Re: writing a release announcement
(One more update.)
***** THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT *****
* Debian is NOT released! This is a DRAFT announcement *
* for an UNRELEASED version of Debian. Go away. *
***** THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENT *****
The Debian Project is pleased to announce the latest release of Debian
GNU/Linux, version 3.0. Debian GNU/Linux is a free operating system. It is
developed by nearly a thousand volunteers from all over the world who
collaborate via the Internet. Debian's dedication to free software, its
non-profit nature, and its open development model make it unique among
Linux distributions.
This is the first version of Debian to feature cryptographic software
integrated into the distribution, rather than as an optional add-on.
OpenSSH[1] and GNU Privary Guard are included in the default install, and
strong encryption is now present in web browsers and web servers,
databases, and so forth. Further integration of crypto is planned for
future releases.
With the addition of the ia64, hppa, mips, mipsel, and s390 architectures,
Debian GNU/Linux now supports a total of 11 architectures. It now runs on
computers ranging from embedded systems to supercomputers, and nearly
everything in between, including the latest generation of 64 bit machines.
For the first time, Debian comes with the KDE desktop environment. The
GNOME desktop environment is upgraded to version 1.4, and X itself is
upgraded to the much improved version 4.1. With the addition of several
full featured free graphical web browsers in the form of mozilla, galeon,
and konquorer, Debian's desktop offerings have been radically improved.
This version of Debian supports the 2.2 and 2.4 releases of the Linux
kernel. Along with better support for a greater variety of new hardware
(such as USB) and significant improvements in usability and stability, the
2.4 kernel provides support for the ext3 journaling filesystem.
[ XXX That is supported by the 2.4 boot floppies by default, right?
Please verify. Also, an other FS's supported by default? reiser? ]
Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 features a more streamlined and polished installation,
which is translated into numerous languages. The debconf tool is used to
streamline configuration of the system. The task system has been revamped
and made more flexible. Debian GNU/Linux can be installed from CD, or from
the network and a few floppies. It can be downloaded now, and will soon be
available on CD-ROM from numerous vendors (http://www.debian.org/CD).
[ XXX should I mention DVD? ]
Upgrades to Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 from earlier releases are
automatically handled by the apt package management tool. As always,
Debian GNU/Linux systems can be upgraded painlessly, in place, with no
downtime. For detailed documentation about installing and upgrading
Debian GNU/Linux, please see the release notes
(http://www.debian.org/releases/woody/i386/release-notes/).
Current Debian users may be interested to know that this release of Debian
supports build dependencies, to aid in building packages from source, and
apt pinning, to ease partial upgrades to our testing branch. Aptitude is
a replacement for the venerable dselect program and will make it easier to
select packages. Four thousand new software packages are added to the
distribution in Debian GNU/Linux 3.0.
In the area of standards compliance, this is the first release of Debian to
fully support FHS version 2.2. Debian GNU/Linux now also supports the Linux
Standard Base (LSB).
This release of Debian is the culmination of years of work by many
thousands of developers, not only from the Debian project but throughout
the free software community, and by many commercial enterprises. While some
have fallen along the way, Debian has weathered recent troubles well,
thanks to its volunteer base, its dedication to the Debian Social Contract,
and its commitment to provide the best operating system possible. Debian
GNU/Linux 3.0 is another important step in that direction.
[ Should dedications be mentioned here? ]
[1] This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project
for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit. (http://www.openssl.org/)
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