The Debian Project has officially released Debian 13.0, a major update to the popular Linux distribution. This release is powered by the Linux 6.12 LTS kernel and ships with the GNOME 48 desktop as the default environment. It also adopts GCC 14.2 as the default compiler, bringing modern features and optimizations to developers.
Key Software Upgrades
Debian 13.0 delivers an extensive set of package updates, including:
OpenJDK Java 21 for improved Java development.
Python 3.13 for modern Python applications.
Numerous other libraries and tools updated for better performance and security.
These upgrades aim to keep Debian competitive for both desktop and server use cases.
New Architecture and Boot Support
For the first time, Debian officially supports RISC-V 64-bit architecture, marking a significant milestone in expanding hardware compatibility. The release also adds HTTP booting support via UEFI and U-Boot, making deployments more flexible.
System Enhancements and Performance Gains
Debian 13.0 completes the 64-bit time_t ABI transition, improving time-handling across architectures. Work on reproducible builds continues, further enhancing software verification and security.
Users can also expect noticeable performance improvements compared to Debian 12, thanks to kernel optimizations and updated core libraries.
Download and Availability
Debian 13.0 is available now at cdimage.debian.org. Detailed changes and upgrade instructions can be found in the official release notes.