Release 2.1 of the Debian operating system, codenamed Slink, became available for free downloading this morning (Download sites listed here). CDs will be produced at low cost by a number of distributors. There are now Debian versions for the Alpha, Sparc, and Motorola 680x0 and Intel x86. Debian was created by Deborah and Ian Murdoch. Debian uses the Linux kernel and GNU basic tools, and has a development team of some 300, using the Linux model of development. Slink is only certified for use with the Linux 2.0x series of kernels, and there are some known problems with the 2.2x kernel. Debian decided that it would only use free versions of the X Window system (X11R6.3) because of what it calls a social contract with the free software community. Debian is overseen by a non-profit organisation Software in the Public Interest. Netscape decided to use the Debian free software guidelines as the basis for the Netscape licence for Communicator. At Pixar, a developer's PC with Debian was run for 458 days continuously before being switched off to move it to another floor.