This post has been updated. Original post: May 20th, 2017. Last updated Feb, 28th 2020.

For desktop, I’ve often preferred rolling release distros such as Arch Linux or custom installed Kali Linux. However, currently I’m on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS Fedora 31. Ubuntu recently released 16.04 LTS 18.04 LTS which meant performing an in-place upgrade or complete re-install to enjoy the newer software packages. I’ve gone with Fedora instead which I’ve been upgrading since Fedora 28 – sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot.

Today however, I’ll show in detail how to install Debian Unstable. Debian Unstable (also known by its codename “Sid”) is not strictly a release, but rather a rolling development version of the Debian distribution containing the very latest packages. Debian Unstable is one of the 3 distributions that Debian provides (along with Stable and Testing).

Debian SID Considerations

If you are a hardcore developer or tester you may opt use this release. The disadvantages – or rather challenges – are well known so I won’t go into those. However, here are some of the highlights of using Debian Sid.

Debian Sid contains mostly stable package versions – “Unstable”, does not mean that Debian Sid consists entirely of unstable development versions. No. Most of the packages are stable, however newer development packages are uploaded to unstable first. ( Experimental > Unstable > Testing > Stable ) For best security, if you are running Debian Unstable, it is a good idea to be aware of any new bugs discovered in the installed packages, new bugfixes/features introduced etc. Install the apt-listbugs and apt-listchanges packages in order to be made aware of any grave bugs or important changes when you install new packages or during an upgrade.

– “Unstable”, does not mean that Debian Sid consists entirely of unstable development versions. No. Most of the packages are stable, however newer development packages are uploaded to unstable first. ( Experimental > Unstable > Testing > Stable ) For best security, if you are running Debian Unstable, it is a good idea to be aware of any new bugs discovered in the installed packages, new bugfixes/features introduced etc. Install the apt-listbugs and apt-listchanges packages in order to be made aware of any grave bugs or important changes when you install new packages or during an upgrade. Ubuntu is based on Debian Sid – Debian is a very mature distro which started back in 1993! There are less than a handful of Linux distros started around that time that are still alive and well today. If you are already on Ubuntu, you can check with this command: cat /etc/debian_version …which will return the version of Debian it’s based on. For example: root@ubuntu1604:~# cat /etc/debian_version stretch/sid

– Debian is a very mature distro which started back in 1993! There are less than a handful of Linux distros started around that time that are still alive and well today. If you are already on Ubuntu, you can check with this command: …which will return the version of Debian it’s based on. For example: With Debian Sid you won’t have to perform distro upgrades or re-installs – Since Debian Sid isn’t an actual release but more of a moving target as it were, once installed you will continue to sync/roll with it’s continuously updated system and packages.

– Since Debian Sid isn’t an actual release but more of a moving target as it were, once installed you will continue to sync/roll with it’s continuously updated system and packages. Bleeding Edge Updates – Debian Sid has all the latest and greatest software, and bugs are usually fixed swiftly.

Note that security for Debian Unstable is primarily handled by package maintainers, not by the Debian Security Team. Although Debian’s security team may upload high-urgency security fixes when maintainers are inactive, support for stable will always have priority. If you want to have a super secure (and stable) server/desktop you are strongly encouraged to stay with stable. Before you install Sid or testing be sure to read this page in it’s entirety. (opens in new tab)

For web servers, Debian and CentOS/RHEL are my favorites. If you are interested in a server install, you can follow this guide but I would not recommend installing SID on your production server. This post includes a quick guide with corresponding screenshots so that you can direct-install Debian Sid without having to install buster or testing first, no editing of your /etc/apt/sources.list and no need for apt-get dist-upgrade. After this guide your base install will boot directly into Debian Sid on first boot if you so choose.

Install Debian SID rolling release using mini.iso

To begin let’s download Debian’s mini.iso. Direct link here. Once downloaded, install it to your USB then boot with it…

(shout out to Cloudflare’s CDN for caching all these screenshots. ha!)

click ‘Advanced options’

click ‘Expert install’

start with ‘Choose language’ then follow the screenshots below…

skip to keyboard setup

select ‘sid’ if you would like to boot into Debian Unstable

select yes for root login on web server or if it’s your preference

…for desktop install select Gnome or other. Or web server for server install.

when install is finished… boot!

…that’s it! You either have Debian Stable, Testing or as above screenshots… Debian Unstable installed on your desktop or server. Enjoy! Here’s what my Debian Sid + Gnome:

Now… let me throw this link into the mix. Also check out openSUSE Tumbleweed, Fedora Rawhide and Gentoo Linux. All are rolling release distros. Decisions, decisions. I’m being evil I know.

Last updated: February 28th 2020

Original article: May 20th 2017