports) will automatically be preferred for installation.

Piuparts

Short for "Package Installation, UPgrading And Removal Testing Suite" - see piuparts.

Point release

Point releases are updated versions of a release, with incremented minor revision number (hence the name), incorporating all accumulated security fixes and grave bug-fixes. (Also, In Real Life, a type of minor avalanche.)

Popcon

The popcon score of a Debian package (see webpage) is meant to reflect its "popularity"; it is derived from data generated via the package popularity-contest, which periodically and anonymously submits statistics about which binary packages are installed on a system and whether they are used.

Port
Can mean:
  • (Not Debian-specific) A physical hardware interface.
  • (Not Debian-specific) A TCP networking endpoint identified by port number.
  • (Not Debian-specific) A platform that software has been converted to run on.
  • A hardware/OS kernel combo for which some effort has been made to render Debian installable. See architecture, debports, Debian ports pages.

Potato

The codename for Debian 2.2, release date: 2000.

Powerpc

A port (and release architecture in squeeze) using the Linux kernel on IBM/Motorola PowerPC hardware, meaning PowerMacs and other pre-Intel Macs.

Powerpcspe

A port (not yet a release architecture but available via debports) using the Linux kernel on a slightly more obscure variant of powerpc hardware; "SPE" stands for "Signal Processing Extension" (and not as you might have guessed "Synergistic Processing Element").

Priority

A ranking system for binary packages, indicating how important it is for users to have them installed, and ranging from extra to required. See Debian Policy.

ProjectB

A database storing Debian archive metadata (such as what versions of what packages are in what suites for what architectures) used by DAK. See ProjectB, DDE, UDD.

Pseudo-essential

A label applied to binary packages that are not themselves essential but are dependencies or pre-dependencies from essential packages, which has a similar effect. Examples include libc6 and initscripts; apt itself is not an example, but is a sort of pseudo-pseudo-essential special case as it refuses to try to remove itself.

Pseudo-package

(Not to be confused with virtual package, prospective package, or the package sudo) A BTS address that doesn't correspond to a package name; see definitions.

PTS

Short for "Package Tracking System".

PU

Short for "(Stable) Proposed Updates"; used to tag subject lines of processing requests. See also OPU, TPU.

Purge

In Debian package management, to uninstall a package completely, deleting its conffiles. See remove.

Q

QA

Short for "Quality Assurance" - see qa.debian.org.

R

RC
Has several easily confused meanings:
  • Short for "Release Candidate", in version strings (v1.9~rc5 comes before v1.9).
  • Short for "Release-Critical" in the BTS.

  • Short for "Radio Controlled"; one of the few original Toy Story character names never to have been adopted as a Debian release codename (it was a little buggy).

  • In a filename such as ~/.bashrc, indicates a type of configuration-file - usually interpreted as short for "runtime configuration", but apparently inspired by the following.

  • In the sysv-rc system, indicates a type of set-up script (in /etc/rc*.d) - usually interpreted as short for "runlevel configuration", but apparently inspired by the following.

  • In the MIT Compatible Time-Sharing System back in the sixties, "runcom files".

REJECT

A message from the FTP Masters denying entry to the Debian archives for a package in NEW, on the grounds of legality, namespace issues, or general bugginess; see FAQ.

Release

see Debian Release

  • The occasion of a new stable version of Debian being declared ready for production use.

  • A suite that has been or is going to be released; more generally, a synonym for suite - even sid has a Release file and is traditionally (if oxymoronically) referred to as "the unstable release".

Release Architecture

An architecture supported as part of a stable release; ports qualify for this status when their autobuilders prove capable of "keeping up" and successfully building a sufficient proportion of the archive.

Release Critical (RC)

A bug that cannot be allowed in stable; a release cannot occur until all such bugs have been handled (by removal if necessary).

Remove
Can mean:
  • To delete a package from the archives - see RM.

  • In Debian package management, to uninstall a package, especially in a fashion that leaves behind conffiles (thus if you remove and then reinstall a package you won't lose your custom setup). See purge.

