
               Introduction to the Debian mailing lists
               \--------------------------------------/


  Much of the the conversation between Debian developers and users is
  managed through several mailing lists.  Debian GNU/Linux is
  developed through distributed development all around the world.
  Therefore email is a preferred way to discuss various items.

  There are several world-open mailing lists while there are also some
  lists which are only open to active developers.  Please don't
  interpret this as closed development, everyone is encouraged to help
  development of debian and to spread out the words of free software,
  but on the other hand it doesn't make much sense discussing internal
  topics with non-developers.

  All original Debian mailing lists run on a special server with a
  mail transport agent that is optimized for lists.  This host is
  called lists.debian.org.  All submission, subscription and
  unsubscription messages have to go to this host.

  The used language on all lists is english unless stated differently.
  There are also some user lists for other languages available.


Subscribtion / Unsubscription
-----------------------------

  Our lists are served by Smartlist.  This results in a comfortable
  way for managing them.  If the subscription policy for the
  particular list is `open' everyone is able to subscribe/unsubscribe
  on their own.

  *NO* subscription or unsubscription messages should be sent to the
  lists address but only to a special control address which looks
  slightly different to the lists address.  To subscribe or
  unsubscribe to such a list, please send a mail to

        <listname>-REQUEST@lists.debian.org

  with the word `subscribe' or `unsubscribe' as subject.

  Please remember the -REQUEST inside of the name.

  If you need to contact a human listmaster, direct your mail to
  listmaster@debian.org or listmaster@va.debian.org .  These are two
  different machines in case one gets offline.  To find out which
  person is responsible for the lists, please take a look at
  http://www.debian.org/maintainer_contacts.html .


The lists itself
----------------

  First of all there are several user based mailing lists on which
  both developers and users get in contact and discuss and solve
  possible problems.

  debian-user@lists.debian.org

      Description : This is the main mailing list for all users and
                    developers of Debian GNU/Linux systems.  Many
                    developers are also following the threads and step in
                    every now and then.
      Digest      : debian-user-digest@lists.debian.org
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-user-de@jfl.de

      Description : This mailing list is the main mailing list for
                    german speaking users.  To subscribe to the list
                    send "subscribe debian-user-de" to majordomo@jfl.de
                    To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe debian-user-de "
      Language    : german
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-user-spanish@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is used to give support for Spanish
                    speaking users of Debian GNU/Linux.
      Language    : spanish
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-italian@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list supports native italian speaking users of
                    Debian GNU/Linux.
      Language    : italian
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-french@lists.debian.org

      Description : Native french speaking users of Debian GNU/Linux
                    discuss various topics on this list.
      Language    : french
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-changes@lists.debian.org

      Description : Changes of the releases are announced here.  This
                    reflects security upgrades as well as important
                    bugfixes.
      Digest      : debian-changes-digest@lists.debian.org
      Moderated   : yes
      Subscription: open

  debian-announce@lists.debian.org

      Description : The project leader sends news and changes about the
                    project to this list.
      Moderated   : yes
      Subscription: open

  debian-isp@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list discusses ISP specific issues and
                    problems.  An ISP is an Internet Service Provider
                    or Provider in short.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-cd@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is used to make announcements to cd
                   vendors.
      Moderated   : yes
      Subscription: open

  mirror-list@lists.debian.org

      Description : Important changes of the ftp archive are announced
                    here to give archive maintainers a chance to take
                    care of their archives.
      Moderated   : yes
      Subscription: open

  Second there are several lists on which developers and experienced
  users are discussing more technical issues.  There are also some
  announcement lists so experienced users keep track of the
  development.

  debian-devel@lists.debian.org

      Description : This is the main discussion list for development
                    topics.  All developer should be subscribed to this
                    list.  As it is open for the public everyone can join
                    the discussion.
      Digest      : debian-devel-digest@lists.debian.org
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-devel-changes@lists.debian.org

      Description : Postings about new uploads, processed packages &c.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-devel-announce@lists.debian.org

      Description : Announcments of development issues like policy
                    changes, important release issues &c.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-mentors@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is for newbie maintainers who seek help
                    with intial packaging and other developer-related
                    issues.  Those who prefer one-on-one help should
                    also post to the list, and an experienced developer
                    will volunteer.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-68k@lists.debian.org

      Description : Discussions on the m68k port for Debian GNU/Linux.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-sparc@lists.debian.org

      Description : Discussions on the Sparc port for Debian GNU/Linux.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-powerpc@lists.debian.org

      Description : Discussion on the PowerPC port for Debian GNU/Linux.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-alpha@lists.debian.org

      Description : Discussion on the Alpha port for Debian GNU/Linux.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  win32@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is about porting the Debian distribution
                    on Win32 systems... (hence Debian GNU/Win32)
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-i18n@lists.debian.org

