What's new and what's new in Debian 13 "Trixie" and its impact on the Linux ecosystem

  • Debian 13 “Trixie” released with official 64-bit RISC-V support
  • Release Candidate 3 (RC3) available before the stable version
  • New technical features and improvements in the installer
  • Proxmox VE 9.0 is entirely based on Debian 13, enhancing virtualization

Debian 13 operating system

El release of Debian 13, known as “Trixie”, marks a significant milestone in the Linux world. This distribution, renowned for its stability and robustness, introduces a series of new features that affect both end users and developers and companies that rely on Debian-based solutions.

A few days before its final launchThe Release Candidate 3 (RC3) ISO is now available, allowing those interested to get a head start and test all the improvements before the stable release. This final phase is aimed at detecting bugs and polishing details, ensuring that the stable release maintains Debian's reputation for reliability.

Official support for open architectures and new technologies

One of the Big news in Debian 13 It is the inclusion of official support for 64-bit RISC-V, joining other renowned distributions such as Ubuntu, Fedora or openSUSE. RISC-V It stands out for being an open architecture, which represents an interesting alternative to the closed standards of ARM, AMD or Intel, and brings Debian closer to a larger community of developers and users who are committed to freedom and technological innovation.

Support in Debian 13 is focused only on little-endian 64-bit RISC-V processors, reinforcing its commitment to modern technologies and expanding options for those looking to experiment with alternative hardware.

Release Candidate 3: Final adjustments before the final release

With the RC3 available, the Debian Project invites all enthusiasts to collaborate in detecting possible bugs and to familiarize themselves with the new features of “Trixie”This test version shows the latest changes applied to the distribution, mainly focused on the installation process and in the integration of new tools and packages.

Among the technical improvements of this RC3, the following stand out:

  • choose-mirror: Optimization of mirror server selection, facilitating updates and improving the installation experience.
  • debian-cd: The ISO now includes architecture-specific packages such as powerpc64le-64k and removes components deemed unnecessary, saving disk space.
  • debian-installer: Updated the Linux kernel Application Binary Interface (ABI) and improved ISO image management to facilitate installation in a variety of environments.
  • hw-detect: Prevents automatic copying of embedded firmware, optimizing resource usage during installation.
  • Improvements in language support: Support for 78 languages and full translation in 32 of them, expanding global access.

These additions aim to facilitate the transition from both previous versions of Debian and other derivative distributions, making the adoption of “Trixie” simple and secure for different user profiles.

Software and desktop updates

Debian 13 arrives with more than 14.000 new packages, bringing the total to over 69.000. More than 44.000 packages have been updated compared to the previous version, while nearly 9.000 considered obsolete have been removed. Users will find the latest versions of desktop environments such as GNOME 48, KDE Plasma 6.3, LXDE 13, LXQt 2.1.0 and XFCE 4.20, plus an updated Linux kernel (6.12 LTS), Bash 5.2.37, and LibreOffice 25.

A major update in Debian 13 is the migration of the timekeeping system from 32-bit to 64-bit, Overcoming potential problems arising from clock overflow in 2038 and ensuring greater long-term stability.

Debian as the basis for other notable distributions and projects

His role as meta-distribution It is essential, since many distributions known as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, MX Linux and other projects are built on top of Debian. The arrival of a new version means an updated foundation for this entire ecosystem, allowing developers to integrate the latest improvements in stability, security, and compatibility.

Projects like Nitrux 3.4 They directly benefit from the changes in “Trixie”, expanding the possibilities for users looking for customized environments or those tailored to specific needs.

Highlights in Proxmox VE 9.0 based on Debian 13

One of the enterprise applications that Debian 13 leverages is Proxmox VE 9.0This virtualization environment is based on the latest version of Debian to offer a more modern, stable platform that is compatible with a wider range of hardware.

New features in Proxmox based on Debian 13 include:

  • Snapshot support on LVM shared storage, facilitating management and deployment in enterprise environments.
  • Improvements to software-defined networking (SDN), incorporating new tools to create more advanced and scalable architectures.
  • Updated components such as QEMU, LXC, Ceph, and ZFS, taking advantage of the latest open source advancements.
  • Updated mobile interface and improved affinity rules for critical workloads and high availability.

Proxmox VE 9.0 is now available for download, including professional support options and access to all these innovations thanks to the integration with “Trixie.”

Debian 12.11
Related article:
Debian 12.11 arrives with dozens of fixes and security patches

Support for open architectures, technical improvements in installation, and expanded multilingual support consolidate Debian 13 “Trixie” as a solid foundation for evolving free software and enterprise solutions. These advancements enable a more secure, modern platform that is ready for future technological challenges.