  • In APT (or front-ends), a particular action. Note however that install and remove can each be used to perform the opposite function, if given an appropriate suffix (e.g.: apt-get remove foo+ bar+ will install packages foo and bar).

RequestTracker (RT)

The issue-tracking system rt.debian.org, used by the Security and DSA teams (among others).

Required

The highest package priority; not to be confused with essential.

Rex

The codename for Debian 1.2, release date: 1996.

RFA

Short for "Request For Adoption"; a WNPP bug tag indicating that (due to lack of time, interest, or other resources) the current maintainer is asking for someone else to maintain this package. They will maintain it in the meantime, but perhaps not in the best possible way. Compare Orphaned.

RFD

Short for "Request For Documentation"; a DDP bug tag indicating that a manual or other documentation on a given topic is not yet available on the DDP and the reporting user requests that DDP members should give it priority when deciding which documents need to be written.

RFH

Short for "Request For Help"; a WNPP bug tag indicating that the current maintainer wants to continue to maintain this package, but needs some help to do this. This may be because the maintainer is overstretched in general, or because this package is particularly hard to maintain, or because bugs require specialist expertise to fix.

RFP

Short for "Request For Package"; a WNPP bug tag indicating that the reporter has found an interesting piece of software and would like someone else to maintain it for Debian.

RFS

Short for "Request For Sponsor". See DebianMentorsFaq and mentors.debian.net.

RM

Used in subject lines of package removal requests. It might look like it's addressed to the Release Manager, but it's just a shouty version of rm.

Rolling

A proposed distribution similar to testing but intended to be advertised as continuously usable. Work is in progress on an unofficial implementation.

RoM

Short for "Request of Maintainer"; used in bug reports for package removal, to indicate that it has been agreed with the package's own maintainer.

Root
A word with several technical uses (not Debian-specific), all deriving from the same metaphor of a node structure with a root and branches:
  • The root directory (/) is the top level directory of the file system hierarchy - the part of the "directory tree" that everything else connects to.

  • The root file system is the primary mountpoint everything else is attached to; it contains the root directory, plus various other essential directories such as /bin and /lib, and may or may not include others such as /var or /home.

  • The root user (uid 0) is the so-called "superuser", with unlimited privileges - equivalent to the "Administrator" on some other operating systems. (This name might lead you to expect users to be arranged in some sort of organizational tree structure, but it just means that the superuser can modify the root directory.)
  • The root window is the desktop background, the element of the graphical environment that all other windows are defined relative to. (Thus "root tile" as a synonym for "desktop wallpaper".)
  • The root zone is the core of the DNS system, where the nameservers that are authoritative for Top Level Domains (the "root nameservers") live.
  • The directory /root is the home directory of the root user, housed on the root file system. Not to be confused with the root directory as defined above.

Not forgetting its senses of "inverse exponent", or "gain illicit superuser access, either for malicious purposes or to bypass a proprietary OS", or (in AU/NZ slang) "have sex with"... and it doesn't help that for some it's homophonous with "route".

ROP

Short for "Request Of Porter"; used in bug reports for package removal, to indicate that the package is no longer built on a particular set of architectures.

RoQA

Short for "Request of Quality Assurance"; used in bug reports for package removal, to indicate that it has been agreed with the QA team (usually because the package is orphaned).

RoRT

Short for "Request of Release Team"; used in bug reports for package removal, to indicate that issues have been confirmed by the Release Team.

ROSRM

Short for "Request of Stable Release Manager"; used in bug reports for package removal, to indicate that it has been agreed with the powers that be.

RoST

Short for "Request of Security Team"; used in bug reports for package removal, to indicate that issues have been confirmed by the Security Team.

RT

Short for "Request Tracker".

S

S390

A port (and release architecture in squeeze) using the Linux kernel on IBM s/390 AKA zSeries mainframe hardware.

S390x

A new port (and prospective release architecture in wheezy) using the Linux kernel and providing a 64bit userland on s390-style hardware.

Safe-upgrade

An aptitude action more or less equivalent to (and formerly known as) an upgrade.

