# Ben Collins

> Debian project leader

**Wikidata**: [Q2981823](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2981823)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ben-collins

## Summary
Ben Collins is a programmer and software engineer recognized for his contributions to the open-source software community. He is best known for serving as the Debian Project Leader, a key leadership role within the Debian operating system development community. Born in 1973, he is a male human identified as a distinct individual from others sharing the same name.

## Biography
*   **Born:** 1973
*   **Known for:** Serving as the Debian Project Leader; career as a programmer and software engineer.
*   **Employer(s):** The Debian Project
*   **Field(s):** Software Engineering, Computer Programming

## Contributions
Ben Collins has contributed to the technology sector primarily through his work in software engineering and computer programming. His most notable role was serving as the Debian Project Leader. In this capacity, he was responsible for oversight and leadership within The Debian Project, a community dedicated to creating a free operating system.

As a programmer, Collins engages in the writing of computer software, a discipline identified as a subclass of software development. His work involves the practical application of software engineering principles. While specific proprietary software or codebases are not detailed in the provided records, his position as a leader in a major open-source project implies a history of significant code contribution and project management within that ecosystem. His career reflects a commitment to the development and maintenance of software infrastructure.

## FAQs

### Q: Who is Ben Collins?
A: Ben Collins is a programmer and software engineer born in 1973. He is most prominently known for holding the position of Debian Project Leader.

### Q: What is Ben Collins's profession?
A: He is a programmer and software engineer. This involves writing computer software and practicing software engineering.

### Q: Is Ben Collins the author of the Debian OS?
A: Ben Collins is listed as a member of The Debian Project and held the title of Debian Project Leader. The Debian OS is a massive project with thousands of contributors; Collins served in a leadership capacity for the project.

### Q: Are there other people named Ben Collins?
A: Yes. According to structured data, the name "Ben Collins" refers to multiple people. The individual described here is specifically the programmer and Debian Project Leader.

## Why They Matter
Ben Collins matters to the field of computer science due to his involvement with The Debian Project, one of the largest and most influential open-source communities in the world. The Debian operating system serves as the foundation for numerous other distributions, including Ubuntu, making the governance and technical integrity of the project critical to the broader software ecosystem.

By serving as the Debian Project Leader, Collins played a role in guiding the strategic and technical direction of this essential infrastructure. His work as a software engineer and programmer contributes to the creation of tools that underpin modern computing. Leaders in the Debian project are responsible for mediating disputes, managing releases, and representing the project to the wider world, ensuring that the software remains free and functional for millions of users globally. His impact is felt through the continued stability and utility of the Debian system.

## Notable For
*   **Debian Project Leader:** Held the top leadership position within The Debian Project.
*   **Software Engineering:** Practiced as a software engineer and programmer.
*   **Open Source Contribution:** Recognized as a significant contributor within the global open-source community.
*   **International Recognition:** Subject of biographical entries across multiple languages, including Arabic, Spanish, Japanese, Polish, and Russian.

## Body

### Personal Background
Ben Collins was born in the year 1973. He is identified as male.

### Professional Role
Collins is a professional in the field of technology, specifically classified as a programmer and a software engineer.
*   **Programmer:** A person who writes computer software.
*   **Software Engineer:** A practitioner of software engineering.

### The Debian Project
Collins's primary public affiliation is with The Debian Project.
*   **Membership:** He is a member of The Debian Project.
*   **Leadership:** He held the position of **Debian Project Leader**.

### Distinction
The name "Ben Collins" is a personal name that refers to multiple people. Structured data qualifiers explicitly differentiate this Ben Collins (the Debian leader) from others with the same name.

### Global Presence
Collins's biography and role as Debian Project Leader are documented in various international contexts, evidenced by sitelinks in five languages: Arabic (ar), Spanish (es), Japanese (ja), Polish (pl), and Russian (ru).

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013