Debian Live is an open source Live CD flavor of the well known Debian GNU/Linux operating system. It provides users with a core version of the distribution, with no desktop environment pre-installed.
The Debian Live project is splitted into five different editions, each one containing a popular, open source desktop environment, such as KDE, GNOME, Xfce and LXDE. Besides this standard CD, a rescue CD also exists.
Supports 32-bit and 64-bit hardware platforms
This edition of Debian Live is distributed as hybrid ISO images that can be written to either CD/DVD discs or USB flash drives. Support for the 64-bit and 32-bit hardware platforms is provided by default.
The Live CDs can be used to run a shell (command prompt) session of the Debian GNU/Linux operating system or install the distribution on a local disk drive using the included installer. In addition. they can be used to view detailed information about the hardware components of a computer, as well as to run a memory diagnostic test using the Memtest86+ tool.
There are two installers provided on the Live CDs, a text mode and a graphical one. The latter is recommended for a standard installation, allowing you to select your language, location, keyboard layout, set root password, add the default user, configure the clock, partition the disk, configure the package manager, and install the bootloader.
A barebone version of Debian GNU/Linux
As mentioned, this is a barebone version of the Debian GNU/Linux operating system. It doesn’t include a desktop environment after installation, allowing users to further customize the the operating system and transform it into anything they desire.
Besides some standard command-line utilities, this edition does not come with any other applications. You will have to install one of the supported desktop environments, such as GNOME, KDE, Xfce, LXDE, Openbox, Fluxbox or Enlightenment, as well as any additional applications that you might need.
Bottom line
All in all, Debian Live Standard Edition is a very good starting point for creating your own Debian GNU/Linux operating system, just the way you like it!
