Richard Stallman announced in September 1983 the plan to develop a free software Unix-like operating system called GNU. GNU is the only operating system developed specifically for the sake of users' freedom.
What is GNU?
The GNU Project was launched in 1984 to develop a complete Unix-like operating system which is free software: the GNU operating system.
Unix-like operating systems are built from a collection of libraries, applications and developer tools, plus a kernel to allocate resources and talk to the hardware — Hurd, GNU's kernel is actively developed, but is still some way from being ready for daily use, so GNU is often used with the kernel Linux.
The combination of GNU and Linux is the GNU/Linux operating system, now used by millions.
Sometimes this combination is incorrectly called Linux. There are many variants or “distributions” of GNU/Linux.
We recommend the GNU/Linux distributions that are 100% free software; in other words, entirely freedom-respecting.
The name “GNU” is a recursive acronym for “GNU's Not Unix!”; it is pronounced g-noo, as one syllable with no vowel sound between the g and the n.
What is Free Software?
“Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech”, not as in “free beer”.
Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:
- The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
- The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
- The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
- The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
What is the Free Software Foundation?
The Free Software Foundation (FSF) is the principal organizational sponsor of the GNU Project. The FSF receives very little funding from corporations or grant-making foundations but relies on support from individuals like you.
Please consider helping the FSF by becoming an associate member, buying manuals and gear or by donating money. If you use Free Software in your business, you can also consider corporate patronage as a way to support the FSF.
The GNU project supports the mission of the FSF to preserve, protect and promote the freedom to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute computer software, and to defend the rights of Free Software users. We support the freedoms of speech, press, and association on the Internet, the right to use encryption software for private communication, and the right to write software unimpeded by private monopolies. You can also learn more about these issues in the book Free Software, Free Society.
The FSF also has sister organizations in Europe, Latin America and India.
Support GNU!
A strong free software movement focused on the principled issues of software freedom — and a strong FSF in particular — will determine what freedoms the next generation of computer users enjoy. At stake is no less that the next generation's autonomy. — Benjamin Mako Hill, writer, technologist and FSF board member
The FSF's work represents the most important work for freedom that this culture has seen in many generations, because it takes the idea of freedom and it removes it from the ivory tower and places it in a community — Professor Lawrence Lessig
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GNUstep
GNUstep is a fully-functional object-oriented development environment.
We need developers to write and port applications to GNUstep so that we can make it a great experience for users. See http://www.gnustep.org/ for more information.
Freedom Fry
Mr. Stephen Fry introduces you to free software, and reminds you of a very special birthday.
GNUs Flashes
All packages using GNU Automake to produce distribution tarballs with make dist should update to the 1.11.1 or 1.10.3 release, or otherwise work around the problem.
The FSF is hosting a GNU Hackers' Meeting for GNU maintainers and contributors from March 18th-21st as part of the LibrePlanet 2010 conference in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Read the details and RSVP.
FSF president Richard Stallman explains the unintended interactions between the Swedish Pirate Party's platform and free software -- and proposes a solution -- in his new article, How the Swedish Pirate Party Platform Backfires on Free Software.
For other news, as well as for items that used to be in this GNUs Flashes section, see What's New in and about the GNU Project.
Take Action
- License drafting: Participate in the drafting of the GFDL and GSFDL.
- Add to the Free Software Directory.
- Worldwide: Call on WIPO to change its name and mission.
- Fight against software patents: in the USA, in Europe.
- US citizens: Sign petitions against software patents and the DMCA.
- High priority projects:
Contribute
to these free software projects we are emphasizing:
- Gnash (GNU Flash Player)
- Coreboot (campaign for a free BIOS)
- free replacement for skype
- video editing
- free replacement for Google Earth
- gNewSense (the all free software GNU/Linux system)
- GNU Octave (free software Matlab replacement)
- free replacement for OpenDWG libraries
- reversible debugging in GDB
- free software drivers for mesh routers
- free replacement for Oracle Forms
- GNU PDF.
- Other Action Items
Get Involved
Whoever you are, wherever you are, and whatever your skills and interests are there are many ways you can get involved with the GNU Project:
- General ways you can help
- Specific projects that need help
- Help us translate the gnu.org essays into your native language or become a coordinator of a www.gnu.org translation team.
- Contribute to CD/DVD-recording software development and more in GNU libcdio.
- Take over an unmaintained GNU package: alive, fontutils, gleem, gnatsweb, gnutrition, gtypist, oleo, pgccfd, polyxmass, rpge, vmslib.
- Long-term contribution: Contribute to CD/DVD-recording software development and more in GNU libcdio.
- Long-term contribution: Contribute as a user and developer to GNUstep, a free object-oriented framework for application development.
- Long-term contribution: Help us translate the gnu.org essays into your native language or become a coordinator of a www.gnu.org translation team.