_“Freedom is still the most radical idea of all.”_
This quote, penned by Nathaniel Branden, seems fitting nowhere
moreso than with the freewheeling computing industry. In the space
of just a few decades, lives the world over have been changed by
computing technology. We, the people behind the Free Software
movement, are seeking to continue this trend by truly opening up
software to everyone—not just the few people working for the
companies that write it—but everyone. As part of this goal, this
book and CD contain a treasure chest of Free Software. Over one
thousand packages, including things such as the world’s most popular
web server, can be found here. You can use this software for
everything from graphic design to SQL databases.
The Free Software revolution has taken the industry by storm. Linux,
started from scratch not even 10 years ago, has been the favorite
kernel of the Free Software world. The ideas and experience gained
from Free Software have truly sent Linux and the Free Software
Foundation’s GNU tools all over the world. Free systems such as
Debian GNU/Linux ship with literally thousands of applications, and
they have more power and stability, and outperform some of the
industry’s traditional best-selling proprietary operating systems.
Today, GNU/Linux plays a dominant role in Internet servers and among
ISPs, in academia, among computer hobbyists, and in computer science
research. Debian GNU/Linux has brought the power of Free Software to
everything from laptops to flights aboard the Space Shuttle. As I
write this, companies the world over are experiencing the joy and
benefits that are Free Software. The unprecedented power, the
ability to speak directly to the people who write the software you
use, the capability to modify programs at will, and the phenomenal
expertise of the online support mechanism all combine to make Free
Software a vibrant and wonderful way to use your computing
resources.
Starting with a Free Software such as Debian GNU/Linux can be the
best thing you’ve done with your computer in a long time. It’s fast,
powerful, stable, versatile, and _fun_!
Welcome to the revolution!
— John Goerzen