GNU Operating System

What is GNU? The GNU Project was launched in 1984 to develop a complete Unix-like operating system which is free software: the GNU system. GNU's kernel isn't finished, so GNU is 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 theGNU/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 bybecoming an associate member, buying manuals and gear or by donating money. If you use Free Software in your business, you can also consider corporate patronageor a deluxe distribution of GNU software 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 inEurope, Latin America and India. Philosophy of the GNU Project This page lists a series of articles describing the philosophy of the free software movement, which is the motivation for our development of the free software operating system GNU. NEW — The Javascript Trap We also keep a list of Organizations that Work for Freedom in Computer Development and Electronic Communications. About Free Software Free software is a matter of freedom: people should be free to use software in all the ways that are socially useful. Software differs from material objects—such as chairs, sandwiches, and gasoline—in that it can be copied and changed much more easily. These possibilities make software as useful as it is; we believe software users should be able to make use of them. What is Free Software? Why Software Should Not Have Owners Why Software Should Be Free (This is an older and longer essay about the same topic as the previous one) Why Free Software Needs Free Documentation Selling Free Software is OK! Categories of Free and Non-Free Software Free Software is More Reliable! Why “Open Source” misses the point of Free Software Linux, GNU, and Freedom Regarding Gnutella Why Schools Should Use Exclusively Free Software MyDoom and You 15 Years of Free Software Free Software movement Your Freedom Needs Free Software About the GNU Operating System Initial announcement of the GNU Operating System The GNU Manifesto Brief history of the GNU Project The GNU Project, a longer and more complete description of the project and its history. What is the Free Software Foundation? Why GNU/Linux? Licensing Free Software General information on licensing and copyleft A list of specific free software licenses Frequently Asked Questions About the GNU Licenses Why You Shouldn't Use the Lesser GPL for Your Next Library Copyleft Why Copyleft? Releasing Free Software if You Work at a University Copyleft: Pragmatic Idealism Javascript Trap — You may be running non-free programs on your computer every day without realizing it — through your web browser. Viral Code and Vaccination, an article by Robert J. Chassell Censorship envy and licensing The X Window System Trap The Problems of the Apple License The BSD License Problem The Netscape Public License Has Serious Problems The Free Software Movement and UDI It's not the Gates, it's the bars, an article by Richard Stallman published in BBC News in 2008 Is Microsoft the Great Satan? The Microsoft Antitrust Trial and Free Software On the Microsoft Verdict Microsoft's New Monopoly The Problems of the Plan 9 License The New Motif License Using the GNU FDL The GNU GPL and the American Way The GNU GPL and the American Dream Enforcing the GNU GPL Freedom or Power? We Can Put an End to Word Attachments Free But Shackled - The Java Trap (Although as of December 2006 Sun is in the middle of re-releasing its Java platform under GNU GPL, the issue described in this article still remains important) Fighting Software Patents - Singly and Together Software Patents and Literary Patents, by Richard M. Stallman, speaking of patenting artistic techniques, US patent (6,935,954) covers making game characters start to hallucinate when (according to the game) they are being driven insane. That is getting pretty close to the hypothetical examples cited in this article. GPL-compliant version of RTLinux Open Patent License in Works Laws and Issues Copyright Misinterpreting Copyright is another essay by Richard Stallman about the flaws in popular defenses of copyright law. FSF's Brief Amicus Curiae in the Eldred v. Ashcroft Supreme Court case Science must “push copyright aside”, another work of Richard Stallman that appeared in the Nature Webdebates in 2001, explains how copyright is impeding progress in scientific research. You may also be interested in The Public Library of Science, which is dedicated to making scientific research freely available to all on the Internet. Reevaluating Copyright: The Public must prevail Eldred v. Reno is about a lawsuit to overturn a law that extends copyright by 20 extra years. Freedom-Or Copyright?, by Richard Stallman (an older version of this essay remains online as well). Copyright versus community in the age of computer networks: is a verbatim transcript of a talk by Richard Stallman at the Logiciel Libre Conference in July 2000. An English translation of the famous decision of the District Court of Munich (Germany) regarding the enforceability and validity of the GPL. The translation was done by the Oxford Internet Institute. Digital Restrictions Management The root of this problem is software controlled by its developer, by Richard M. Stallman. Computing “progress”: good and bad, by Richard M. Stallman. Why Audio Format matters by Karl Fogel Opposing Digital Rights Mismanagement, by Richard M. Stallman, answers a few common questions about DRM. Ebooks: Freedom Or Copyright a slightly modified version of the article, originally published in Technology Review in 2000, byRichard Stallman Can you trust your computer?, a work by Richard Stallman about the so-called “trusted computing” initiatives. The Right to Read: A Dystopian Short Story by Richard Stallman The propaganda term “Intellectual Property” Don't Let “Intellectual Property” Twist Your Ethos, by Richard M. Stallman. Comments from Richard Stallman on the ICLC's rejection of the IP Enforcement Directive Richard Stallman has written a review of Boldrin and Levine's “The case against intellectual property.” Did You Say “Intellectual Property”? It's a Seductive Mirage. An essay on the true meaning of the phrase “Intellectual Property”, by Richard M. Stallman Patents FSF's Position on W3 Consortium “Royalty-Free” Patent Policy rewritten That's fighting talk a slightly modified version of the article, originally published in The Guardian