2.1.3. The stable distribution

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Package entries for the stable distribution, Debian Etch (4.0), are recorded into the stable (symlink to etch/) directory:

• stable/main/: This directory contains the package versions belonging to the most recent official release of the Debian system.

  These packages are all free; that is, they all comply with the Debian Free Software Guidelines (DFSG) (also available as file:///usr/share/doc/debian/social-contract.txt installed by debian-doc).

• stable/non-free/: This directory contains packages that fail to qualify as free according to the DFSG.

  For example, some packages have licenses that prohibit commercial distribution. Others can be redistributed but are shareware.

• stable/contrib/: Each package in this directory is itself DFSG-free but somehow Depends on a package that is not DFSG-free.

Now, in addition to the above locations, nowadays physical packages are located under the pool directory (The pool directory, Section 2.1.10).

The current status of stable distribution bugs is reported on the Stable Problems web page.

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