Ubuntu is Debian unstable with some of the rough edges smoothed over, some security features deprecated and some enhanced, the implementation of proprietary blobs made easier, a bit of polish, a different theme, and a lot less packages. Ubuntu is a clean and polished experience for those new to GNU/Linux, (although the 'release often release early' philosophy it has taken from other free software projects has created occasional stability issues). The success of Ubuntu is a testimony both to the marketing and packaging of Canonical, Ubuntu's holding company, and to the ongoing application and innovation of the Debian community whose work lies at the core of every release of Ubuntu.

The achievements of Ubuntu, the Ubuntu developers and the Ubuntu community are easily measured by its success in fulfilling its self-imposed mandate as a Linux that is easy to install, easy to use, easy to update, and easy to manage. In contrast the Debian community, which is by far the largest developer community in the free software world, is too often characterised by the slow progress of its stable releases and its willingness to down tools in pursuance of its ethical remit as the bastion of free software development.

Stable releases of Debian are just that, much like the enterprise versions of Red Hat and SUSE, which are considered finished when they are deemed to be fit for the job. To sample Debian as it really is means dipping into the unstable and experimental branches from which Ubuntu is derived. One unscientific survey found that 76 per cent of Debian users run the unstable release (nicknamed Sid), of which Shuttleworth once wrote "the two things that Debian Developers absolutely agree on are – first, the uncompromising emphasis on free software, and second, the joy of Sid."

"Debian is the Tibetan Plateau of the free software landscape," Shuttleworth has eulogised, "elevated through the grinding efforts of conflicting passions to the point of forcing those who visit to get along in a somewhat rarefied atmosphere. It can be difficult to breathe up there, sometimes. It's a bit like the Linux kernel itself: show up, with code, and take your place at the table. And the results are spectacular - Debian as a community creates what I believe is one of the great digital artistic works of the era, and frankly comes as close as I can think possible to actually delivering something that does meet all those conflicting agendas and goals."

Richard Hillesley talks to Debian leader Steve McIntyre about the issues between Debian and Ubuntu. The rest of the article can be found through this link at The H.