Debian codenames: why sid never gets released
The Debian FAQ confirms it: release codenames come from the Toy Story films. buzz was Debian 1.1, woody 3.0, bookworm 12, trixie 13. The choice was made by Bruce Perens, then Debian Project Leader, who was also working at Pixar.
Check yourself
Who is sid? Answer: the neighbour kid who broke all the toys. It's the name of unstable, and the FAQ says it will never be released directly. A fitting character for that branch.
| Debian | End of life | End of LTS |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Trixie | 2028-08-09 | 2030-06-30 |
| 12 Bookworm | 2026-07-11 | 2028-06-30 |
Important
Behind the fun names sit real dates. Debian's release page lists a five-year cycle: three years of full support, then two years of LTS. Forky is 14, in testing with no release date set, and 15 is already named Duke.
Where are your hosts?
- ☐ Read /etc/os-release on each host group
- ☐ Match the codename to the table
- ☐ Note who owns each group
- ☐ Pick a quarter for the move
Weekly status report — track each host group →
Source: debian.org, Debian Releases; Debian FAQ, chapter 6.