of London by Richard Stallmanand Nick Hill. How to Protect the Right to Write Software (independent of whether it's free or not) In Felten v. RIAA, scientists are asking a court to rule that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) does not prohibit them from publishing their research. EFF “Intellectual Property: MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America) DVD Cases” Archive Patent Reform Is Not Enough Saving Europe from Software Patents Boycott Amazon! Sequential Innovation, Patents, and Imitation is a paper that presents a mathematical model showing how patents can impede progress in fields like software. Harm from the Hague. Soft sell. An article by Richard M. Stallman published in The Guardian. Patent absurdity, an article by Richard M. Stallman published in The Guardian. The Anatomy of a Trivial Patent, by Richard M. Stallman. Why there are no GIF files on GNU web pages, While this story is a historical illustration of the danger of software patents, these particular patents are now no longer a concern. For details of our website policies regarding GIFs, see our web web guidelines. Cultural and Social Issues World Summit on the Information Society The introduction by Lawrence Lessig to Free Software, Free Society: The Selected Essays of Richard M. Stallman is available for reading. Encryption software volunteers needed in countries without export control. How to Protect the Freedoms of Speech, Press, and Association on the Internet Protect Postal Privacy, a campaign to resist the proposed rule by the United States Postal Service to collect private information from customers. Why We Must Fight UCITA A world with UCITA may allow fine print to outweigh the right thing by Ed Foster Free Software and (e-)Government — an article from The Guardian, by Richard Stallman (originally published under the title “Second Sight”). Free Software and Sustainable Development — A short article by Richard Stallman regarding the use of proprietary software in cultural development. Misc The Curious Incident of Sun in the Night-Time, by Richard M. Stallman. Why We Need “Free Software” Voting Machines SCO, GNU, and Linux, by Richard Stallman, discusses how SCO's lawsuit against IBM pertains to the work of the GNU project. Please see the FSF SCO Response Page for more details on this subject. FSF's Statement in Response to Proposed Revised Final Judgment in Microsoft vs. United States, submitted to the US Department of Justice under the Tunney Act. U.S. Congress Threatens to Establish a New Kind of Monopoly, an attempt of the Congress to create a private monopoly over repeating publicly known information. The Right Way to Tax DAT Censoring My Software, by Richard Stallman Studies Find Reward Often No Motivator Terminology and Definitions Confusing Words which You Might Want to Avoid Why “Open Source” misses the point of Free Software “Open Source Software” or “Free Software”? (This is an older essay about the same topic as the previous one.) Richard Stallman wrote letter to the editor of Dr. Dobb's Journal in June which further explains the distinction between the Free Software and Open Source movements. Categories of Free and Non-Free Software Translations of the term “free software” into various languages Upholding Software Freedom The Free Software Community After 20 Years, With great but incomplete success, what now? Thank You, Larry McVoy by Richard M. Stallman Overcoming Social Inertia, by Richard M. Stallman Avoiding Ruinous Compromises Philosophical humor Philosophy Humor. We don't have to be serious all the time. More philosophy articles Speeches and interviews Third party ideas Download GNU Download distributions If you're looking for a whole system to install, see our list of GNU/Linux distributions which are entirely free software. To look for individual free software packages, both GNU and non-GNU, please see the Free Software Directory: a categorized, searchable database of free software. The Directory is actively maintained by the Free Software Foundation and includes links to program home pages where available. It also includes a list of all GNU packages. Free software documentation links are listed separately. We also maintain a list of high-priority free software projects. Please help with these projects if you can. For other ways to contribute to GNU, including taking over unmaintained GNU packages and helping with development, see theGNU help wanted page. If you are developing a GNU package, or you are thinking of starting, you may be interested in GNU Software Developer Resources. If you'd like to make your software an official GNU package, see the evaluation information and submission form. For information on the licenses used for GNU software, and on other free software licenses, see our Licenses page. Finally, here is a short list of free software for Microsoft Windows, for the Windows user who is curious about free software. How to get GNU software GNU software is available by several different methods: Download it from the web or via FTP: we provide source code for all GNU software, free of charge. (Please also make a donationto the FSF, if you can, to help us write more free software.) Get a copy from a friend. (Likewise please make a donation if you can.) Buy a computer with a wholly free GNU/Linux system preinstalled from one of the companies that can offer this. Get the development sources for a package and build them. That way you can try all the latest features. Many GNU packages keep their development sources at the GNU hosting site savannah.gnu.org. Some packages use other source repositories; the package's web pages should say where the repository is. Decommissioned GNU packages GNU packages are occasionally decommissioned, generally because they've been superseded by, or integrated into, other packages. Here is the list; we leave the old project pages up (when they existed): 3dkit, abcsh, awacs, cfs-el, checker, dgs(display ghostscript), dld, dr.genius, elib, fhp, free (gnu.free), gcron (see mcron), gfe, ggv (see gv), gicqd, giptables, gnochive,gnotepad+, gnubios, gnucad, gnupedia (see wikipedia), gnusql, gnustep-db, gnuts, goose, gphoto, graphics, grover, gtkeditor,hegemonie, lengualibre, leonardo, mana, messenger, mgcp, mll2html, obst, octal, p2c, patchwork, pips, poc, rat, sweater, toutdoux,webpublish, xbase, xinfo, xmhtml.