Debian is one of the oldest and largest Linux distributions, and the foundation that Parrot Linux is built on. Knowing a little about Debian explains why Parrot behaves the way it does: how software is installed, where packages come from and why some guides written for Debian also work on Parrot.
Debian in short
- A community project. Debian is developed by volunteers around the world and was started in 1993. No company owns it.
- Free software. Its rules are written down in the Debian Social Contract and the Debian Free Software Guidelines. Non-free firmware and drivers are kept in separate archive sections.
- Huge software archive. Tens of thousands of packages, all installed and updated with the same tools.
- Many architectures. Debian runs on PCs, ARM boards, servers and more.
How Debian releases work
| Branch | What it is |
|---|---|
| Stable | The official release, tested for a long time and supported with security updates for years. Debian 13 “Trixie” is the current stable release. |
| Testing | The next stable release in preparation. Newer software, occasional breakage. |
| Unstable (Sid) | Where new packages arrive first. For developers. |
Each stable release has a code name taken from the Toy Story films: Debian 12 is “Bookworm”, Debian 13 is “Trixie”.
Packages and APT
Software on Debian comes as .deb packages. Two tools handle them:
dpkginstalls a single package file.aptdownloads packages from the repositories and resolves dependencies for you.
sudo apt update # refresh the package lists
sudo apt install nmap # install a package
apt search wireshark # search the repositories
sudo apt remove nmap # remove a package
On Parrot, use sudo parrot-upgrade for full system upgrades. More in Parrot software management.
How Parrot relates to Debian
- Base: Parrot 7.x is built on Debian 13 stable. Earlier releases tracked Debian Testing until Parrot 5.0.
- Repository: Parrot runs its own archive that includes the Debian packages plus security tools, Parrot-specific software and newer versions of some programs.
- Additions: sandboxing defaults, AnonSurf, the Parrot updater, desktop configuration and editions for different uses.
- Compatibility: most Debian documentation and many
.debpackages work on Parrot. Do not add Debian repositories to Parrot’s sources, though: mixing archives can break upgrades. Use the Parrot repositories only.
Debian or Parrot?
Choose plain Debian for a general server or desktop where you want only what Debian ships. Choose Parrot when you want security and privacy tools, hardening and a ready-made desktop on top of the same stable base. See what is Parrot Linux.
FAQ
Is Parrot OS Debian?
Parrot is a separate distribution built on Debian. It uses Debian’s packages and tools but has its own repository, defaults and editions.
Which Debian version is Parrot 7 based on?
Debian 13 “Trixie”.
Can I use Debian guides on Parrot?
Usually yes, as long as they do not tell you to add Debian repositories or replace system packages.
Debian is a registered trademark of Software in the Public Interest, Inc. Parrot Linux and this site are not affiliated with Debian.