Debian is among the oldest GNU/Linux distributions still active today. A community-led project with democratically elected leadership, Debian remains a shining example of a project that serves developers and users rather than for profit interests and wealthy trade associations that so commonly control and manipulate Open Source projects today. Debian culture embodies the ethos of software freedom and the tradition of enthusiasts and hobbyists (rather than businesses) directing the future of Free Software projects.
As an independent observer and Debian user, in this keynote, I will examine the reasons why these principles have served Debian well, considered early decisions that Debian made that have assured a commitment to principle, explore how Debian can continue to help everyone, introduce future collaborations that might succeed in helping Debian in its goals, and discuss the unique role Debian can play in advancing software freedom.