Debian defines itself through a Social Contract and constitution rather than investor ownership, committing the project to free software, openness, and public developer governance. That places Debian Project high on Ownership: decisive control is held by workers, users, members, or another stakeholder class rather than outside capital. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary.

Debian publishes a constitution that defines project decision authority, elections, delegates, and general resolutions. That places Debian Project high on Governance: binding decisions are meaningfully answerable to people inside or affected by the institution. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary.

Debian’s Free Software Guidelines require free redistribution, source code availability, derived works, and no discrimination, sharply limiting proprietary rent extraction. That places Debian Project high on Extraction: surplus is structurally routed toward workers, producers, users, or public benefit instead of being primarily captured upward. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary.

Debian’s constitution gives developers formal governance powers including elections and general resolutions, supporting a high contributor-sovereignty judgment. That places Debian Project high on Labor Sovereignty: workers or participants have unusually strong formal power over work, conditions, or the institution itself. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary.

Debian’s Social Contract says its priorities are users and free software and commits to openness about problems, supporting a solidarity judgment beyond current contributors. That places Debian Project in the middle of Solidarity with the Unemployed: some access, severance, retraining, openness, or mutual-aid value is present, but it is not central or durable. The value stays below the top tier because the linked record does not show full democratic control, non-extractive lock-in, or complete stakeholder protection on this axis.

Debian commits to remain entirely free software and to avoid hiding problems, even where that limits proprietary convenience or reputation management. That places Debian Project high on Loss-Bearing Fidelity: the institution is structured to absorb real costs rather than shifting losses onto weaker parties. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary.

Debian’s Free Software Guidelines require licenses not to restrict selling or giving away software and not to require royalties or fees for such sale. That places Debian Project high on Market Conduct: pricing, access, switching, and bargaining practices show restraint compared with ordinary rent-seeking competitors. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary.

Debian publishes a Social Contract committing the project to free software, users, and openness about problems. That places Debian Project high on Product Integrity: the core offering is genuinely useful and comparatively less dependent on traps, degradation, or harmful dependencies. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary.

Debian states that its Free Software Guidelines became the basis of the Open Source Definition, showing durable public standards beyond a single project release. That places Debian Project high on Scale Integrity: growth appears compatible with accountability, quality, and stakeholder benefit. A still-higher or maximum value requires stronger proof that this structure is durable, broad, and not merely discretionary.

Debian publishes an open bug database, public problem reporting, and constitutional processes that let developers propose resolutions, override delegated decisions, and participate in elections. That supports full Openness to Dissent credit because people can criticize, dissent, or challenge the institution without being managed into silence. Full credit is reserved for unusually clear, profile-specific evidence rather than ordinary compliance language.

Debian’s Social Contract and Free Software Guidelines commit to source availability, modification, redistribution, non-discrimination, and user freedom, supporting a civil-liberties-style technology posture. That supports partial Constitutional Spirit credit because the institution respects speech, privacy, due process, conscience, or civil-liberties norms beyond bare legal compulsion. The value remains partial because the linked record does not show the practice as comprehensive, durable, or central enough for full credit.

Debian provides an integrated free operating system and permits users and downstream distributors to use and redistribute Debian without fees from the project. That supports full Good Deal credit because ordinary users receive unusually fair value, durability, access, or surplus. Full credit is reserved for unusually clear, profile-specific evidence rather than ordinary compliance language.