I'm considering installing Debian on my old laptop, but I've heard that Debian 13 is set to be released soon. Should I just wait for it, or is it fine to install Debian 12 right now?
5 Answers
I've been using Debian 13 (testing) for a bit now, and I haven't run into any issues yet, so it seems pretty solid if you're eager to try it out.
Debian 13 is just about a week and a half away from release, and it should be pretty stable by then. If you're looking to get started, you can use the current installer image available on the Debian site.
Install Debian 12 for now. Once Debian 13 is ready, you can easily upgrade your system to the new version without any hassle.
Honestly, I think you should just go with Debian 13 when it comes out. It seems like the better choice in the long run!
You really don't need to wait for Trixie. You can just grab the 'testing' branch and start installing. Chances are, not much will change before it officially drops. Just be sure to read up on transitioning from testing to stable once it comes out!
Just a heads-up, though—some of those ISO images are quite old, so I'd recommend checking for the latest versions before using them.