Sarge

The codename for Debian 3.1, release date: 2005.

Section
Can mean:
  • A notional subdivision of the Debian repositories into functional categories such as "admin", "kde", and "video".
  • Also sometimes used as a synonym for archive area.

Security

The suite used to propagate fixes for security issues into stable, maintained by the security team.

Serious

An RC bug severity.

Severity

A ranking system for bugreports, indicating how important it is for it to be fixed, and ranging from wishlist to critical. See definitions.

Sh4

A port (not yet a release architecture but available via debports) using the Linux kernel on Hitachi SuperH hardware (used e.g. in Dreamcasts).

Shlibs
Not a cross between a shrub and a blintz.
  • Short for SHared LIBrarieS - that is, dynamically loadable subroutines compiled into object files so that a single copy loaded into memory can be accessed by as many different processes as need it. Normally have the file extension .so, followed by interface-version numbers.

  • A special file defined in Debian Policy for tracking shared library dependencies.

Sid

The permanent codename for unstable ("Still In Development" is an unofficial backronym). While other codenames cycle through from testing to stable to oldstable, the name "Sid" stays in the same place permanently.

Slink

The codename for Debian 2.1, release date: 1999.

Source
Can mean:
  • A package origin defined by a line in sources.list.

  • A bash builtin that executes commands from a file.

  • Compilable code, the input of a build process - see source package.

Sourceful

Including source code - a term used e.g. to distinguish a "normal" NMU from a binNMU.

Source package
Can mean:
  • A unit of upstream software (with a single build system), which may correspond to several separate binary packages within Debian.

  • The bundle of files (.dsc file, upstream tarball, etc) used as input to the package-building process.

Sparc

A port (and release architecture in squeeze) using the Linux kernel on 32-bit Sun4-style SPARC hardware.

Sparc64

A port (not yet a release architecture but available via debports) using the Linux kernel on 64-bit versions of sparc-type hardware.

SPI

Short for "Software in the Public Interest, Inc.", the nonprofit foundation that manages resources and accepts donations on behalf of the Debian Project (which has no legal authority for doing so itself).

Sponsee

An occasionally seen word for "an individual being sponsored". This term, like mentee, may trigger responses of "that's not even a word" (though alternatives like "sponsoree" aren't much safer).

Sponsor

A Debian Member with upload privileges who uses them on behalf of a package maintainer without such privileges. The sponsor is required to take responsibility for checking that there are no show-stopping quality issues, but is not recorded as the maintainer of the package. A sponsorship may be a one-off event, or the sponsor may also act informally as a mentor, helping to track down bugs and improve the packaging. See also advocate.

Squeeze

The codename for Debian 6.0, release date: 2011 (the current stable).

Stable

The stable suite is the distribution recommended for production use. Each stable release is "promoted" from testing status as the result of a cycle of development, debugging, and integration that usually lasts about two years.

Stable-proposed-updates

The suite where proposed fixes for major bugs in stable are queued for inclusion in a point release.

Stable-updates

The StableUpdates suite (formerly implemented as volatile) is where proposed updates are queued for packages such as virus scanners that become uselessly out of date over the lifespan of a release.

Standard

A package priority (the lowest priority that's installed by default).

Suite
Can mean:
  • A set of closely integrated packages (often multiple source packages), such as an "office suite".

  • Used in Release files and elsewhere to mean a repository holding one particular "branch" of Debian's development process - unstable, testing, and so on. Compare archive, distribution, release.

T

Testing

Testing is the Debian distribution automatically generated out of packages migrating from unstable. The first step towards a new stable release is that testing undergoes a freeze.

Testing-proposed-updates

The equivalent to stable-proposed-updates for testing, used only in cases where the fixes need to bypass unstable.

Testing-security

The testing-security suite is only roughly the testing equivalent of stable's security support, because it is run by a different ?team and because most new package versions fixing security bugs can simply go through unstable as usual.

TINLA

Short for "This Is Not Legal Advice"; compare IANAL.

