"In many ways the Debian GNU/Linux project is unique among all the distributions that dot the Linux landscape. Apart from putting out a high-grade distribution, it has served as the base for a number of others--Ubuntu and Knoppix, to name just two--which have had a big impact on the growth of the Linux ecosystem.
"The project has long, fiery discussions and every little bit of it is on the web for all to see; it has survived the predictions of a great many prophets of doom and naysayers and emerged stronger each time..."