      Description : Internationalization (i18n) of the distribution is
                    discussed here.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-faq@lists.debian.org

      Description : Various topics concerning the faq are discused on
                    this list.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-doc@lists.debian.org

      Description : Documentation of different parts of the system
                    adressed on this list.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-l10n-spanish@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is used to discuss localization issues,
                    mainly about translating Debian docs and programs
                    to Spanish.
      Language    : spanish
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-www@lists.debian.org

      Description : The design and ordering of our webpages are
                    discussed here.  If important changes are in
                    progress they're discused on this list first
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  Third there are some special lists that cover specific development
  issues such as package maintenance, policy issues, quality assurance
  etc.

  debian-policy@lists.debian.org

      Description : The Debian Policy is topic for this list.  Changes
                    are discussed here before they are performed.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-admintool@lists.debian.org

      Description : Topic for this list is an administration tool for
                    Debian.  This tool should be able to maintain most
                    of the configuration files that come with the
                    packages.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-autobuild@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is used for discussions on auto-compile
                    tools and systems that will build the
                    distribution.  Autobuild routines help porting the
                    distribution to other arthitectures.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-dpkg@lists.debian.org

      Description : The program dpkg is the main tool for package
                    maintenance within the distribution.  This list
                    contains discussions about it, especially on
                    technical topics.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-qa@lists.debian.org

      Description : Quality assurance is important for a distribution.
                    This list adresses this quality.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-publicity@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list prepares press releases and discusses
                    them before they get released and translated.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-private@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list covers developers-to-developers
                    issues.  It is the main communication media for all
                    developers.  It's supposed only to be used for
		    politically or technically sensitive discussions.
		    Anything sent there should be treated as sensitive
		    and not to be spread to other lists; thus
		    cross-posting between it and an open list kind of
		    defeats the object of the exercise.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: developers only

  debian-consultants@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is intended to help consultants for
                    Debian GNU/Linux.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: closed

  deity@lists.debian.org

      Description : Debian GNU/Linux will get a new user frontend to
                    package maintenance.  Its codename is deity and its
                    development is discussed here.  The -digest is
                    open for everyone.
      Digest      : deity-digest@lists.debian.org
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: deity-developers only

  debian-firewall@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is for discussion of implementation and
                    maintance of firewalls using Debian.  Both basic
                    issues and new more exotic developments are discussed here.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-pilot@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is not for people who drive airplanes,
                    but for the 3COM Pilot palmtop.  GPL works for it
                    and there is some significant free software that
                    can work with Linux.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-testing@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list discusses changes of the current release.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: developers only

  debian-security-private@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list is connected with the main security lists
                    for Linux.  General security issues for Linux are
                    discussed on this list.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: developers only

  The bugtracking for Debian GNU/Linux is open to the public.  It
  produces a lot of mail that might be of general interest for some
  users or developers.  Therefore some forwarding lists were created
  to distribute mail from the bugtracking system.

  debian-bugs-dist@lists.debian.org

      Description : All submitted bugreports as well as further
                    information on them are distributed here.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-bugs-forwarded@lists.debian.org

      Description : The mail that forwards bugs to their upstream
                    author is distributed via this list.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-bugs-closed@lists.debian.org

      Description : This list notifies its subscribers about closed bugs.
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open

  debian-bugs-reports@lists.debian.org

      Description : This lists distribute the weekly bugs reports
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open


Lists hosted for other projects
-------------------------------

  mptools-devel@lists.debian.org

      Description : Developer list for the mpTOOLS project,
                    mult-platform tools in Java.  See for
		    http://members.tripod.com/~mpTOOLS/dev.html
      Moderated   : no
      Subscription: open


Mailing list advertising policy
-------------------------------

  This policy is intended to fight mailing-list "spamming".

  The Debian Linux mailing lists accept commercial advertising for
  payment.  We offer a fee waiver if you can show us the cancelled
  check for a $1000 (U.S.) or more donation to "Software in the Public
  Interest" (SPI).  One donation per advertisement, please.  If you
  don't wish to donate, simply post your advertisement to the list,
  and the operator of the mailing lists will bill $1000 (U.S).  The
  list operator will donate this amount, minus the expense of
  collecting it, to SPI.  Please note that the lists are distributed
  automaticaly - messages are generally not read or checked in any way
  before they are distributed.

  By the act of posting your advertisement you agree to accept
  responsibility for the fee, you agree to indemnify the mailing-list
  operator against any legal claims from you or others in connection
  with your advertisement, and you agree to pay any legal and business
  expenses incurred in collecting late payment. Our liability to you
  is limited to a good-faith effort to deliver your message.

  Reduced rates and/or waiver of fee are available for Debian-related
  advertisements. You must consult the mailing-list operator in
  advance of posting for any reduction or fee waiver.