TPU

Short for "Testing Proposed Updates"; used to tag subject lines of processing requests. See PU.

Transition

Often short for "library transition". A new version of a widely-used dependency hitting unstable can mean that large numbers of related packages need rebuilds or significant fixes before the whole set can migrate to testing.

Transition package

A dependency package designed to automatically replace one package with another, to smooth over a rename or similar migration (especially for users performing a dist-upgrade). Not connected with library transitions.

U

UDD

Short for "the Ultimate Debian Database". Not to be confused with "Ubuntu Distributed Development".

Ultimate Debian Database (UDD)

A single SQL database gathering a lot of data about various aspects of Debian. See UDD, DDE, ProjectB.

Unstable

The unstable distribution is where you can find the latest packages introduced into the Debian system.

Update

In APT (or front-ends), the process of refreshing the package-management system's information about what packages are available from the registered sources. Not to be confused with (or omitted before) an upgrade.

Upgrade
Can mean:
  • In Debian package management, the process of installing the newest versions of a set of binary packages (by default, all packages that have newer candidates available).

  • In apt specifically, the kind of upgrade that only fetches and installs new versions of packages, without changing the list of installed packages (so for instance a package whose new version has extra dependencies would be left unupgraded). Compare dist-upgrade, and aptitude's safe-upgrade.

Upload

Putting a package into (the appropriate queue for) a repository, usually meaning on ftp-master.

Uploaded

A wanna-build state.

Uploaders

An optional field in control files listing any co-maintainers for a package besides the primary Maintainer (each of which has upload privileges).

Urgency

A ranking system for uploads, indicating how important it is for the new version to reach the archives, and ranging from low to critical. See Debian Policy.

User
A term with various potentially confusing senses (not Debian-specific):
  • An actual human being currently logged into the system.
  • Any service recipient (including for instance remote processes accessing a web server).
  • An account, which may belong to a user in the first sense or just be a "system" account.
  • In chmod(1), the specific user (in the above sense) with ownership of a file.

  • Any normal, unprivileged account (thus "as a user" versus "as root").

  • Any normal, non-technical human user, likely also to be a user in the above sense.

The name of the top-level /usr directory was also originally short for "user" (since at the time home directories lived there).

Username

The string (corresponding to a numeric uid) that identifies a user to the system. Ambiguous when written as "user name" - root is a username; "Professor Sam Q. McRandom" is a user name.

Userspace

(Of a process) Running outside the kernel; everything up to and including init is a user process in this sense. Ambiguous when written as "user space" (which may mean storage capacity available to users).

V

Virtual package

A binary package that exists in name only, with no associated .deb file; used to organize systems of alternative dependencies (multiple binary packages can claim to "Provide" the same virtual package).

Volatile

The volatile suite is (roughly speaking) the old name for stable-updates.

W

Wanna-build

A tool forming part of the autobuild system that maintains a database of the build status of packages; see definitions.

Wheezy

The codename for the current testing.

Wishlist

The lowest bug severity (which can include things that aren't literally bugs at all).

WNPP

Short for "Work-Needing and Prospective Packages" - a pseudo-package used to collect reports of packages (and potential packages) in need of (new) maintainers in Debian. See ITP, O, RFA, RFH, RFP.

Woody

The codename for Debian 3.0, release date: 2002.

X

X Strike Force (XSF)

The team responsible for maintaining packages for the X Window System in Debian.

Y

Z

. (dot)

.changes

The file extension used for a Debian changes file, which is a particular format of control file used by the Debian archive maintenance software to process updates to packages.

.ddeb

The file extension used for debug packages of a type implemented in Ubuntu but not in Debian - see AutomaticDebugPackages

.deb

The file extension used for the standard installable binary package format used by Debian-based distributions.

.dsc

The file extension used for a Debian Source Control file, which is a particular format of control file forming a crucial component of a source-package.

.tdeb

The file extension used for (proposed) separate translation packages - see Dep-4.

.udeb

The file extension used for special binary packages containing Debian-Installer modules, not intended for installation on a normal system.