Linux Mint’s Debian Edition 7 has achieved Beta status. Nicknamed “Gigi,” it once again proves that the team behind Mint is serious about keeping its options open. Unlike the standard Linux Mint, which is based on Ubuntu, LMDE takes its foundation directly from Debian. The idea here is simple: if Ubuntu ever went away, Mint could carry on without missing a beat. LMDE also ensures Mint’s in-house software works properly outside the Ubuntu ecosystem.
LMDE 7 is based on Debian 13 “Trixie” and ships with the familiar Mint experience users expect. The release comes with long-term support, updated applications, and various refinements designed to make the desktop more comfortable to use. System requirements are reasonable by modern standards, starting with just 2GB of RAM (though 4GB is recommended), 20GB of disk space (100GB preferred), and a minimum display resolution of 1024×768.
As with most Linux releases, there are quirks and known issues that users should be aware of. The installer, for example, will automatically mount all swap partitions during manual partitioning, and those will end up in /etc/fstab. Installing LMDE on an existing LVM partition requires removing it from its groups before proceeding. The root account is locked by default, so anyone wanting to use the recovery console or log in as root will need to assign a password with sudo passwd root.
VirtualBox users will want to install Guest Additions for proper hardware acceleration, shared folders, and drag-and-drop support. Other issues tied to Debian itself are worth reviewing, and Mint recommends reading through the Debian release notes in addition to its own.
The beta release of LMDE 7 is available to download now, but it is not recommended for production systems. It may contain critical bugs, and the purpose of this stage is to gather feedback and polish the system before the stable release lands. Upgrades from the beta to the stable build will be supported once the final version is published.
I appreciate that the Mint developers continue to maintain LMDE alongside the main edition. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder how many people actually use it as their daily driver. It does, however, serve as a reminder that Linux is about choice and resilience. Ubuntu may be the primary base today, but LMDE ensures Mint won’t be left in the dark if that changes tomorrow.
