Debian's 13th version, 'Trixie,' debuts: Departure of x86-32 and MIPS architectures, adoption of RISC-V
Debian 13, codenamed Trixie, has been released, bringing a host of new features and changes to the world's most popular free software-based operating system. This latest release expands hardware support, improves package management, enhances security, and introduces Pure Blends, a new concept designed to cater to specialized user needs.
Expanded Hardware Support
Debian Trixie officially supports seven architectures: amd64 (64-bit PC), arm64 (64-bit ARM), armel (ARM EABI), armhf (ARMv7 hard-float), ppc64el (64-bit little-endian PowerPC), riscv64 (64-bit RISC-V, newly supported), and s390x (IBM System z). The i386 architecture is no longer a standard architecture, but it is still supported for running 32-bit software on 64-bit CPUs, with no official kernel or installer support.
Improvements to APT and Package Management
Upgrades from Debian 12 “bookworm” to Debian 13 “trixie” are primarily handled through APT, with advisories to back up and review release notes before upgrading. Curl now includes wcurl with HTTP/3 support, enhancing networking capabilities. Debian has made significant progress towards reproducible builds, allowing packages to be verified for byte-for-byte consistency. New tools like and assist users in this effort.
Installer and Security Improvements
The Debian Installer includes improved hardware support, speech synthesis, secure boot integration with systemd-boot, and other enhancements. New security features on amd64 and arm64 architectures mitigate Return-Oriented Programming (ROP) exploits and related attack vectors.
Introduction of Pure Blends
Debian 13 introduces the concept of Pure Blends, which are curated subsets of Debian tailored for specific user groups or use cases. These blends allow users to install a specialized selection of packages for areas such as development, science, or education while retaining full compatibility with the broader Debian system. Pure Blends enhance user experience by simplifying the installation and maintenance of task-focused environments.
Additional Features
- Debian Trixie no longer includes Hyprland and offers Xfce as an option for installation.
- Debian Trixie offers a choice of Pure Blends, GNOME Flashback, LXDE, and IceWM sessions.
- Debian Trixie successfully brought up a Wi-Fi connection and installed fine on the new FOSS desk testbed, a Dell XPS 13.
- Debian Trixie's installation process requires very little more skill compared to previous releases.
In summary, Debian 13 “Trixie” broadens hardware support with riscv64 inclusion, phases out older architectures like i386 and mips variants, improves package reproducibility and networking, enhances installer and security features, and introduces Pure Blends to better cater to specialized user needs. These changes underscore Debian’s continued commitment to stability, security, and versatility.
[1] Debian 13 Release Announcement: https://www.debian.org/News/2023/20230222 [2] Debian 13 Release Notes: https://wiki.debian.org/Debian13 [3] Debian 13 Architecture Overview: https://www.debian.org/ports/arm/ [4] Debian 13 Security Improvements: https://www.debian.org/News/2023/20230222#security [5] Debian 13 Pure Blends: https://wiki.debian.org/Debian13/PureBlends
- The new Debian 13 release, codenamed Trixie, has expanded hardware support to include RISC-V (riscv64), while phasing out older architectures such as i386 and mips.
- When upgrading from Debian 12 to 13, users should be cautious, backing up their systems and reviewing release notes, as package management enhancements, such as the use of Curl with HTTP/3 support, are primarily handled through APT.
- AI-oriented users might appreciate the addition of Debian Trixie's support for Xfce as an alternative to the phased-out Hyprland, offering a choice of Pure Blends, GNOME Flashback, LXDE, and IceWM sessions.
- In the realm of technology and lifestyle, general news sources might cover the strides made in Debian Trixie's hardware support, security improvements, and new features like Pure Blends.
- With the rise in cloud computing and the increasing need for bug-free software, updates related to Debian13's new features, such as improvements to package management and installer, could be of interest in cloud-based and software development sectors, including AI, crypto, and entertainment.
